From: Dawsonzhu@aol.com
Date: Wed Jul 02 2003 - 14:38:54 EDT
In an abstract posted by Ted Davis, Tipler writes
> Thus, prior to the Second World
> War, the refereeing process worked primarily to eliminate crackpot papers.
> Today, the refereeing process works primarily to enforce orthodoxy. I
> shall
> offer evidence that "peer" review is NOT peer review: the referee is quite
> often not as intellectually able as the author whose work he judges. We
> have pygmies standing in judgment on giants. I shall offer suggestions on
> ways to correct this problem, which, if continued, may seriously impede,
> if
> not stop, the advance of science.
>
Well, I must say that I am _not_ impressed with many examples that
I have experienced when people have peer reviewed some of my work.
Considering how much time I spend, even when I think a manuscript
is way below the level of acceptable, I consider it a sad state indeed.
At least I can say with a clear conscience that I have really tried to
understand the manuscripts before I judged them, and I did not judge
by institution, principal investigator, or level of English ability.
However, that being said, not everything that the peer reviewers
say is useless. Your writing will be strengthened by a showdown.
You are likely to discover that there are some minor and embarassing
mistakes that you are making that are corrected by these
uncomfortable exchanges. Moreover, you've got to remember that if
the truth is really in your hand, the truth will bring down the referee's
own words. It grieves my spirit when I have to stand my ground and
take someone down, but more grievous it would be if I were give up
and allow people to stand in the path of progress (whether it be out
of mere indolent ignorance, neglect of office, or abuse of power).
As for myself,
Lord, grant me wisdom and humbleness, that I may see the truth
when the truth has come to challenge me, grant me charity that
I will find words that build, and make me ever vigilant to respect
my duty to keep learning and growing. Make me blind to rank and
position, but teach me to always be a listener and respecter of truth
even when I am sorely challenged.
Wayne
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