[Taxacom] FW: formation of zoological names with Mc, Mac, et

[Stephen Thorpe]

> I am sure everybody would be most interested to hear more about
>how your "sensible and pragmatic solutions" are going to stop those "taxonomic vandals"?
Hold on there, Paul, I DIDN'T SAY that my solutions were intended to stop "taxonomic vandals"! The quote was intended to
back up my general claim that there are many holes in the Code. I don't actually think there is such a thing as "taxonomic vandals". But
this is a whole different issue. The discussion from which the quote was taken concerned this unfortunate situation:
http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Myuchelys
The same new genus was named again in Zootaxa without even a mention of Wells' previous publication, because Wells is considered
by many to be a bogus "taxonomic vandal"! Efforts are being made to prove his journal to be bogus according to the letter of the Code.
I strongly DISAGREE! I say that bad taxonomy is nothing new, and is by no means restricted to "amateurs" like Wells. If we start restricting
who can contribute taxonomy, then it is the thin end of the wedge, and who will be excluded next? It will become an exclusive club, and
many people who could otherwise make valuable contributions will be unable to do so.
This sort of thing can get quite nasty: have you read what has been published concerning Dewanand Makhan? For example, read the references 
at the bottom of this page (if you have a strong stomach!):
http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Dewanand_Makhan

Stephen

________________________________________
From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu [taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Paul van Rijckevorsel [dipteryx at freeler.nl]
Sent: Wednesday, 2 September 2009 10:41 p.m.
To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] FW: formation of zoological names with Mc, Mac, et

From: "Stephen Thorpe" <s.thorpe at auckland.ac.nz>
Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 10:52 AM

>If you try to follow the Code to the very letter, you will soon run into
>all sorts of problems. To quote commissioner Zhang (pers. comm.) in the
>context of a discussion about what counts as valid publication according to
>"the letter of the Code" [quote] there are many holes that taxonomic
>vandals can exploit - it doesn't make our jobs very easy [unquote]. So,
>what do we do? My approach is to try to find  sensible and pragmatic
>solutions to the problems,

***
I am sure everybody would be most interested to hear more about
how your "sensible and pragmatic solutions" are going to stop those
"taxonomic vandals"?

Paul


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