Some time back we learned that arxiv.org, the physics e-print server that has largely superseded the role of traditional print journals, had taken a major step towards integration with the blogosphere, by introducing trackbacks. This mechanism allows blogs to leave a little link associated with the abstract of a paper on arxiv to which the blog post is referring; you can check out recent trackbacks here. It's a great idea, although not without some potential for abuse.

Now Peter Woit reports that he has been told that arxiv will not accept trackbacks from his blog. Peter, of course, is most well-known for being a critic of string theory. In this he is not alone; the set of "critics of string theory" includes, in their various ways, people like Roger Penrose, Richard Feynman, Daniel Friedan, Lee Smolin, Gerard ‘t Hooft, Robert Laughlin, Howard Georgi, and Sheldon Glashow. The difference is that these people were all famous for something else before they became critics of string theory; in substance, however, I'm not sure that their critiques are all that different.

Unfortunately, Peter has not been given an explicit reason why trackbacks from his blog have been banned, although his interactions with the arxiv have a long history. It's not hard to guess, of course; the moderators presumably feel that his criticisms have no merit and shouldn't be associated with individual paper abstracts.

The solution which was adopted, in the end, was that trackbacks would be accepted if they come from active researchers. It's not particularly hard to figure out who's an active researcher: just look at their publications. Exactly what level of activity counts as "active" is an issue. Wherever you draw the line, there will be borderline cases that require a judgement-call. But in most cases, the decision should be (and, indeed, has proven to be) straightforward.
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That's the trackback policy, as it's currently constituted. Peter Woit's publication record doesn't put him anywhere close to "active researcher" status. So, without some radical change in our criteria (or a radical change in his level of research activity), his trackbacks are not accepted.

If you're going to say that only "active researchers" are allowed to post, people are going to assume that those not allowed to post are either inactive or not researchers, and many of them will take offense. I'd be offended, if I were blocked on these grounds.

Really, this policy is so stupid, it had to be the work of a committee. It takes a lot of smart people working together to miss something so bloody obvious.

It's not particularly hard to figure out who's an active researcher: just look at their publications.

trackbacks are just about the least intrusive form of communication on the internet, and the most easily ignored; I have never contemplated preventing trackbacks from anyone, and it would be hard for anyone to rise to the level of obnoxiousness necessary for me to do so.