[Fwd: Re: Nomenclator Zoologicus => A Tool, not the final solution]

[Martin Spies]

christian thompson wrote:

> Yes, Martin & Wolfgang are correct in pointing out problems with NEAVE.
> However, they are missing the point of what uBio has done.
I don't think so. Nobody is saying that what they are trying to do is
not worthwhile. I just wonder whether - at this point in time, see
below - publication of current NEAVE data will do more good than harm.
(By the way: as you know, Chris, I have voiced similar concerns about
comparable publications before.)

> NEAVE is a tool for specialists.
Unfortunately, as I understand it the current dataset - unchecked by
experts as it is - will not be available to specialists only, see below.

> What uBio has provided ... is now ... universally available
There you have it.

> So, the FIRST step is to congratulate uBio for making a very useful
> tool ...
Wolfgang Lorenz's message did so. And I would hardly have offered them
my help if I thought their entire project was misguided.

> Unfortunately, there are the Embrik Strands come out of the woodwork
> again. Embrik Strand became famous when Neave first came out as one who
> quickly re-named hundreds of supposed junior homonyms. Already there are
> non-specialists starting to do the same again.
That's my point exactly, Chris. In the interim period, while NEAVE is
publicly accessible but not QCd for content, will more problems be
solved or created using NEAVE?

I ask this question because I'm having to engage in clean-up of
nomenclature errors practically every day - out of necessity rather
than free choice. Consequently, I can recognize the potetnial for new
avalanches of further errors, and wwould like to see everyone involved
in affairs like NZ online give the above question very serious
consideration.

Prominent (!) warnings signalling preliminary data that must not be
taken for gospel seem the bare minimum one can ask for (and Wolfgang
Lorenz and I haven't asked for anything more).

Best regards,

--
Martin Spies
c/o Zoologische Staatssammlung Muenchen
Germany