Splitters and Lumpers

[John Grehan]

 At the risk of being branded elitist, I consider there is a case
>for accepting only names published in professionally reviewed articles.

This proposal may be ok for a level playing field, but I know of a case
where a systematist was denied publication by a journal as a result of
the author representing a different research perspective that was opposed
by the reviewers and the editor just went along with it (my experience is that
there are quite a few editors who are either unable to think critically, or
don't
want to and will accept reviewer evaluation at face value). In order to get
the names published the author turned to a society newsletter. All the
professionals
got hot and bothered by this, but there was no outcry over the reason for its
necessity. This occured in a country that was small enough not to provide a
diversity
of alternative publication outlets and reviewers.

I also would like to add my support to the value and status of
"amateurs"outlined by
 avocet . I suppose I am one myself.

Sincerely, John Grehan