Derek’s blog\npointed me to an editorial by Royce Murray Science Blogs and Caveat Emptor\n(doi:10.1021/ac102628p). He is warning\nus, science scholars, for blogs. He is accusing bloggers for not being scholarly,\nnot checking facts etc.
\n\nHe did himself and the journal a big disfavor with this editorial: in his\nblog he does precisely what he is accusing the blogger of: fail to check facts.\nEven worse, particularly for the ‘Analytical Chemistry’ journal, he showed inadequate\nin analyzing the problem, putting his scholarly skills at questionable levels:\nhe failed to see what ‘blogging’ is and what it is not, and he failed to\nascribe his concerns to the proper source; effectively, he failed to see the\ndifference between correlation and cause-effect for ‘blogging’ (unworthy to\nany scholar, particularly if you start complaining). I invite Royce to blog\nhis full analysis of the problem, with proper underlying data, facts, etc, so\nthat I (and others) can explain to him the true factors involved in this problem\nhe is noticing.
\n\nThe editorial is a sad piece, and an editorial unworthy for the journal.
\n\nActually, the fact that he mentions the Impact Factor is amusing. It must\nbe noted that his editorial will have a huge impact, but not because the writing\nis any good, but because it is utterly wrong. And that reflects only one thing\nthat is wrong with impact factors.
\n\nI strongly suggest Royce to checks his facts before he starts writing. The ethics\nexpressed in the editorial seems only to apply to other scholars.
\n\nI you wonder about my strong language. That was triggered by these words from\nthe editorial: In the above light, I believe that the current phenomenon of\n“bloggers” should be of serious concern to scientists. I consider myself a\nblogger, not unreasonable giving the fact that I blog, and feel personally attacked.\nHence, the title of this post: Royce Murray and Caveat Emptor.
", "summary": "Derek’s blog pointed me to an editorial by Royce Murray Science Blogs and Caveat Emptor (doi:10.1021/ac102628p). He is warning us, science scholars, for blogs. He is accusing bloggers for not being scholarly, not checking facts etc.", "date_published": "2010-10-16T00:00:00+00:00", "date_modified": "2026-10-03T00:00:00+00:00", "tags": ["blogging","publishing","science"], "_references": [ { "url": "https://doi.org/10.1021/ac102628p", "doi": "10.1021/ac102628p" } ], "authors": [ { "name": "Egon Willighagen", "url": "https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7542-0286" } ] } ] }