Re: Copyright Extension Bill Passes Congress

On Mon, 26 Oct 1998, Albert Henderson <noblestation[_at_]compuserve.com> wrote:
>
> On 23 Oct 1998, Michael Scarpitti <mscarpit[_at_]asnt.org> wrote:
> >
> > On Thu, Oct 22, 1998, Albert Henderson <noblestation[_at_]compuserve.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > On Tue, 20 Oct 1998, Edward Barrow <edward[_at_]plato32.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > As for changing the system of academic incentive, Professor Boyce
> > > > has my support. The pressure to publish has produced far too much
> > > > stuff which is never going to be read (and should probably never
> > > > have been written) - but this is a discussion for another list.
> > >
> > > This reflects one of the more infamous myths of the academic world,
> > > that "nobody reads" any research (but mine). Researchers have found
> > > that journal articles average 1000 readings; university scientists
> > > average 150 to 190 readings a year. Scientists that read more have
> > > better productivity and performance records. Scientists are using
> > > libraries more than ever, also, often to obtain articles they read
> > > and discarded earlier. See the article by C Tenopir and D W King in
> > > LIBRARY JOURNAL March 15, 1996:32-35.
> >
> > I have serious doubts about this.
> >
> > I complained months ago about poorly researched and poorly thought
> > out articles written by even "famous" professors, full of logical
> > gaps, misinformation, and lack of thorough research.
>
> People like you and me still read; many are stimulated to write.
> Errors account for many citations aimed at criticizing rather
> than amplifying.

But, they only increase the information pollution or smog. It is no wonder why we have information anxiety.

Someone(*) said, "A writer shall love the reader for his sake." I think that such golden rule is a good antidote to information smog.

Joseph Pietro Riolo
<riolo[_at_]voicenet.com>

• At first, I thought that Charles S. Peirce said the quotation but I could not find the source. So, I had to say, "someone", because I believe someone already said it.