Comments on: On the restoration of independence. http://mattheath.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/independence/ A blog about maths (with an "s") and sometimes other things Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:20:50 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: notedscholar http://mattheath.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/independence/#comment-64 notedscholar Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:50:24 +0000 http://mattheath.wordpress.com/?p=104#comment-64 Yes. I agree with the coffee fellow that academic connections, insofar as they are linked with, and produce, consensus and "prestige," recall worries of the dreaded "Science Studies" crowd, that empirical verification, foundationalism, objectivity, and other attributes of the discourse, are subject to cultural ramifications including but not limited to friendship, self-betterment (i.e. CV-development), etc. But I wonder if this can be avoided? One has troubled imagining an alternative journal culture that would survive. NS Yes. I agree with the coffee fellow that academic connections, insofar as they are linked with, and produce, consensus and “prestige,” recall worries of the dreaded “Science Studies” crowd, that empirical verification, foundationalism, objectivity, and other attributes of the discourse, are subject to cultural ramifications including but not limited to friendship, self-betterment (i.e. CV-development), etc.

But I wonder if this can be avoided? One has troubled imagining an alternative journal culture that would survive.

NS

]]> By: toomuchcoffeeman http://mattheath.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/independence/#comment-62 toomuchcoffeeman Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:08:59 +0000 http://mattheath.wordpress.com/?p=104#comment-62 Am a bit too frazzled to reflect and respond properly, butt: <i>Clearly, (with a couple of exceptions like Topology and K-Theory) editorial boards seem to think they do have something to gain by working for Elsevier and Springer. They do after all keep doing it, rather than walking out and starting a new journal. I’ve been wondering lately what anyone could think the benefits are for editors.</i> Being flippant/glib, perhaps it's just the old story of trying to make a difference from the inside? There is also a certain amount of CV-buffing for the more junior members, while for those of established prestige there is always the emotional blackmail "if you don't then put yourself on the board then the quality may suffer." My old PhD supervisor used to be one of the subject-level "frontline/associate" editors for the LMS. It seemed that the main benefit for him was some free ballpoint pens. Am a bit too frazzled to reflect and respond properly, butt:

Clearly, (with a couple of exceptions like Topology and K-Theory) editorial boards seem to think they do have something to gain by working for Elsevier and Springer. They do after all keep doing it, rather than walking out and starting a new journal. I’ve been wondering lately what anyone could think the benefits are for editors.

Being flippant/glib, perhaps it’s just the old story of trying to make a difference from the inside? There is also a certain amount of CV-buffing for the more junior members, while for those of established prestige there is always the emotional blackmail “if you don’t then put yourself on the board then the quality may suffer.”

My old PhD supervisor used to be one of the subject-level “frontline/associate” editors for the LMS. It seemed that the main benefit for him was some free ballpoint pens.

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