Quick tip: if you’re working on projects related to atrocities & war crimes, please consider that Qs posed to survivors are often deeply upsetting, even re-traumatizing. Consider the necessity of your work, yours Qs. Try focusing your work on supporting recovery processes.
Also: if you’re producing research that you never share, return to the communities you’ve actually sourced it from, in some capacity, that is deeply unethical. Your “analysis” of other people’s trauma does not make those stories or experiences “yours”, even if you publish them.
Bringing this up bc of horrifying conversation I had w a friend in Sarajevo y’day, who works as a fixer, whose had to intervene on numerous occasions to prevent journalists, academics from grossly overstepping ethical boundaries in convos w concentration camp survivors.
Point being, I’m not saying don’t work on atrocities. It’s extremely important that we do. But please consider your methods. Anyone who exp conflict, in any form, is affected. Many survivors do want to talk. But respect their boundaries. It’s not your place to poke & prod.
And above all, use common sense (and advisors, editors: impart common sense to your students/writers). Your deadline is not in the same universe of importance as someone else’s mental & emotional well-being. Seriously. Good luck. /xxx
