tea.mathoverflow.net - Discussion Feed (I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS...............)

Anton Geraschenko comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8186)

2010-08-08T12:59:33-07:00

I'm closing this thread by popular demand. If you want to continue it, you can do so on one of the other threads AndrewL has started on this topic:
Being Forced Of Math Overflow
Appealing to the Sanity Of The Majority Here...................

Steve Huntsman comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8182)

2010-08-08T10:05:41-07:00

Close, please.

Andrea comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8178)

2010-08-08T05:16:58-07:00

If you want my input, it is the following. You have repeatedly asked to limit yourself to mathematical content. That comment had no mathematical content. And yes, I also vote to close.

AndrewL comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8177)

2010-08-08T00:17:26-07:00

Please don't. I want the input of the room. I'll make one final plea and then go disappear into the corner with my dunce cap.
1) Firstly,there was clearly no malice or aggression in what I posted.Scott's determined to "break" me and isn't giving me an inch no matter how innocuous the comment was. That's his right as moderator-but it saddens me enormously because I don't know if I can ever keep this from happening again if something THAT innocent gets me booted!

2) NOTHING-REPEAT,NOTHING-except mathematics.That has to be my role in here from now on. I get it. Fair or not,that's the rule. PERIOD.

I now disappear into the mists and return you to your regularly scheduled meta. No hard feelings,I hope. I'm just too numb to have any feelings at all in here anymore.

Andrew L.

CSiegel comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8176)

2010-08-08T00:04:29-07:00

Let's make it five votes to close then, mods?

Ryan Budney comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8175)

2010-08-07T22:28:09-07:00

I agree with VP, Choi and Putman.

Andy Putman comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8173)

2010-08-07T22:08:48-07:00

I'd also vote for closing this thread. I don't think there's anything worthwhile to say that hasn't been said in the n previous threads on the topic.

Yemon Choi comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8172)

2010-08-07T22:07:00-07:00

I think VP's suggestions are eminently sensible and (for what it's worth) would encourage people to do likewise.

VP comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8171)

2010-08-07T22:00:38-07:00

Before this thread turns into another collection of good-natured but futile advice interspersed with emotional rants, I'd like to ask people to follow Gerhard's suggestion and conduct it offline in private. There is also a good case for simply closing the thread.

AndrewL comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8170)

2010-08-07T21:41:02-07:00

@All For the record, I'd have expected Harry's response to the question-which was what I was humorously anticipating-to be something like the following: " Physics has no place in mathematics. Ergo,your question is irrelevant.Now go run along like a good little physicist and let the grown ups talk,ok?"

AndrewL comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8169)

2010-08-07T21:29:39-07:00

@Zev Actually,I'd reply in kind if the moderators permitted it. But I know they wouldn't,so............

AndrewL comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8168)

2010-08-07T21:28:33-07:00

I give up,this is impossible. How that was threatening to me is a complete enigma. I found these 2 responses even more baffling then getting booted. Forget it.

Zev Chonoles comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8167)

2010-08-07T21:09:48-07:00

I'm sure it is clear to you that your comment was not mathematical in any way, which many people have listed as something for you to try to avoid, and that it was at least to some degree antagonistic towards Harry, which it sounds like Scott also explicitly told you to avoid. Would you really take it as good-natured humor if Harry made a comment, "I can't wait to see what Andrew L makes of this question," implying that he thinks that your ideas are laughable and that he anticipates the opportunity to argue against or ridicule them? Or would you complain to the moderators, demanding that action be taken, and claim that Harry is being given special treatment if no action were taken?

Also, my impression of the "comment to vote to keep open" system was that only people who could also vote to close were eligible - I imagine most of these users are familiar with you by this point, but for any who are not, your comment could have been mistaken for a true open-vote, and so at the very least your comment should have been deleted.

grp comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8166)

2010-08-07T21:00:53-07:00

I respond to this only because I think it might help. However, this response is not sympathetic.

To AndrewL:
If that were your first such comment, I might agree, and possibly even see the humour. Given the history between you and MathOverflow, I do not find it humorous. I find it potentially threatening. And I am not even Harry or anyone who has spent time conversing with you. As I understand the history, I support the moderators' decision.

If you care to submit a reasoned response to the above off meta, I will participate. Show this post to Will Jagy and have him forward your email address to me (and thank Will for the service; he does it at his own will and probably because his spamfilters are better than mine). I will respond favorably to anything that impresses me as willing to understand, and less so to other content, especially emotional attempts at justification. If you only care to rant at the presumed injustice, you don't need my participation for that, and I do not care to spend time listening to such a rant. I will even encourage the moderators to remove such rants from meta.mathoverflow .

I hope you find some solace in your life.

Gerhard "Ask Me About System Design" Paseman, 2010.08.07

AndrewL comments on "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..............." (8165)

2010-08-07T20:37:43-07:00

Now they're just reaching for justification.

", Aug 7, 2010 at 7:02 PM, Scott Carnahan wrote:

Dear Andrew L,

You made the following comment in the question "What is Realistic Mathematics?":

> I can't wait to see what Harry makes of this question.For that alone,it's worth keeping it open and I vote that way.

We've asked you multiple times to keep your comments on-topic, and to refrain from engaging Harry. Following Scott Morrison's policy, I'm suspending your account for 4 days. After the 4 day period is over, we will still welcome your participation on a purely mathematical basis.

Scott Carnahan

YOU ARE NOT SERIOUS. I CAN'T EVEN RESPOND TO THIS. KEEP MO. I DON'T CARE ANYMORE."

I just thought it was amusing,the question.because it specifically asked for physical applications of category theory and Harry is such a hard core abstractionist,he was likely to be actually offended by the question.

But apparently such gentle good natured humor is grounds for a 4 day suspension.

Keep the board. I don't care anymore.

Andrew L.