[GOAL] Re: Revealing Dialogue on "CHORUS" with David Wojick, OSTI Consultant

[Richard Poynder]

Dear All,

I do not feel there is anything further to gain from this discussion. Can I
suggest therefore that no further messages are posted on the thread, and
that we all get back to discussing ideas rather than the people who hold
them?

Richard Poynder
GOAL Moderator


-----Original Message-----
From: goal-bounces at eprints.org [mailto:goal-bounces at eprints.org] On Behalf
Of Dana Roth
Sent: 26 July 2013 23:59
To: Global Open Access List (Successor of AmSci)
Subject: [GOAL] Re: Revealing Dialogue on "CHORUS" with David Wojick, OSTI
Consultant

I agree with Marc.  As long as the background of a contributor is known,
they deserve to be heard.  I find Heather's comments less than helpful.

Dana L. Roth
Millikan Library / Caltech 1-32
1200 E. California Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91125
626-395-6423 fax 626-792-7540
dzrlib at library.caltech.edu
http://library.caltech.edu/collections/chemistry.htm
________________________________________
From: goal-bounces at eprints.org [goal-bounces at eprints.org] on behalf of
Couture Marc [marc.couture at teluq.ca]
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2013 3:29 PM
To: Global Open Access List (Successor of AmSci)
Subject: [GOAL] Re: Revealing Dialogue on "CHORUS" with David Wojick, OSTI
Consultant

According to Harnad (point 6 of response to Joe Esposito), this exchange
[with Wojick] can and should be evaluated "on the level of the ideas". If
so, how exactly are Wojick's interests as a lobbyist for the coal industry
and (possibly) the publishing industry relevant for this discussion (point
3)?

Either he raises sound arguments, either he doesn't. Harnad's replies, which
addressed in a detailed manner the substance of Wojick's arguments, can help
readers of this forum make their minds.

I agree though with the ethical dimension raised by Heather Morrison: in a
public discussion upon which decisions will be based, one should always
disclose (when it's not readily apparent) his or her "ties" with bodies
which could benefit from (or be harmed by) those decisions. I don't know if
the same should apply to discussions in a forum like GOAL, but I certainly
appreciate, for the sake of transparency, when people posting in the forum
make such a disclosure.

By the way, is there any evidence that Wojick is a lobbyist for the
publishing industry? "Consultant for US Dept. of Energy OSTI" doesn't ring
any bell for me in that direction. Maybe he could clarify the matters (and,
of course, if he is, that doesn't change the soundness - or lack thereof -
of his arguments).

This made me realize that I haven't disclosed my "ties". I'm a professor in
a quite small university; as our journal subscription portfolio is very
limited, I would greatly benefit personally from universal OA, in my
day-to-day work. Now you know!

Marc Couture