uBio

[Barry Roth]

David Remsen makes Chris Thompson's point almost better than Chris himself.  When he writes "If you can find a way to get your nickel per name out of them" he shows in just what little esteem he holds the expertise of taxonomists.  He also brings up the tired old argument that goes, in essence "it would be great if thus, and thus, and so -- and it's YOUR fault that it's not so, because you won't contribute the names."  Heard that one before, precisely from people who wished me to disgorge for free some information I had gathered through months and years of effort.

Remsen's examples show that his model is essentially that of a big spreadsheet in the sky where simple equivalences of names are logged and anybody can just click on them.  But Chris Thompson's comparison of taxonomists with physicians is more appropriate.  Interpreting the taxon names in the Challenger volumes requires more than just a name table.  It is more equivalent to giving a medical diagnosis.

Barry Roth


---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.