The answer must, of course, vary. If the person making the request has done
the proper background search and is now looking for unpublished or obscure
references then I think the request is perfectly reasonable and should be
honored. Professional courtesy should certainly be extended to the
individual, and I am willing to extend this courtesy even further and assume
that the proper background research has, in fact, been done.
If, on the other hand, I had reason to suspect that the request was part
of a scheme to avoid doing a thorough job in the research then a problem
exists that we must be concerned about.
cheers - and good luck to all working with this project
john
>Question of the Day:
>
>In an academic setting, it would seem that such a general query would be a
>perfectly reasonable and honorable request. However, it is apparent from the
>request that it is being made in the framework of contracted, for profit
>cultural resource management. In other words (i.e., in my words, as devil's
>advocate), the author is essentially asking for free advice to assist him in
>his financially compensated research.
>
>Is such a request inappropriate? At what level does it become
>inappropritate? Or is this request simply reflecting the changing way we do
>archaeology in this country, i.e., shifting from an institutional to a
>contracted base? Is there a fundamental difference?
>
>Respectfully,
>
>Mark C. Branstner
>Great Lakes Research Associates, Inc.
>
>
John Staeck Of fate's oft horrendous games
Anthropology each person is allotted to play
Luther College his or her fair share...
Decorah, IA 52101 Yet, in loss may be found comfort,
319-387-1284 for the outcome, no matter how brutal,
[log in to unmask] shall pass, like all things,
into the swirling grey mists of time.
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