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Author Topic:   Academic Freedom and Anonymous Peer Review
NoNukes
Inactive Member


Message 16 of 18 (745597)
12-24-2014 4:30 PM
Reply to: Message 14 by Dr Jack
12-24-2014 12:10 PM


The cancer scientist in question should be disciplined by his institute for bringing science them, and science, into disrepute.
Perhaps so. I'm not willing to make that call without looking at what the comments were. People say all kinds of stuff online. Criticizing a scientist work is one thing, but sometimes anonymous criticism can cross over into unwarranted accusations of dishonesty or actionable and baseless impugning of character.

Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also in prison. Thoreau: Civil Disobedience (1846)
I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him. Galileo Galilei
If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning. Frederick Douglass

This message is a reply to:
 Message 14 by Dr Jack, posted 12-24-2014 12:10 PM Dr Jack has seen this message but not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 17 by AZPaul3, posted 12-24-2014 5:27 PM NoNukes has replied

  
AZPaul3
Member
Posts: 8513
From: Phoenix
Joined: 11-06-2006
Member Rating: 5.3


(1)
Message 17 of 18 (745602)
12-24-2014 5:27 PM
Reply to: Message 16 by NoNukes
12-24-2014 4:30 PM


Background & Commentary
From the Retraction Watch site:
Scientist sues PubPeer commenters
The article makes some good points itself but the comments are where most of the real details are given.
I did not realize PubPeer was an open forum, like this one, where any member (actual scientists, please - tho how PubPeer vets those members I have no idea) can start a discussion on any paper and others can join in as they wish. No one is "invited" to be a reviewer, you just jump in, and I get the impression there are no restrictions or requirements on your credentials within the field being discussed.
My read:
- Dr. S had a number of papers called into question on the site. Data analysis, data integrity being issues.
- Dr. S applied and was accepted into a position at a school. He quit his old school and had a specific start date for the new school.
- Some unknown party sent e-mail copies of the messages on PubPeer to people at the hiring school.
- The school rescinded its employment acceptance before the start date citing the PubPeer threads as reason because,
"With these allegations lodged in a public space and presented directly to colleagues here (I am not sure of the scope of the anonymous distribution), to move forward would jeopardize our research enterprise and my own credibility."
Seems to me the new school may be liable for breach of their employment offer (iffy) and the anonymous e-mailer may be accused of libel (again, iffy).
PubPeer.com did not create this controversy. They only provided the platform for others to use to "peer review" scientific papers (from elsewhere, anywhere) and to discuss controversies in scientific and academic conduct/misconduct.
If (my most lovely lady) Faith should write in this forum that I am ignorant of the bible and am want to intentionally misrepresent the intent of its scripture and thus I am on my way to hell because I am an atheist, commie, fascist pig with ugly thinning hair and bad breath - in order to track her down and SLAPP her silly should I sue Percy to get her name, address, phone number?
Like Dr. S, I would be pissed (sorta) but is that Percy's fault?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 16 by NoNukes, posted 12-24-2014 4:30 PM NoNukes has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 18 by NoNukes, posted 12-25-2014 1:04 AM AZPaul3 has seen this message but not replied

  
NoNukes
Inactive Member


Message 18 of 18 (745620)
12-25-2014 1:04 AM
Reply to: Message 17 by AZPaul3
12-24-2014 5:27 PM


Re: Background & Commentary
Thanks for adding some detail.
PubPeer.com did not create this controversy. They only provided the platform for others to use to "peer review" scientific papers (from elsewhere, anywhere) and to discuss controversies in scientific and academic conduct/misconduct.
I agree. PubPeer is in the midst of the controversy simply because they don't want to disclose information identifying posters. Apparently they are resisting a subpoena.
I am ignorant of the bible and am want to intentionally misrepresent the intent of its scripture and thus I am on my way to hell because I am an atheist, commie, fascist pig with ugly thinning hair and bad breath - in order to track her down and SLAPP her silly should I sue Percy to get her name, address, phone number?
That probably would not reach the level of actionable defamation. However the level of insult that constitutes defamation is much lower when the subject matter is accusation of committing a crime, immoral acts, capability to perform one's profession, or having an odious disease, or dishonesty while performing one's profession.
What if she claimed to have information about you giving herpes to a 15 year old and her claim resulted in you getting fired from your job as a teacher? What if that claim was completely fabricated?
That said, the comments as you describe them seem mild and probably not defamatory.
Like Dr. S, I would be pissed (sorta) but is that Percy's fault?
I don't think that's even the issue. A subpoena to provide information about a third person does not cast any blame on Percy.
Seems to me the new school may be liable for breach of their employment offer (iffy) and the anonymous e-mailer may be accused of libel (again, iffy).
I suspect that the offer letter would have left an out for this kind of mind change. Any competent lawyer would have advised doing so.

Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also in prison. Thoreau: Civil Disobedience (1846)
I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him. Galileo Galilei
If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning. Frederick Douglass

This message is a reply to:
 Message 17 by AZPaul3, posted 12-24-2014 5:27 PM AZPaul3 has seen this message but not replied

  
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