> It just seems like a reminder of existing laws, like one sees in all manner of contracts or Terms of Service.
An email purportedly from an individual is not the same as a contract or terms of service issued by a corporation from which I am getting a service. If I, as an individual, were to send you an email asking, for example, if you are paying all the taxes you legally owe, am I just giving you "a reminder of existing laws"? Or are you going to start wondering who I am and why I am asking and wonder if something is going on behind the scenes?
> People regularly get calls saying they are in violation of tax law and must pay.
Yes, that's true. And people who make such calls are regularly considered unethical scammers who do not deserve any consideration. So why should we treat researchers who send similar emails any differently?
An email purportedly from an individual is not the same as a contract or terms of service issued by a corporation from which I am getting a service. If I, as an individual, were to send you an email asking, for example, if you are paying all the taxes you legally owe, am I just giving you "a reminder of existing laws"? Or are you going to start wondering who I am and why I am asking and wonder if something is going on behind the scenes?
> People regularly get calls saying they are in violation of tax law and must pay.
Yes, that's true. And people who make such calls are regularly considered unethical scammers who do not deserve any consideration. So why should we treat researchers who send similar emails any differently?