Very recently RG discontinued 'Comments' on research papers thus prohibiting open remarks and discussion on publications. We are now unable to know the merits and demerits of our papers through the remarks of stalwarts in the subject. I believe, this step will certainly reduce the charm and value of RG. After all, RG serves as a platform for interactons among the researchers. It is gradually reducing itself to a mere INDEXING platform. Such detrimental steps will also reduce the participation of researchers here. Previously they had abolished projects as well. Thus, RG is heading towards a blind end.
See https://help.researchgate.net/hc/en-us/articles/33255035546257-Commenting-on-research-items for more information: "As of March 11, 2025 it’s no longer possible to add new comments to research items. After May 1, 2025, all existing comments will be removed from research items. If you'd like to create copies of your comments, please make sure to do so before this date." However, the reason given ("we've found that comments are no longer providing the same level of these benefits to researchers who engage with the feature or authors whose work is commented on") is not very clear to me. The real reason may be the use of the Comments function by scammers with fake accounts, see my contributions to this discussion initiated by Rob Keller : https://www.researchgate.net/post/New_type_of_scam_New_approach_using_fake_accounts/1
I am unhappy with this decision. RG can always flush out such dubious members.
I was unpleasantly surprised several days ago, checking one of my recent comments... I completely agree that removal of comments is bad decision, unfortunately not first and probably not last.
Abdul Haq I don't think so - I argued with removal of projects earlier and got ANY answer only after several reminders. This way several years of my work and developed net of contacts disappeared with one move of RG administration...
Dear Tapas Chakrabarty , dear all RG members affected by this,
I have (comparatively simple) made well structured and formatted PDFs from the comment section of my own few (21) RG papers on iSpace theory of exact value and integer geometry on constants of nature (taking about 2md of my time, which is in its own problematic such was the required minimum).
However, all comments ever made by me on related physical topic RG papers go into 1000+ (easily), with NO "Download your comments" offer by RG site infrastructure whatsoever. So I have unfortunately to conclude RG is simply running here the biggest scientifc censorship attempt ever made.
Removing some uncomfortable (for some in mainstream) comments or changing its mechanism and/or rules is one thing, but an apparent as of now unrecoverable detruction of scientific historical data in comment form on posted papers of others wss imho a key element of suceess of RG in the first place - giving it the growth it wanted and imho deserved so far - but deletion is nothing but outright evil (technically completely unnecessary).
Proof of fact: the same main financing company behind RG - Microsoft - is giving right now everyone transiting from Skype to Teams a/the one-click ability to get created a tar/zip file of every chat ever made (!) and every attachment file ever posted (!!) - since Skype exists, which is >>10 years (and EU data protection and possibly violationg privacy with this aside).
So there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for permanently and on 3-4 weeks short notice (!!!) removal of RG comments on published papers whatsoever.
Besides - those who published and might have complained on "high level" knew the rules - what could happen in any social media style system like RG is - even a high class one line RG - before their deciscion, that is...
Its just sad and I will never trust RG again (with anything, stopping posting)
Best and kind regards to everyone on RG who is affected by this decision, actually I was very surprised about the only little discussions, no outcry or shitstorm or anything like that (which imho could have rightly expected). But the month is not over yet, so we see on 2025-05-01+ what happens once all others finally notice over time what happend ...
Christian G. Wolf - CEO and founder of 42x10 - OT & IT security consulting
iSpace theory on exact value and integer geometry of constants of nature
Just FYI - as of today (so only technically late from announced 1st May 2025 date) all comments on my (and hence likely by now also all or near all of your) and everyone else well-intended (and at least in my case for sure) scientifically profound comments done in the last 10+ years have been unrecoverable deleted - *lost for ever* - destroying a large pool of gained knowledge and know-how from discussing papers (not only on questions). Nothing but a sad day for the future of. science, that is. End of trust on RG!
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