Sean Barrett wrote:
Fred Bauder stated for the record:
There is also the question of whether it is reasonably convenient to access it. For example, a NYT's article might cost 2 bucks but something that requires accessing Nexus or consulting an obscure journal is much more expensive.
So material from an "obscure" journal is less acceptable? I guess my digging into old Soviet naval records for information about their nuclear submarines is a waste of time.
I think Fred made a tiny error in using the word "Obscure" here, but his basic point is certainly valid. A physics journal published by Harvard University and widely consulted and cited by physicists is a valid source -- an obscure website published by the Flat Earth Society is not.
Assessing whether or not sources are valid is well within our range of competence in most cases.
--Jimbo