Posted by Pennie Lane on August 29, 2001, at 20:20:02
I somewhat doubt that JasonT (aka SalArmy4Me) has received the "hundreds" of thank you notes he claims (in addition to the 31 he cited), which he says he has have received for looking up information and republishing articles from scientific journals. That would be about one note for each of his posts, which seems unlikely considering that he seldom posts contact information.
Unfortunately, this situation highlights the lack of a hierarchy of credibility in the Internet environment. Though some assert that an open group will post correct information in response to misinformation, the situation demonstrates that anyone with persistence, access to a computer and basic knowledge of search technology can gain recognition as an expert. Some readers might be skeptical, but others tend to unwittingly accept misinformation. As in most media, repetition on the Internet can weigh more heavily than does accuracy or integrity for establishing credibility among a general audience.
Now that Jason's militant ("Army", "enemy") campaign of information warfare has escalated to direct promotion of his sect with the systematic reproduction of copyrighted information from scientific journals, perhaps some here would like to help notify the publishers of these journals about the situation.
A few lengthy excerpts republished here with no commentary, which might violate U.S. and international copyright law include:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76774.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76766.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76763.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76765.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76761.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76860.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76863.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76782.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76768.html(Note the difference between publication of a citation, abstract or commentary, such as at http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76762.html , which is legal, and the wholesale reproduction of substantial text from copyrighted sources, which an expert here recently said is considered by some authority to be a copyright infringement.)
If your are not familiar with ways to contact publishers, it is easy enough. Go to a search engine, such as Google (www.google.com), enter the name of the journal, find a link to the publisher's contact information, and forward to them a link to Sal's posts along with a one line explanation that says an article from their journal has been unfairly reproduced in an effort to promote a Southern California religious sect.
To Jason: remember, effective soldiering requires discipline. A loose cannon can be a liability to its unit.
poster:Pennie Lane
thread:1838
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20010718/msgs/1838.html