i think if you think something does not smell good, don't eat it! that's just a
rule of thumb. also, i happen to prefer canned chick peas to the home soaked
version as i can never seem to get the right consistency w/soaking. although i
did work at a restaurant once where they'd leave out huge tubs of them overnight
to soak (no refrigeration) and they were wonderful. i think the difference
w/the canned ones besides possible loss of nutritional value (can't speak to
that) is that they have a lot of sodium added. i usually rinse mine well,
although this likely still leaves lots of the salt. i've never needed to
refrigerate any type of beans when soaking, though.
kate