  We review the empirical comparison of SAOMs and TERGMs by Leifeld and Cranmer
(2019) in Network Science. We note that their model specification uses nodal
covariates calculated from observed degrees instead of using structural
effects, thus turning endogeneity into circularity. In consequence, their
out-of-sample predictions using TERGMs are based on out-of-sample information
and thereby predict the future using observations from the future. We conclude
that their analysis rest on erroneous model specifications that render the
article's conclusions meaningless. Consequently, researchers should disregard
recommendations from the criticized paper when making informed modelling
choices.
