Laughter

Another meeting that I attended was the editorial board meeting of a journal.

Contrary to my expectation, this small lunch-time gathering was quite fun. Towards the end of the presentation, the Editor-in-Chief showed us a list of funny paragraphs he encountered in the past one year.

Here are some:

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(A case report submitted): The patient bought the glue from a local grocery. Following the advise of the shop-owner, he sniffed the usual amount and felt dizzy…

(In the Methods section of a manuscript): After immersed in 3% sodium nitrite solution and then dried for 30 minutes, we find that this substance…

(Author survey of the publisher): Why do you submit to this journal?

Reply: We know that the readership of this journal is alarming.

(Comment from a reviewer): Please define “total death”.

(On-line submission system): Please explain why Dr. A is suggested as the reviewer.

Author: According the your journal web site, Dr. A is the Editor-in-Chief.

(Reply from an invited reviewer): Please accept my apology for not being able to review. I have conflicts with the authors as well as the journal.