JSH: Psychosocial issues

From: James Harris (jstevh_at_msn.com)
Date: 10/05/04 

Date: 5 Oct 2004 04:21:19 -0700

So, as I'm stepping through the mathematical argument that proves my
case in such detail that it's not possible to successfully cast doubt
on it any more with mathematicians, why are there posters still
trying?

After all, it's mathematics.

The simple answer is social: even if you're wrong mathematically, if
people *believe* you're right, you still may see benefit.

So for certain posters it's not a question of whether or not I'm
correct, but whether or not the bulk of readers on the newsgroups I'm
posting to *believe* I'm correct!

If they think they can hold their positions, against the math, they
will have their success.

Now, that means they have to check, as the dark side of their strategy
for them is if people realize they must know they are wrong, and are
lying to them, but keep at it.

So you will see a certain pattern of behavior where there will be
pauses from certain posters as they check. If they don't see the
appearance that they've been caught, they assume success and continue.

That pattern proves their duplicity.

So why do it? Why fight math? It seems stupid in abstract, right?

Well yeah, in abstract, but in reality people routinely make
convenient lies that others wish to hear knowing that social forces
make the lie more palatable than the truth.

Social forces rule humanity: even in the field of mathematics.

Therefore, it follows that you cannot just trust people to tell or
accept the truth, even when it is proven with the rigor that
mathematics provides.

For a social example outside of mathematics consider the current
position of the United States of America with the international
community, and its current position in Iraq.

There are facts that can be checked, but now go to the *discussions*
on these issues that occur in the United States and compare them to
discussions in other countries.

People can see the truth, but believe the opposite of it based on
need.

James Harris

Relevant Pages

  • Re: JSH: Psychosocial issues
    ... > make the lie more palatable than the truth. ... > Social forces rule humanity: even in the field of mathematics. ... > on these issues that occur in the United States and compare them to ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: JSH: Winning is hard
    ... rewards, without the actual success, and then ... Declaring success like George W. Bush did in Iraq, ... The decision point is coming for our species, ... As to your opinion of the state of mathematics, ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: Am I a crank?
    ... I like mathematics and play with it in my spare time, ... It's not the chance of success, it's the value of success times the ... Gerry Myerson ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: Godel is self-contradictory
    ... wat i am after is to show you all mathematics might work but logically it ... you cant afford to see or admit your mathematics is crap ... likely eventually meet with success? ... alternative strategies you might try? ...
    (sci.logic)
  • Re: DOCTOR lub confferrence nyob MN..
    ... It's obvious you did not include mathematics in your "measure" of ... Or does success just magically manifest at the whim ... A criteria against which to ...
    (soc.culture.hmong)