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Old 13-12-2010, 09:51 AM
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CraigS
Unpredictable

CraigS is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 3,023
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjc View Post
Old model slow - difficult to introduce new ideas - bias can exist on what gets published.

New model quick - not a lot to prevent new ideas - no bias in what gets published - but that means that quality of what gets published can be lacking.
Yep. I agree.
And it would seem the end result may be the same independent of the path chosen .. ie: accepted or rejected by the scientific community. Via the new model, the debate is more public which means we get more insight into the pros and cons (which I see as beneficial, as its another way to learn rapidly about the topic),

I also think that the length of time for them to publish in books is reduced nowadays, and also has the benefits of:

- giving them reputations and;
- lining their pockets.

If they are as famous as Penrose (because he's published books), AND then they pre-print publish on arXiv, it fast-tracks things even more.

I think its great ! It requires amateurs (like us) to develop different skills though .. as you say .. to weed out the 'wheat from the chaff'.

Interesting.

Cheers
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