Talk:Nicholas Beale

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An individual covered in this article, Nicholas Beale, has edited Wikipedia as
NBeale (talk • contribs).

[edit] Hello Nicholas...

I should read the Prospect debate :) In any case, considering I have a history of dispute with the subject of this article, I will just state my opinion, and refrain from serious edits to the article.

I see no serious NPOV problems, but a few other concerns.
The subject self-describes as social philosopher, but the article text indicates his significant contributions is in the field of computer science and electrical engineering.
The material added by the subject, although reasonably neutral, is nevertheless unsourced. Some judgements like "his main book" seem to come from Wikipedia. If this material was posted on the subjects blog, which is a reliable source in this context, it would alleviate these concerns.
Finally, we are lacking third-party sources and to pre-empt notability objections. It would be very good if these could be posted here on this talk page!

Thank you, and I will now read the prospect debate, and selectively quote from the opponent :D No, seriously, I won't edit this article for obvious reasons, but thanks for listening to my opinion. :) --Merzul 13:55, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

Hi Merzul and thanks for your comments. I think User:Pastordavid is right that it is better for me not to edit this article under normal circumstances. I'd comment that although my contributions in the 80s were in IT my work and publications since 1990 have been in what I following Charles Handy would describe as social philosophy, taking the term in a wide sense to include on the one hand the interaction of science, technology, medicine, society and religion, and on the other the interactions between investment and companies and especially the social aspects of how companies work - in particular at Board level. There is also a particularly interesting collaboration starting with a world leader in evolution but this is in early stages and we haven't published yet. I really don't want to be drawn on notability but I'm quite sure that I'd consider someone with these ref as notable, placing particular weight on substantial sole-authored book from respected business publisher, piece in HBR and listing in Debrett's People of Today whose notability criteria are much stricter than Wikipedia, with the Prospect/IEEE/Sunday Times stuff as useful additional. I also forgot to add another publication: (with Sir Brian Jenkins GBE) The Missing Link, City Science & Technology Dialogue published by the Royal Society, 1995 and although I don't think I should if anyone wanted to ref it they'd be welcome :-). NBeale 17:38, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

Just one more comment, and I'll leave you alone :), but while searching for third party sources I found these things about I think your father:

I think Wikipedia would benefit from an entry about Evelyn Martin Lansdowne Beale. There are two appreciations about him in scholarly journals to draw from. This is not to say I disagree with this entry, I would abstain from voting on this one, but I'm surprised that Beale senior, FRS, doesn't have an entry. --Merzul 18:14, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

Hi Merzul. I agree with this, but I've a funny feeling that if I were to create one people might think I had a WP:COI. Martin used to joke that I should recommend him for a Baronetcy and then add "PS: I must declare an interest - I am the elder son". There is of course a long article in Biographical Memoirs of the Royal Society. You could create on if you wanted. NBeale 20:56, 5 April 2007 (UTC)