Stanford Prof. Criticizes Student's Reporter Dad, Student emails Prof; Prof Posts Student's Email, Internet explodes

Theo Baker, Hakim Jefferson, Peter Baker and the rules of replying to social media

I found this dialog fascinating— largely because of what it tells us about social media— and how distorted communication is in 2024.

I am going to retell the events, play by play, with commentary. There are 6 lessons for how to reply in the modern, social media age that we can all appreciate.

It all got started on May 4th with this tweet, Stanford Assistant Professor Hakeem Jefferson criticizes NYTimes White House reporter Peter Baker about objectivity in journalism.

Then Peter Baker’s son, a Stanford journalism student who took down the President Mark Tessier-Lavigne (no doubt, a smart student) replies

He then emails Dr. Jefferson

Lesson #1: (Advice to young Mr. Baker) If your parents are public figures, and someone criticizes them, the correct answer is IGNORE. Of course, it is natural to be annoyed if someone criticizes your dad, but the correct response is to think privately they are incorrect and go on with your life. Peter Baker is a famous reporter— no one will remember this criticism in 2 days and it doesn’t matter. All people in the public eye will be criticized. Ignore, young Mr Baker, you have a promising career.

Lesson #2: (Also for young Mr. Baker). Don’t ask anyone to delete a tweet. No one will ever do it. No one is saving tweets for posterity anyway. They are all garbage, and will be forgotten soon.

Now, Dr. Hakeem Jefferson gets a tweet and an email. What does he do? Does he do the right thing? No!

Lesson #2: (Advice to Assistant Prof Jefferson) When a student emails you criticizing your tweet and asks you to delete it: IGNORE. Who the hell has time to reply to unsolicited emails? If you are an ambitious assistant professor who wants to get promoted, you should give zero fucks what a student thinks of you— particularly the son of a the person you criticized — and you should have zero time to reply. A long reply just makes it worse. It looks like you are weak and have too much time because you don’t have work to do.

Lesson #3: (Advice to Assistant Prof Jefferson). Please don’t whine that the kid, obviously upset you criticized his father, did not issue you an honorable greeting. Are you nuts? Of course the kid is pissed. And frankly, as much as I agree that young people are disrespectful and lazy; I also think assistant professor’s are arrogant and want people to stroke their ego, even when their scholarship is lacking. Your reply makes me think worse of you. Why are you so insecure you need a greeting like “Dear Honorable Assistant Professor Dr.….” It’s embarrassing.

Theo Baker of course, making yet another mistake, replies

Lesson #4. What kind of reply is this? You made your point. He made his. Move on. And yet: there is a lengthy explanation why you didn’t address him as Dear Assistant Professor? He doesn’t need an explanation. Then you compliment him as smart, serious and thoughtful? I doubt you believe that. Emails and arguments are weak if you have to lie about respecting your opponent. Also you can’t keep dancing around the obvious bias that this is your dad! Ultimately, neither of you will change your mind, so none of these emails are justified.

Does it end there? No!

Hakeem Jefferson posts these emails on the internet!!!! WTF!!

Lesson #5: Adam Rubenstein is right. Have you lost your mind, Hakeem Jefferso—- correction Assistant Professor Jefferson— have you lost it? Why are you posting the private email exchange with this kid. How do you have time for this? How does this help anyone. It is obvious that this kid is defending his father. No one is going to take his allegations serious for that reason alone. Also, on the issue itself. The general public cares less about objectivity in journalism than the journalists who abandoned it years ago.

Does it stop there? No it gets even WORSE!

So much worse…..