I often read or hear the expression (metaphor) that every researcher is `Standing on the Shoulder of Giants' attributed to the Bernard of Chartres French Neo-Platonist philosopher referencing dwarves perched on the shoulders of giants [the Ancients], and thus are able to see more and farther. Using this metaphor in research we are encouraged to select newer papers in preference to older research papers for this very reason. From my experience (in social sciences) some of the best papers are the older ones written by full time amateur researchers who are self-funded, rather than many of the newer papers written perhaps by part-time researchers. Is this the experience of other researchers and if so should the metaphor be changed and updated to 'standing on the shoulders of (full time) giants?
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