So I’m a science nerd. But now I’m not part of a university I've been completely cut off from the scientific community. Journals are behind paywalls and conferences are way too expensive for me to attend! Why is it so difficult to do independent science?
@ohuu I sympathize! I suspect that you already use it, but in case you don't https://sci-hub.se/ is an essential resource for the academically unaffiliated.
@johnnylogic I've heard of it but haven't started using it yet. Is it safe to use?
@johnnylogic I support what Sci-Hub is doing so the ethics question is a simple one for me. Just not sure if it'll land me in trouble.
@ohuu Personally, I find Elsevier (for example) much more objectionable than sci-hub. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jun/27/profitable-business-scientific-publishing-bad-for-science
@ohuu This is a complicated question. It depends on the level of risk you are willing to take on, what measures you use, and your own perspective on the service and its ethics. Here is a thread exploring a bit of it: https://academia.stackexchange.com/questions/87688/what-are-the-consequences-of-using-sci-hub