Comments on: Diaza[12]annulene: Would You have Known Better? http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2007/12/14/diaza12annulene-would-you-have-known-better/ We have technical difficulties, it will take a day or two to get back to normal. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:11:39 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Look What We Just Got: Meiji EMZ-5TR Zoom Stero Microscope « RajcaLab Weblog http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2007/12/14/diaza12annulene-would-you-have-known-better/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Look What We Just Got: Meiji EMZ-5TR Zoom Stero Microscope « RajcaLab Weblog Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:45:20 +0000 http://blog.chemicalforums.com/2007/12/14/diaza12annulene-would-you-have-known-better/#comment-27 [...] to confirm the structures. The recent case of diaza[12]annulene (read the discussion about it here) reminds us once again the importance of x-ray structure determination. In our experience, x-ray [...] [...] to confirm the structures. The recent case of diaza[12]annulene (read the discussion about it here) reminds us once again the importance of x-ray structure determination. In our experience, x-ray [...]

]]> By: James Bashkin http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2007/12/14/diaza12annulene-would-you-have-known-better/comment-page-1/#comment-11 James Bashkin Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:53:11 +0000 http://blog.chemicalforums.com/2007/12/14/diaza12annulene-would-you-have-known-better/#comment-11 I agree with your comments: "I don't think it is fair ...". I think that it is normal and even desirable for scientists to make mistakes- at least people who make mistakes are pushing some envelope, somewhere: even if the people involved are not operating at a global frontier of science (in this specific case), it is clearly a personal frontier. The only real "sin" is not handling mistakes properly by corrections or retractions, once the real story is understood. It is worth remembering that many of the greatest scientists made mistakes (though they usually weren't careless). So, personal finger-pointing serves no useful purpose, as you indicate, but the wake-up call is valuable to all of us, as are the correct results. Thanks for the reminder! J I agree with your comments: “I don’t think it is fair …”. I think that it is normal and even desirable for scientists to make mistakes- at least people who make mistakes are pushing some envelope, somewhere: even if the people involved are not operating at a global frontier of science (in this specific case), it is clearly a personal frontier. The only real “sin” is not handling mistakes properly by corrections or retractions, once the real story is understood.

It is worth remembering that many of the greatest scientists made mistakes (though they usually weren’t careless).

So, personal finger-pointing serves no useful purpose, as you indicate, but the wake-up call is valuable to all of us, as are the correct results. Thanks for the reminder! J

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