[seqfan] Re: R: Ombudsman needed for OEIS?

allouche at math.jussieu.fr allouche at math.jussieu.fr
Thu Jan 27 19:07:48 CET 2011



IMHO, and after having read the serious arguments against an ombudsman
for the OEIS, I would just like to stress on what an ombudsman really
is. The French corresponding word would be "mediateur": in other words
an ombudsman is only an external "referee", who does not judge or
beaks any previous decision, but is someone to whom one can complain
with the effect that the case might possibly (usually only in a few
cases) be re-examined: not by the ombudsman! but by the usual "judges".
And the role of the ombudsman is twofold: someone to complain to, but
also someone who can SOMETIMES facilitate a second round.

We all had papers rejected by journals without reasons or with
obviously wrong reasons, and almost all of us asked for a second
referee (and sometimes got an impolite answer :-)

The only real problem I would see is that the ombudsman might be drowned
by systematically uncontent cranks (sorry for that exagerated word :-)
but it might be worth it.

Best
jean-paul

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