Re: Math research, passion is importantQ

From: Wayne Brown (fwbrown_at_bellsouth.net)
Date: 06/25/04 

Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 17:58:39 GMT

Quinn Tyler Jackson <quinn-j@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
> I don't understand JHiN's interest in naming names on the private list. It
> comes across to me as somewhat creepy, especially in my experience, which
> has a stalker who pursued me for some time (over a year), to the point of
> tortious interference (which I've already mentioned). Of course I'm cautious
> about anonymous strangers asking for names they don't need to know and I've
> no right to reveal. And moreover, the names and the knowledge of them by
> some anonymous poster would prove no theorems and would contribute nothing
> to the body of knowledge of mathematics.

There isn't *necessarily* anything "creepy" about it. You need to
remember that for about eight years now James Harris has been slinging
mud at anyone in sci.math who disagrees with him. When someone we don't
know comes along and tells us James is a nice guy and he's been having
productive, civil conversations with mathematicians somewhere else, it's a
little hard for some of us to believe. Some of us hold too low an opinion
of him to believe him capable of such civility for any length of time.

This "JHiN" character takes it a bit farther than that. He clearly
believes you're not telling the truth. He thinks that by pressuring you
to reveal the names of the mathematicians whom you claim to have such a
good relationship with James, he'll either get you admit that you made
the whole thing up, or else make you look like you have something to hide
when you refuse to answer. Either way, he casts doubt on your veracity.
I don't think he has any more sinister motive than that.

Personally, I haven't seen you do anything to indicate dishonesty, and
you seem to be a reasonable person. (Though, your admission that you
like James causes me to doubt your judgment somewhat. :-) Preserving
the privacy of others is a good enough reason (for me) for keeping the
details to yourself, so I don't share JHiN's suspicions of your motives
or truthfulness. I do, however, believe that James is pulling the wool
over your eyes (and perhaps those of your friends), and if you mount
any serious challenges to his claims you'll see his true colors come
out soon enough. 

-- 
Wayne Brown  (HPCC #1104)  | "When your tail's in a crack, you improvise
fwbrown@bellsouth.net      |  if you're good enough.  Otherwise you give
                           |  your pelt to the trapper."
"e^(i*pi) = -1"  -- Euler  |           -- John Myers Myers, "Silverlock"
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