Focus on UK Metal Detecting: Parasites

UK Detectorist mirth at
quashing free speech
on heritage 'policy'

It seems the detectorists of the UK are still trying to dodge participation in any heritage debate. Once again we see at attempt to shut out any public criticism: Re: Wally and Harry. Forum member Chienmal claiming to represent the Portable Antiquities Society (Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:01 pm) asks forum members to "publicise this in advance":

Barford Who? Although I think I may down his blog again in the next few days.

The PAS is supposed to be doing public outreach on portable antiquity matters. Can you see any sign whatsoever that it is reaching people like Chienmal? Can you see any sign that it ever will? Certainly it will never react this part of the artefact collecting milieu by simply ignoring it, by not engaging with it, not expressing concern about the things they do and the things they say.

TAKE A GOOD LOOK at this behaviour, for these are precisely the sort of people the PAS wants to grab more and more millions of public quid to make into the "partners" of the British Museum, archaeological heritage professionals and to whom they want us all to entrust the exploitation of the archaeological record. Take a good look and decide what you think about that as a "policy".   Take a good look and consider if the circumstances suggest that these policies will achieve any more than they have, and whether cutting the funds for ever-ineffective liaison and dealing with these people by other means would not be more effective. Cut the funds and force all of these people to earn public acceptance by actively co-operating, not allowing a large part of the milieu to fail to pull their weight, take-take with no give, dodge the issues, engage in mud-slinging from the shadows and,  like the parasites they are, taking advantage of those that responsibly collaborate in a manner that is to the benefit of all.