Comments on: The Scent of Desire: Discovering Our Enigmatic Sense of Smell by Rachel Herz http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/12/02/the-scent-of-desire-discovering-our-enigmatic-sense-of-smell-by-rachel-herz/ a blog about perfume Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:55:24 -0400 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/12/02/the-scent-of-desire-discovering-our-enigmatic-sense-of-smell-by-rachel-herz/#comment-32785 Anonymous Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:26:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/12/02/the-scent-of-desire-discovering-our-enigmatic-sense-of-smell-by-rachel-herz/#comment-32785 At www.attractant.co.uk you can see how any unscrupulous marketer can manipulate public perception of the concept of human pheromones. Even a google search on my book title: "The Scent of Eros" (and name of my pheromone-enhanced product line) may lead you to them, where you see: Give them a try... let "the scent of eros" change your life!... This is what you are also up against as you continue to do your research. Companies like this have bastardized the concept of human pheromones to the degree that a general audience--bombarded with ridiculous claims--might take no further interest in the scientifically established link between human pheromones and behavior. When you acheive scientific success, your reputation may suffer because others steal anything they can steal from you and misrepresent it to make money. Time spent on patents, trademarks, and copyright protection deters from research efforts, and ensure you will spend time and money on court proceedings; it does not prevent others from the profitable theft of your work. At http://www.attractant.co.uk you can see how any unscrupulous marketer can manipulate public perception of the concept of human pheromones. Even a google search on my book title: “The Scent of Eros” (and name of my pheromone-enhanced product line) may lead you to them, where you see:

Give them a try… let “the scent of eros” change your life!…

This is what you are also up against as you continue to do your research. Companies like this have bastardized the concept of human pheromones to the degree that a general audience–bombarded with ridiculous claims–might take no further interest in the scientifically established link between human pheromones and behavior. When you acheive scientific success, your reputation may suffer because others steal anything they can steal from you and misrepresent it to make money.

Time spent on patents, trademarks, and copyright protection deters from research efforts, and ensure you will spend time and money on court proceedings; it does not prevent others from the profitable theft of your work.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/12/02/the-scent-of-desire-discovering-our-enigmatic-sense-of-smell-by-rachel-herz/#comment-32784 Anonymous Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:42:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/12/02/the-scent-of-desire-discovering-our-enigmatic-sense-of-smell-by-rachel-herz/#comment-32784 I'm glad you made that point clear for me, James. And I'm sorry to hear about the plagiarism. What applies for researchers in the academic field should apply to popular science authors too: give credit where credit is due! I'm glad you made that point clear for me, James. And I'm sorry to hear about the plagiarism. What applies for researchers in the academic field should apply to popular science authors too: give credit where credit is due!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/12/02/the-scent-of-desire-discovering-our-enigmatic-sense-of-smell-by-rachel-herz/#comment-32783 Anonymous Sat, 12 Jan 2008 02:49:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/12/02/the-scent-of-desire-discovering-our-enigmatic-sense-of-smell-by-rachel-herz/#comment-32783 I should have made it more clear that I have the utmost respect for Rachel's refussal to read my book prior to completion of her own. It seems counterintuitive to outside observers. Within research circles, however, there is always the likelihood that you will glean information from the work of others; forget where the information came from, and inadvertently say something very similar to what someone else said/wrote. Rachel was merely trying to avoid this type of problem by not reading my book., until she had finished writing hers. In contrast, Michelle Kodis wrote a book that plagerized my work extensively. Thirty eight pages of her book were simply re-wording of what I'd already written. When I contacted her publisher about this, I was stone-walled, of course. I had my publisher contact hers, and they replied that since we researched the same topic, there was bound to be some duplication. That might have held up it court--with the exception of a case borrowed from my book that she presented as a fact she found "somewhere else." That fact came directly from a student to her professor, my co-author--and was never made known to anyone prior to my book's publication. My co-author said this happens all the time, so I let it drop. It's still very frustrating, however, and many others have borrowed heavily from my works during the past decade with no acknowledgement of their information source.. Michelle Kodis and I never met, and are unlikely to ever meet. I see Rachel, my friend, about once each year. As you may know, she is well-repected by her colleagues in research. Next time I talk to her, we will be able to more freely discuss our mutual perspectives and writings, which is great for our ongoing friendship and for our professional interests. I should have made it more clear that I have the utmost respect for Rachel's refussal to read my book prior to completion of her own. It seems counterintuitive to outside observers. Within research circles, however, there is always the likelihood that you will glean information from the work of others; forget where the information came from, and inadvertently say something very similar to what someone else said/wrote. Rachel was merely trying to avoid this type of problem by not reading my book., until she had finished writing hers.

In contrast, Michelle Kodis wrote a book that plagerized my work extensively. Thirty eight pages of her book were simply re-wording of what I'd already written. When I contacted her publisher about this, I was stone-walled, of course. I had my publisher contact hers, and they replied that since we researched the same topic, there was bound to be some duplication. That might have held up it court–with the exception of a case borrowed from my book that she presented as a fact she found “somewhere else.” That fact came directly from a student to her professor, my co-author–and was never made known to anyone prior to my book's publication. My co-author said this happens all the time, so I let it drop. It's still very frustrating, however, and many others have borrowed heavily from my works during the past decade with no acknowledgement of their information source..

Michelle Kodis and I never met, and are unlikely to ever meet. I see Rachel, my friend, about once each year. As you may know, she is well-repected by her colleagues in research. Next time I talk to her, we will be able to more freely discuss our mutual perspectives and writings, which is great for our ongoing friendship and for our professional interests.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/12/02/the-scent-of-desire-discovering-our-enigmatic-sense-of-smell-by-rachel-herz/#comment-32782 Anonymous Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:39:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/12/02/the-scent-of-desire-discovering-our-enigmatic-sense-of-smell-by-rachel-herz/#comment-32782 James, thank you for your comment, and I hope I'm not misinterpreting it. I think that refusing to read a fellow researcher's book for the reason you mentioned is in itself objectionable... but more importantly, I don't understand why a scientist would do that. Are you still on speaking terms with Ms. Herz? James, thank you for your comment, and I hope I'm not misinterpreting it. I think that refusing to read a fellow researcher's book for the reason you mentioned is in itself objectionable… but more importantly, I don't understand why a scientist would do that. Are you still on speaking terms with Ms. Herz?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/12/02/the-scent-of-desire-discovering-our-enigmatic-sense-of-smell-by-rachel-herz/#comment-32781 Anonymous Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:41:00 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/12/02/the-scent-of-desire-discovering-our-enigmatic-sense-of-smell-by-rachel-herz/#comment-32781 I might also have expected this author (and friend) to reference my book "The Scent of Eros: Mysteries of Odor in Human Sexuality" (1995 & 2002), had she not refused to read it until after her book was in press. Rarely have I met people like Rachel, whose personal and professional integrity are far above the norms established by the "publish or perish" demands of academia. After refusing the free copy of my book that I offered her a few years ago, with the explanation that she was writing one of her own, she asked me for it when last we met at an April 2007 olfactory conference luncheon--after her book was "in press." James V. Kohl www.scentoferos.com I might also have expected this author (and friend) to reference my book “The Scent of Eros: Mysteries of Odor in Human Sexuality” (1995 & 2002), had she not refused to read it until after her book was in press. Rarely have I met people like Rachel, whose personal and professional integrity are far above the norms established by the “publish or perish” demands of academia. After refusing the free copy of my book that I offered her a few years ago, with the explanation that she was writing one of her own, she asked me for it when last we met at an April 2007 olfactory conference luncheon–after her book was “in press.”

James V. Kohl

http://www.scentoferos.com

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