Mathematician turns down award [Archive]

yankeeyosh

08-22-2006, 11:21 PM

I don't know how much interest there is in this...but considering I'm a mathematician and a geek, this is quite interesting to me:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/08/22/math.genius.ap/index.html

The Fields Medal, by the way, is a greater achievement than the Nobel Prize since it is only awarded once every four years instead of yearly. There is no Nobel Prize in Mathematics...rumor has it that Alfred Nobel's wife was having an affair with a mathematician.

spokes

08-22-2006, 11:57 PM

surely the earth is now off of it's axis and it hurdling towards the sun..........a frined of mine used to have an expression to deal with a situation like this....."hhhhmmmm, how uninteresting".

anyways, just kidding, i can see how a math guy, and perhaps some stats guys might be interested in this development......

Tenshi28

08-23-2006, 06:45 AM

I beg to disagree. As a geek myself I do find it interesting and I actually noticed it yesterday while doing my morning news scan, but,like yourself, didn't think many people would care much for it.

I didn't know the part about Nobel's wife though, pretty funny if true!

CTGirl

08-23-2006, 09:16 AM

I noticed this news story earlier today, and found it interesting, but at the same time not surprising. Think about who we're talking about here: a "reclusive" mathematician who clearly has not seen a grroming tool or hair salon in many years......are we really surprised that he is rejecting an award from the society that he is so clearly discounting?

These super genius types are always a bit, well, different, from most people in society, and they also are often extremely arrogant and thing they're better than everyone/everything else in the world. He probably sees this award as "below" him.

inmediasres

08-23-2006, 09:19 AM

I'll offer an alternative to the snotty Nutmegger's explanation.

Maybe he doesn't want the money because he's completely in his own world, or because he doesn't want to take it and then have the Russian Mafia after him for it?

CTGirl

08-23-2006, 09:21 AM

oooooooo, ouch, you trying to start a fight with me? lol

I'm not trying to be snotty about it, just trying to get into this guy's head and explore his possible motivations is all.

inmediasres

08-23-2006, 09:26 AM

I know I've told yankeeyosh this and perhaps a few others, but I've never liked anyone from CT. I've just never met anyone from that state that I've liked.

I've also never met anyone from Delaware. Do people even live in Delaware? I've never seen a DE license plate either, except on a truck, which doesn't count.

Anyway, I think this guy is probably just a real weirdo and likely doesn't consider the award below him...he just lacks the understanding most of us have about merit and financial rewards. Supposedly he lives with his mother on $50 a month or something. A bit nutty.

CTGirl

08-23-2006, 09:29 AM

Well I've only been living in CT for 2 years, and I'm really from NY, so does that make it better?

I can certainly understand not liking people from CT, our stereotype here is generally not a positive one, and it is often deserved.

And you're right, he may not think the award below him, I was just thinking of this super genius guy I knew in hs who thought he was so much smarter than everyone else in town, and then went to college at Harvard, and continued to think that he was smarter/better than everyone there as well, including the professors :googly:

inmediasres

08-23-2006, 09:32 AM

Haha, I work and attend school at Harvard, and I know EXACTLY what you mean.

But I also think those kind of people like the attention and want the best for themselves. And this guy is living in a rat hole on $50 a month, so I think he's just in his own world.

embrassezla

08-23-2006, 10:02 AM

that is so interesting! I can't believe someone (may have) proved Poincare's conjecture!

my bet is that he's paranoid there's a problem with his proof. that's pretty common.

inmediasres

08-23-2006, 12:12 PM

my bet is that he's paranoid there's a problem with his proof. that's pretty common.

That doesn't make any sense. He already published the proof on the Internet, and several mathematicians around the world are reviewing it. So far, no errors.

WorkInProgress

08-23-2006, 12:28 PM

Slate had an interesting article sort of explaining what he did and why it's important.

http://www.slate.com/id/2147954/

Hey, I needed an explanation.

BlueEyedFunOne

08-23-2006, 01:26 PM

I know I've told yankeeyosh this and perhaps a few others, but I've never liked anyone from CT. I've just never met anyone from that state that I've liked.

I've also never met anyone from Delaware. Do people even live in Delaware? I've never seen a DE license plate either, except on a truck, which doesn't count.

Well I currently reside in CT, although I'm not from here. And I call DE my 'home' because my parents' place is there, although that's not where I was raised either.

Would make for an extremely interesting meet-up, eh? Haha!

Laugh, kids...it's almost Friday :razz:

inmediasres

08-23-2006, 01:45 PM

I've only been to CT a few times, and I've just always had a bad experience there.

The highlight of these trips usually involves seeing a prostitute puking over the rail on New Haven Green.

That's my impression of CT. That, and lots of East Coast Establishment snobs.

I'm not anti-Delaware...I've just never met anyone from that state.

CTGirl

08-23-2006, 01:51 PM

ouch

That's not what CT, or the rest of the northeast for the matter, is like at all!

While there are some less-than-impressive people in New Haven (it is a city afterall) New Haven is also home to Yale, and therefore a very cultured and all-around great city.

Where are you from that is so great to cause you to look so poorly on our part of the country?

inmediasres

08-23-2006, 01:56 PM

The Yale campus is fine, actually. I just don't like New Haven itself. And Hartford? Blegh.

I come from the PNW.

crystal_dance

08-23-2006, 02:13 PM

CTGirl

08-23-2006, 02:17 PM

The Yale campus is fine, actually. I just don't like New Haven itself. And Hartford? Blegh.

I come from the PNW.

Umm, where exactly do you think Yale campus is??? The Yale campus IS New Haven, and extends to the New Haven green, and has many of its office buldings directly across the street from the green.

And yeah, what is the PNW?

inmediasres

08-23-2006, 02:17 PM

Pacific Northwest.

inmediasres

08-23-2006, 02:18 PM

Umm, where exactly do you think Yale campus is??? The Yale campus IS New Haven, and extends to the New Haven green, and has many of its office buldings directly across the street from the green.

And yeah, what is the PNW?

Yes, the Yale campus is fine...step outside it, and you're in one pretty dirty city.

CTGirl

08-23-2006, 02:21 PM

Yes, the Yale campus is fine...step outside it, and you're in one pretty dirty city.

You don't seem to be understanding me, the Yale campus is spread out throughout the city of New Haven, so you really can't separate the 2.

As for being from the Pacific Northwest, I can therefore see why you dislike the Northeast as you do. My former roommate was from Oregon, and had trouble adjusting here as well. It's just different, we're far more developed here than you are over there, there's no need to be so down on a great part of the country like that.

inmediasres

08-23-2006, 02:27 PM

we're far more developed here than you are over there.

See what I mean? Snobbish Yankee airs.

CTGirl

08-23-2006, 02:30 PM

See what I mean? Snobbish Yankee airs.

I'm not being a snob, I'm talking about urban development, which has progressed further here than there as this part of the country was taken over first, geez :googly:

I think you're the one being a snob here, not me.

inmediasres

08-23-2006, 02:33 PM

I'm not being a snob, I'm talking about urban development, which has progressed further here than there as this part of the country was taken over first, geez :googly:

I think you're the one being a snob here, not me.

Well, developed sounded like "We're better than you."

I actually live in Mass. (obviously) and like New England. Some things drive me crazy, but it's nice for the most part. I do prefer northern New England (ME, VT, NH, and parts of MA) to southern New England (RI and CT), though.

crystal_dance

08-23-2006, 02:40 PM

See what I mean? Snobbish Yankee airs.

I'm from the Pacific Northwest too. Lived 7 years in Vancouver, BC and spent a great deal of time between Vancouver and Seattle. Beautiful place to be I agree (went back for the 4th of July long weekend and missed the place alot).Doesn't justify your description of all CTers as establishment snobs living in whore country USA. whatever, even if that is your opinion I think you should be open minded to accept that not everyone in the North East is like that. not at all. Alot of people out here think people in the Pacific North West are tree hugging, latte drinking, pot smoking hippies. There are people who fit this description, but everybody? No way.

inmediasres

08-23-2006, 02:48 PM

Did I say everyone in the Northeast is like that? No.

CTGirl

08-23-2006, 02:52 PM

Well, developed sounded like "We're better than you."

I actually live in Mass. (obviously) and like New England. Some things drive me crazy, but it's nice for the most part. I do prefer northern New England (ME, VT, NH, and parts of MA) to southern New England (RI and CT), though.

Of course you prefer that part of the Northeast, because that's the part that is most like the Pacific Northwest, lol.

All I'm saying is that it makes perfect sense for you to dislike the more urban areas down here, because it's basically the opposite of what you're used to, but there is no need to be so negative about it. There are a lot of positive qualities to the more developed areas, and just because it's different from your norm, that doesn't make it bad.

crystal_dance

08-23-2006, 03:09 PM

Did I say everyone in the Northeast is like that? No.

There are whackos, militant liberals, ultra conservatives, hippies, yuppies, slayers and vampires all over the north east. Some of them are in MA, ME, VT and NH. They are also there in CT, NY and RI.

You are being the same snob that you accused Harvard of being.

lonestar

08-23-2006, 03:22 PM

CTGirl

08-23-2006, 03:32 PM

I like parts of Connecticut...I also like RI...I don't really see any differences between CT and Western MA (Eastern MA/Boston/Cape Cod is obviously different than a lot of other parts of New England). That said, the whole East Coast definetly has a more fast-pace lifestyle then the PNW or the Southwest...not really a bad thing though. And yes, it is more developed...they predict that in 2040 Boston to Atlanta will be one big metroplex... :neutral:

Wow, what a crazy thought! Arent there a lot of more rural areas in between though? Atlanta is pretty far down there.

LakeJay

08-23-2006, 03:43 PM

So I heard this mathematician turned down an award or something... :huge:

CTGirl

08-23-2006, 03:44 PM

lol, yeah, sorry for getting pulled into that nonsense and changing the subject :frustrate

LakeJay

08-23-2006, 03:47 PM

lol, yeah, sorry for getting pulled into that nonsense and changing the subject :frustrate

No need to apologize. I was just busting balls.

I will say that the idea of a metroplex from Boston to Atlanta kind of makes me sick.

embrassezla

08-23-2006, 04:04 PM

That doesn't make any sense. He already published the proof on the Internet, and several mathematicians around the world are reviewing it. So far, no errors.
I meant its common for mathematicians to be paranoid about their proofs.

inmediasres

08-23-2006, 05:57 PM

I like parts of Connecticut...I also like RI...I don't really see any differences between CT and Western MA (Eastern MA/Boston/Cape Cod is obviously different than a lot of other parts of New England). That said, the whole East Coast definetly has a more fast-pace lifestyle then the PNW or the Southwest...not really a bad thing though. And yes, it is more developed...they predict that in 2040 Boston to Atlanta will be one big metroplex... :neutral:

I'd really like to go to Western Mass. It looks very pretty. It's probably similar to eastern CT, but not western CT which I've traveled through a bit more. Western CT really should not be considered part of New England, since it's just one big suburb of New York City.

yankeeyosh

08-23-2006, 11:32 PM

WOW! I thought I'd be lucky to get three posts out of this...of course, not all of this was related to math.

I have no problem with Connies, btw...except one...my former boss, who I despise with a passion. And I'm not too fond of some of the hoity-toity ones from places like Greenwich, Darien and New Canaan.

that is so interesting! I can't believe someone (may have) proved Poincare's conjecture!

my bet is that he's paranoid there's a problem with his proof. that's pretty common.

Do you remember Andrew Wiles and his 1993 proof of Fermat's Last Theorem?...it was a crazy event in the math department of my HS...some people were really into it. The guy who proved it was essentially a recluse for seven years...essentially spent most of his time in his attic without giving any hint of what he was doing. From time to time, he published "innocent" results that really gave no clue of the grand scheme of things. He was incredibly paranoid...lots of mathematicians are, indeed. But they're cool nonetheless :cool:

wordsmith

08-24-2006, 12:50 AM

they predict that in 2040 Boston to Atlanta will be one big metroplex... :neutral:

Which is pretty much why Jen is confused when she asks how I could possibly have grown up "outside a town," hee!

And, yes, I am participating in threadjacking, but only because I don't like or know math and have nothing to add. Hah.

asm198

08-24-2006, 03:46 AM

I too know nothing much about math. Or the east coast. I was in that neck of the woods once and it had pretty countryside. That's really about all I could tell about it. People were nice, the places I went were nice. I was in the Cape Cod area, which I realize isn't really near where you guys are talking about, but it's closer than the midwest.

Anyway, maybe it's possible this guy just didn't care about the award. He just wanted to solve the puzzle? Yes, I realize that's simplifying things, but maybe to him, it was just a puzzle.

Tenshi28

08-24-2006, 05:47 AM

Hey Mark, sorry your thread has been raped and pillaged! :huge:

I am still with you, supporting the "coolness" of mathematics! :cool:

yankeeyosh

08-24-2006, 07:13 AM

ah, the threadjacking is OK. I don't mind it. The Connie debate always rears its ugly head from time to time...But as long as you realize that math is integral (no pun intended) to society :)

BlueEyedFunOne

08-24-2006, 01:06 PM

And Hartford? Blegh.

Agreed, and I even live in Hartford. It's a city with lots of promise, but it's such a crime-ridden dump. I'm rather anxious to leave.

embrassezla

08-24-2006, 01:25 PM

Yes! I read a book about that, I think! It was a small book, I think just called "Fermat's Last Theorem". But yeah, that was a strange story. Wasn't his final proof called into question for the methods he used, or was it finally accepted as a genuine proof of FLT?
I'm interrupting myself...I think the first version he published had flaws in it, so he rewrote it and it was accepted.

yankeeyosh

08-24-2006, 01:31 PM

I'm interrupting myself...I think the first version he published had flaws in it, so he rewrote it and it was accepted.

Yes, that's what happened...it took a while to fill in the gaps.

He couldn't get the Fields Medal, btw...since you can only win it if you are 40 or under....math is a young person's game...other than Erdos and a few others, most mathematicians peaked at 26 or so.

yankeeyosh

08-24-2006, 06:59 PM

BTW...in case you're wondering, Fermat's Last Theorem was conjectured by Pierre Fermat in the 17th century. Assume you have three integers greater than zero, x, y, and z. The theorem goes that for any integer n greater than 2,

x^n + y^n = z^n

does not hold for any set of x, y, and z. It works for some x, y, and z's when n=2 (3^2+4^2=5^2...which may be familiar to you if you remember Pythagoras' Theorem), but not when n>=3.

Fermat "claimed" that he wrote a proof to this, but it was too big to fit in the margin of the notebook that he wrote this conjecture on. It seems like a tantalizingly easy thing to prove, but for centuries, mathematicians were unable to find a general proof to this...until Andrew Wiles did so in 1993...and that proof was an incredibly long, extremely difficult-to-understand document...requiring unbelievably advanced mathematics. Unless Fermat found a "slick" solution that no one in 400 years was able to catch, it is highly doubtful that he came up with a proof...it would fill many a margin.