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 Discussion on question by MathIsLife1…

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Thomas
Apr 29, 2021 18:14
I think this is a good question, because I see this in (computer science) academia all the time, but not elsewhere. Thus I think it's an on-topic question about a weird bit of academic culture. FWIW, I think the supposed reason for this practice is no longer a real problem, but it continues because academic love to copy each other.
 

 Discussion on answer by Nicole Hamilt…

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Thomas
Dec 23, 2020 17:36
-1 for not comprehending humour.
 

 Discussion on question by Allure: A p…

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Thomas
Dec 22, 2020 19:59
Everyone saying that coldolences are inappropriate: It is clearly meant as a joke - congratulations on your promotion, condolences on the new responsibilities. Grow a sense of humour!
 

 Discussion on question by user000001:…

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Thomas
Oct 7, 2019 21:47
@darijgrinberg Google Scholar is very good at dealing with name collisions and duplicates because the subject curates their own profile, rather than this being an automatic process. The thing that people complain about is that it is very inclusive when counting citations. Some people think that it should only count certain types of citations (although there is no agreement on what should count). I strongly disagree with that view -- all citations should be counted because counting is not the purpose.
 

 Discussion on answer by David Siegel:…

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Thomas
Sep 30, 2019 00:21
Children of members of an invading army that has occupied and controlled some part of US territory, born on that occupied area, who are obviously not subject to US Law (which has never yet happened) It seems this has never come up in court, but are you sure this has never happened? E.g., Guam was occupied during WWII.
 

 Discussion on question by Muzer: How …

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Thomas
Jul 8, 2019 17:39
A New Zealand-specific answer: stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/7621775/… nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10747816
 

 Discussion on question by Allure: Why…

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Thomas
May 16, 2019 14:10
This may depend on the field. E.g., STEM academics may have different preferences to humanities academics.
 

 Discussion on question by John Colema…

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Thomas
May 16, 2019 14:01
It could be worse: In the 1960s, failing students could result in them being conscripted to fight in Vietnam.
 

 Discussion on answer by John Rabson J…

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Thomas
Mar 29, 2019 20:50
@CaptainProg Mr. is short for Mister and Dr. is short for Doctor
 

 Discussion on answer by cag51: Was a …

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Thomas
Mar 29, 2019 20:50
"biting back" like that is still unprofessional even if provoked
 

 Discussion on question by FrostedCent…

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Thomas
Mar 25, 2019 16:01
what is the worst that can happen? Fake you gets job. Real you can't actually take it due to fraud. You or someone else misses out on job.
 

 Discussion on question by user-214748…

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Thomas
Mar 7, 2019 22:36
Please don't misinterpret me. I'm simply asking to ascertain whether escalation is a realistic option at this stage. It is unclear what sort of details you have omitted from your question and I am asking for clarification. I worry that you will try to escalate and he will simply explain things away as being friendly and "I like to pace in a quiet corner of the building". Escalation is really only an option if the harassment is undeniable.
Thomas
Mar 7, 2019 22:36
What you have described sounds very inappropriate, but it doesn't sound like it's concrete enough for escalation to go anywhere. You say you can't share further details, but is there any "smoking gun" harassment? That is, something that cannot be ignored or explained away?
 

 Discussion on question by Grinnell: W…

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Thomas
Feb 7, 2019 10:57
Grinnell, just because it is logistically possible, does not mean it can be done, as there are procedures that must be followed. Generally, things cannot be edited once published. Although I don't know the details, what you are describing does not sound to me like it merits degree revocation. And other than that, I don't see what action the university can take with respect to its former student. He or she has probably already been told off. Thus I really don't see what you are hoping will happen.
Thomas
Feb 7, 2019 10:57
Grinnell, is it even possible for the student to rewrite the passages? Many things cannot be edited after completion, including theses.
 

 Discussion on question by Allure: In …

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Thomas
Jan 24, 2019 18:45
Toss a coin - heads 1 mark, tails 0. On average that's 0.5. :P
 

 Discussion on answer by Dmitry Savost…

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Thomas
Nov 22, 2018 16:32
@JanusBahsJacquet Yes, the "petition" could be reasonable or it could be unreasonable. However, I think it best to assume the editor is acting in good faith until it is proven otherwise. In that case, OP is overreacting and this answer encourages further overreaction.
Thomas
Nov 22, 2018 16:32
@JanusBahsJacquet I think we are arguing over the ambiguity in the question. Perhaps the editor is acting in good faith or perhaps the editor is being unethical. This answer automatically assumes the latter.
Thomas
Nov 22, 2018 16:32
@JanusBahsJacquet it is, I would say, acceptable for them to ask the reviewer to phrase the review in more neutral words so it can be forwarded, or even whether they’d also be okay with recommending ‘major revisions’. Isn't that exactly what the editor is doing? The question does not say the editor is dictating a particular recommendation. (The question is unclear on the exact phrasing of the "petition".)
Thomas
Nov 22, 2018 16:32
@JanusBahsJacquet It doesn’t matter one iota whether the editor is right and the review is too harsh. Really?! I can't believe this...
Thomas
Nov 22, 2018 16:32
@DmitrySavostyanov We are not trying to establish who is right and who is wrong here. Of course, but we shouldn't tell OP to fight the editor without considering that the editor could potentially have a point. You should assume that the editor is acting in good faith and engage on that basis.
Thomas
Nov 22, 2018 16:32
@DmitrySavostyanov I'm surprised at how quickly you are willing to conclude that the editor is acting unethically and the other two reviewers are wrong without considering the possibility that OP has erred and the editor is taking a reasonable course of action by allowing OP to revise the review. OP is not being forced to revise the review. Seriously, what is more likely: OP is too harsh (perhaps due to inexperience), or the editor and other reviewers are wrong and unethical? You have even gone so far as to suggest OP should name and shame the journal/editor and boycott it.
Thomas
Nov 22, 2018 16:32
@DmitrySavostyanov Yes, we do not know, but we should consider the possibility that advising OP to stick to his guns and ignore the advice of the editor is the wrong course of action.
Thomas
Nov 22, 2018 16:32
@ClementC. Have you considered the possibility that the editor is correct and OP's review is too harsh? It does not sound like OP is being forced to change the review against their will.
Thomas
Nov 22, 2018 16:32
@DmitrySavostyanov It's not a vote; that's not how it works. Again, have you considered the possibility that the editor is correct and OP's review is too harsh?
Thomas
Nov 22, 2018 16:32
I really just don't understand the logic of this answer. It is saying that it is OK for the editor to completely ignore a reviewer, but it's not OK for the editor to ask the reviewer to revise their review. Surely the latter is better than the former and more respectful to the reviewer.
Thomas
Nov 22, 2018 16:32
@Ray The editor is having a discussion with the reviewer. That seems very reasonable to me.
Thomas
Nov 22, 2018 16:32
@Ray The editor wants the reviewers to discuss for the same reason he or she solicits reviews in the first place. The editor can ignore the reviewer, but surely it is better to discuss with the reviewer and ask them to reconsider.
Thomas
Nov 22, 2018 16:32
Under no circumstances should an editor disclose the recommendation of other reviewers to you That is simply false, at least in my field. Reviewers are often expected to discuss the paper and reach consensus. In particular, if one reviewer has a concern, the others are asked to comment on it. In my field, it is expected that you will edit your review after conferring with other reviewers.
Thomas
Nov 22, 2018 16:32
-1 You are basically saying "be stubborn". Academia would be a poorer place if that was the general attitude and I think that is poor advice. Have you considered the possibility that OP's review is indeed too harsh and should be edited? The editor thinks so. The other two reviewers think so. Why do you not think so?
 

 Discussion between Thomas and Janus B…

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Thomas
Nov 21, 2018 22:26
@JanusBahsJacquet I think we are arguing over the ambiguity in the question. Perhaps the editor is acting in good faith or perhaps the editor is being unethical. This answer automatically assumes the latter.
Thomas
Nov 21, 2018 22:26
@JanusBahsJacquet it is, I would say, acceptable for them to ask the reviewer to phrase the review in more neutral words so it can be forwarded, or even whether they’d also be okay with recommending ‘major revisions’. Isn't that exactly what the editor is doing? The question does not say the editor is dictating a particular recommendation. (The question is unclear on the exact phrasing of the "petition".)
Thomas
Nov 21, 2018 22:26
@JanusBahsJacquet It doesn’t matter one iota whether the editor is right and the review is too harsh. Really?! I can't believe this...
Thomas
Nov 21, 2018 22:26
@DmitrySavostyanov We are not trying to establish who is right and who is wrong here. Of course, but we shouldn't tell OP to fight the editor without considering that the editor could potentially have a point. You should assume that the editor is acting in good faith and engage on that basis.
Thomas
Nov 21, 2018 22:26
@DmitrySavostyanov Yes, we do not know, but we should consider the possibility that advising OP to stick to his guns and ignore the advice of the editor is the wrong course of action.
Thomas
Nov 21, 2018 22:26
@DmitrySavostyanov I'm surprised at how quickly you are willing to conclude that the editor is acting unethically and the other two reviewers are wrong without considering the possibility that OP has erred and the editor is taking a reasonable course of action by allowing OP to revise the review. OP is not being forced to revise the review. Seriously, what is more likely: OP is too harsh (perhaps due to inexperience), or the editor and other reviewers are wrong and unethical? You have even gone so far as to suggest OP should name and shame the journal/editor and boycott it.
Thomas
Nov 21, 2018 22:26
@ClementC. Have you considered the possibility that the editor is correct and OP's review is too harsh? It does not sound like OP is being forced to change the review against their will.
Thomas
Nov 21, 2018 22:26
@DmitrySavostyanov It's not a vote; that's not how it works. Again, have you considered the possibility that the editor is correct and OP's review is too harsh?
Thomas
Nov 21, 2018 22:26
I really just don't understand the logic of this answer. It is saying that it is OK for the editor to completely ignore a reviewer, but it's not OK for the editor to ask the reviewer to revise their review. Surely the latter is better than the former and more respectful to the reviewer.
Thomas
Nov 21, 2018 22:26
@Ray The editor is having a discussion with the reviewer. That seems very reasonable to me.
Thomas
Nov 21, 2018 22:26
@Ray The editor wants the reviewers to discuss for the same reason he or she solicits reviews in the first place. The editor can ignore the reviewer, but surely it is better to discuss with the reviewer and ask them to reconsider.
Thomas
Nov 21, 2018 22:26
Under no circumstances should an editor disclose the recommendation of other reviewers to you That is simply false, at least in my field. Reviewers are often expected to discuss the paper and reach consensus. In particular, if one reviewer has a concern, the others are asked to comment on it. In my field, it is expected that you will edit your review after conferring with other reviewers.
Thomas
Nov 21, 2018 22:26
-1 You are basically saying "be stubborn". Academia would be a poorer place if that was the general attitude and I think that is poor advice. Have you considered the possibility that OP's review is indeed too harsh and should be edited? The editor thinks so. The other two reviewers think so. Why do you not think so?
 

 Discussion on question by RH88: Just …

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Thomas
Oct 14, 2018 23:43
Why did you join the lab if the current postdocs were warning you away? If you have alternatives, go.
 

 Discussion on answer by David Richerb…

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Thomas
Sep 13, 2018 03:00
I think what's unusual here is that, for most research, someone else has paid for it -- usually the taxpayer.
 

 Discussion on answer by Thomas: I sle…

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Thomas
Sep 4, 2018 14:51
@NicoleHamilton No. The message is to take threats and blackmail very seriously. This is not a complete answer, of course, but it needed to be said, given that some of the other answers are, basically, "don't worry about it".
 

 Discussion on question by igby: I sle…

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Thomas
Sep 3, 2018 08:56
@Allure I haven't cast a vote either way, but I'm hesitant to re-open. I initially felt the question is on-topic. However, the answers it has attracted have nothing to do with academia, which makes me think the question is best considered off-topic.
 

 Discussion on question by Warren Schu…

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Thomas
Sep 2, 2018 21:42
@TayfunPay If you have read it and can pinpoint an error, please enlighten us with an answer.
Thomas
Sep 2, 2018 21:42
It also appears to be well-written enough to be right or wrong, rather than merely unintelligible, as is usually the case.
 

 Discussion on question by Moayad Abu …

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Thomas
Aug 20, 2018 17:18
Another example: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_University