From: SANFORD G THATCHER <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2018 10:16:28 -0500

If you read my post carefully, you would understand that it was not I who
was
characterizing Sci-Hub in terms of Marxist ideology. This is how Elbakyan
herself characterized what she was doing in an interview.

Sure, what she has done with Sci-Hub can be framed in multiple other ways,
but
it strikes me as important to recognize how the founder herself represented
wbat she hoped her handiwork would accomplish.

Others on this list who were present at the UNT conference, like Kevin
Hawkins,
can speak to whether what I heard is what I have stated here.

Sandy Thatcher



On Mon, Dec 10, 2018 01:39 AM LIBLICENSE <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>From: Jan Velterop <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2018 23:55:15 +0100
>
>What Sci-Hub does is no-doubt against existing law. But framing it as a
>“Marxist attempt to destroy capitalism” is quite an exaggerated
>characterisation. It could also be framed as a resistance movement
>objecting to much that’s perceived as wrong with scholarly communication,
>particularly restricting access to scientific knowledge as a privilege for
>the wealthy instead of making it freely accessible as a common good for the
>world.
>
>Framing it as such, as a protest against injustice, will inevitably accept
>that illegal action may well be part of it, as it often is in such
>circumstances. Civil disobedience and actions that are considered illegal
>are inherent in most protest against injustice.
>
>If you’re into exaggerated comparisons, you may even compare it with, for
>instance, the actions of the colonies in the American revolution against
>the then existing law. Without those illegal actions the colonies would not
>have achieved the changes that led to their independence.
>
>Johannes (Jan) J M Velterop
>
>
>On 9 Dec 2018, at 20:45, LIBLICENSE <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>From: SANFORD G THATCHER <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2018 09:25:07 -0500
>
>Thanks for reposting this earlier article. What it argues, of course, is
>that
>most of the harm comes by way of hacking, not the donation of access codes,
>but
>it does not deny that some of it comes about via donation.  The article
does
>not, however, attempt to quantify what percentage each activity
contributes.
>
>I hope that people are aware that Elbakyan is not just acting to free up
>scholarly resources. As a true Marxist zealot, she wants to see the entire
>capitalist system destroyed and replaced by a Marxian utopia reflecting the
>motto :From each according to his abilities, to each according to his
>needs."
>
>Let's not kid ourselves that she just wants to champion open access within
>an
>overall free-market system. Rather, she wants to see that system entirely
>uprooted and destroyed forever.  Anyone who voluntarily donates access
>codes in
>the belief that Elbakyan is just a champion of liberty is sadly mistaken.
>
>I base this characterization on an interview Elbakyan gave to an audience
>attending an open-access conference at the University of North Texas a few
>years ago.
>
>Sandy Thatcher
>
>
>On Fri, Dec  7, 2018 08:00 AM LIBLICENSE <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>From: Debbie <[log in to unmask]>
>>Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2018 10:46:23 +0000
>>
>>That’s not what the evidence suggests…
>>
>>
>
https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2018/09/18/guest-post-think-sci-hub-is-just-downloading-pdfs-think-again/
>>
>>Debbie Wilton
>>
>>PSI Ltd
>>Tel: +44 (0) 1865 849514
>>
>>
>>From: SANFORD G THATCHER <[log in to unmask]>
>>Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2018 21:44:22 -0500
>>
>>The article refers to the authentications as "stolen," but isn't it true
>>that many of the access codes are given to Sci-Hub freely by cooperating
>>academics?
>>
>>Sandy Thatcher
>>
>>On Wed, Dec  5, 2018 09:04 PM LIBLICENSE <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>>From: "Jim O'Donnell" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2018 12:18:34 -0700
>>>
>>>The intra-FSU politics of Sci-Hub have been the subject of speculation
>>>before (
>>>
>>
>
https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/8/16985666/alexandra-elbakyan-sci-hub-open-access-science-papers-lawsuit
>>),
>>>with Elbakyan's presumed residence in Russia complicating the
hypothetical
>>>narratives.  She was interviewed in the propaganda film *Paywall*, but
was
>>>not asked questions that would clarify the funding, control, and
operation
>>>of Sci-Hub.  Now today, this news, presumably a complication:
>>>
>>
>
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/sci-hub-blocked-in-russia-following-ruling-by-moscow-court/3009838.article#.XAWkzt3kPek.twitter
>>>
>>>Jim O'Donnell
>>>ASU