Guys. It's time for some game theory.
Let's assume your manuscript is ready to go, and your competitor is weeks behind. Your choices:
1/You preprint your manuscript. You have an independent, public record of priority. There's always proof that you were first.
I absolutely agree with you -- but what I'm told is "my competitor will see my preprint and replicate/rush their story to a journal" 😬
And I know that this has indeed happened, but it seems to be extremely rare and, you know, I prefer to be scooped with a preprint than without one 😅
Jan 12, 2026 17:36This is all interesting, but where do you go for arbitration after you published or preprinted first, but The Big Shot still gets the credit, even republishing what you did 2 years earlier, without citation? I think the whole concept of scooping is a chimera, a boogeyman to scare poor PhD students 👻
