Please point out a specific instance where I "attacked your character" (prior to the post where you told me I was an **** kisser, of course--at that points, all bets are off). If you are really this thin skinned, you're going to have a hard time in academia. The deeper you dig this hole, the harder it's going to be to climb out.

Now I know that we’re supposed to lead by example and all that, but I'm not shoving that aside like it don't mean anything. I know it's important, I honestly do, but we're talking about book reviews. We're talking about book reviews, man. We're talking about book reviews. Book reviews. We're not talking about the articles. We're talking about book reviews.

On the first matter, in the discipline of Philosophy, usually when your book review has not been published after a year, it will never be. If in Poli Sci, things are different, then so be it. But I think it is unreasonable for a book review to be published almost 2 years after the date that the book was originally published.

This surely wasn't worth the trouble, but I just looked up the book reviews published in 2009 in Philosophical Review. Here are the dates the books were published:
2009: zero books published in 2009 were reviewed in 2009 issues of Philosophical Review
2008: 2 books published in 2008 were reviewed in Philosophical Review in 2009
2007: 19
2006: 7
2005: 5
2004: 3
2003: 1

So, at least for one of the top journals in philosophy, it is common for a book review to appear more than two years after the date the book was published.

Also, your own review of the 2006 Johnston book came out in 2009, 35 months after the book was published.

I did not push the matter with the JOP book review editor. I aired it on a blog, innocently asking for guidance and instead several bloggers, including you, attacked my character.

I changed my mind about posting the review. People do reconsider their initial decisions. I realized that there are no bridges between me and JOP. I have no desire to publish my work there in the future, end of story.

Be a man, AnyUser, and talk to me face to face about this matter. I'll even arm wrestle you for the decision on who is right. Anyone want to wager on the outcome?

Fight! Fight! Fight!!!

Fight 'em till the death!

A year later, I find out that my book review has been shelved, will not be published, no reason is given. It looks like the book review editor was pressured by the author not to publish the review.

Sounds like Val's posting puts all of those charges to rest. You made an error.

I don't suspect that I'll push the matter with the JOP book review editor.

Perhaps a matter of interpretation, but I believe by posting your complaints here, you did in fact push the issue, but in a public and unprofessional way. I consider that an error. You may not.

P.S. I'm not going to post the review because then I would be a persona non grata at JOP.

Which you later did ...

Again, I'm fearful of burning any bridges with JOP.

Which you have now successfully done ...

I realize that you're hiding behind your anonymity, but I'm obviously not (that's already been settled). So feel free to come talk with me after one of my forthcoming talks.

I will probably only be doing the poli sci conference circuit for another year. I'm sure that we can have a civil conversation.

I'll let the sharks chew on the rest of the meat you've just tossed into the water.

Unlike you, I am no sycophant. I do not need to publish in JOP. Poli Sci is not even my discipline. Live your own lie and continue to kiss ****.

Thanks for all the attention, though. While unintended, yesterday alone there were 50 Google hits from five different countries with my name in them.

Looks like you will be dining on crow tonight.

another piece of unsolicited advice for you. First ignore this thread. You need not reply to a bunch of anonymous posters. But immediately write an apology to Val. Eat crow and let her know you've learned your lesson. And move on.

Take my advice. I know of what I speak.

Serious question for the mods. What's the stop someone from creating a profile and then attaching somebody else's webpage to it, and then maligning that person? For all we know, that's what has happened here as well.

Well nothing initially. It would likely be brought to my attention very quickly though. If it became a problem then I would look into removing the ability to link to personal webpages.

However, I should note that if account has been .edu verified then I think there is little chance that someone would post a link to someone else's page and post "fake" posts to make the person look bad.

I've been wondering why the OP hasn't chimed since then with something such as an apology.

He's too busy writing his next book review? ;-)

With all due respect, there's a lot of angst here over, well, a book review.

I was thinking the same thing but then just concluded: "Maybe these things are worth more than I give them credit for."

Great forum

After being forwarded information on this post...

Valerie, there is no need to cover up the fact that you read PSJR on a regular basis. You need not have any shame about it. Regular readers and posters on PSJR include Professors Mike Munger, Stephen Staideman, Jeff Jenkins, and many others who read and post anonymously, such as Professor Chill.

Again, no shame in it, Valerie.

"...Your review hasn't been "shelved" It is scheduled to appear in the first issue of 2010, it was submitted to the publisher in October. It was NEVER shared with the book's author. And, according to my records, it hasn't been a year. I got it in April, and it was sent to the publisher in October. . . . I know that your review was solicited by my prior assistant, who is a specialist in Political theory, so maybe notification of when it was to appear slipped through the tracks and for that I apologize. But, I think the more appropriate steps would be to contact me personally. I thought I would do that-email you privately- before posting my reply on PSJR. "

To clarify: I never shared the review with the book's author, and have never been in contact with the book's author. I do not think I have ever shared a review with a book author prior to publication unless it was part of a book review exchange that included author responses. Also, I do not think I have ever "rejected" a book review that we solicited, or that was volunteered/approved by us first (I would have to do some research to find out which was the situation with this particular review). I have declined a handful of completely unsolicited book reviews that I thought inappropriate for the journal. This was not the situation with this review.

Maybe the moderators could delete the post with the book review. I'm not sure what the copyright implications are of a forthcoming book review being posted here.

Happy New Year!

Valerie Hoekstra
Book Review Editor, JOP

I suggest you immediately write the editor, apologize for airing dirty laundry in public, and air your grievance. Seriously. The cat is already out of the bag.