Comment by an_android | Hacker News Reader

Comment by an_android | Hacker News Reader

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Don't use phrases as "Maybe you just have OCD". This is offensive and trivializes the problems those with OCD face. OCD is a serious disorder and your use of that phrase illustrates your lack of mental maturity.

Further, that phrase is bigoted. What you are implying is that someone with OCD is "lesser" or "other" as you are using the phrase to discount the person you are talking with. Hence it is bigoted.

In fact, it is obvious that you have no idea what you are talking about. Mathematics is not "just notation" in the same way software engineering is not "just programming language syntax", music is not just "notes on a piece of paper", and literature is not just "grammar rules".

If you cannot see that, I suggest you read more and expand your view of the world. Don't hurl insults at others.

If you want a more concrete example, show that the sum:

1 + (1/2)^2 + (1/3)^2 + (1/4)^2 + ... = pi^2/6

That is, first define what it means to take a sum of an infinite number of terms, prove that your definition is consistent with a sum of a finite number of terms, and then show that the sum is exactly pi^2/6. Showing that they agree to 100 billion decimal places is not enough. You need to show they are exact.

When you are done with that, find an exact closed form for the sum:

1 + (1/2)^3 + (1/3)^3 + (1/4)^3 + ...

> If you want a more concrete example, show that the sum […]

He won't. I keep running into people like this all the time. They are hellbent on the idea that anything they don't understand must be meaningless, useless, or the fault of others. If you get a reply at all, I suspect it will be something like "pi is just a meaningless approximation to a real physical concept" or "infinite series don't actually exist in real life, I'll sum the first 1000000 terms on a computer and that's all that exists".

Mathematicians who think infinity is real should be treated with the same disdain as Neptune worshiping astrologers.

The internet makes it easy for pedantic losers to have a loud opinion. Hell I have even run in to pedantic losers who have the time to create multiple new and fake accounts and use old sock puppets to create the illusion of an audience because these friendless, loveless losers literally have no one to talk to IRL.

> I keep running into people like this all the time.

Psychological attacks, amazing! I'm guessing you are one of those deeply insecure symbol twiddlers. Let me guess, as kid you were crap at everything, especially sports except symbol twiddling so you latched onto those praises your teacher gave you and as an adult that is the only source of your self-esteem. And you can't handle it when someone on the internet thinks abstract mathematicians are full of shit.

> Mathematicians who think infinity is real should be treated with the same disdain as Neptune worshiping astrologers.

Mathematicians will not say anything like "infinity is real" or "infinity is not real". We are careful creatures, and will ask what you mean by "infinity". In this subthread we've been discussing infinite series. What part of the definition of those do you have a problem with? (Prediction: you'll never answer this, but instead go on ranting with no ability to focus on the topic at hand. I can definitely see why math is hard for you, you have a severe problem with focus).

> The internet makes it easy for pedantic losers to have a loud opinion.

I can see that.

> Hell I have even run in to pedantic losers who have the time to create multiple new and fake accounts and use old sock puppets to create the illusion of an audience because these friendless, loveless losers literally have no one to talk to IRL.

That's pretty sad. It's also very sad that this is the conclusion you jump to when someone speaks out against your insane ravings in an entirely logical and coherent way.

> Psychological attacks, amazing!

It's a bit entertaining that you can go from what you wrote above (and what you write below) straight into accusing me of this.

> I'm guessing you are one of those deeply insecure symbol twiddlers.

I am indeed quite insecure. I'm working on managing that. If you by "symbol twiddler" mean mathematician, then yes – and quite proud of it too. You'll do well to get back on track to the topic at hand though, seeing as you're currently coming off a bit like the people one sometimes see yelling incoherent nonsense on subway trains.

> Let me guess, as kid you were crap at everything, especially sports except symbol twiddling so you latched onto those praises your teacher gave you and as an adult that is the only source of your self-esteem.

Not at all. While I was quite mediocre at sports (though far from crap), I did really well in most things. I was not a favorite of the teachers, because I had (and probably still have) a bit of problem with authority. Are you done derailing the discussion now? I'll remind you: we're discussing the usefulness of mathematics, not my childhood or athletic abilities.

> And you can't handle it when someone on the internet thinks abstract mathematicians are full of shit.

I can handle it just fine, primarily because what raving lunatics believe has no influence on the extreme actual power and usefulness of mathematics. The reason I care to have the discussion is to set the record straight for third parties' sake.

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