Re: Importance of Failure

From: C. Bond (cbond_at_ix.netcom.com)
Date: 02/23/05 

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 16:05:44 GMT

jstevh@msn.com wrote:

> One type of post I've noticed come up every once in a while is a post
> where some person is informing me that if I don't have everything
> figured out, I shouldn't post.

At the very least, you should make a 'reasonable' effort to figure out what
you are doing before you post. They have special places for people who do
not know what they are doing -- but sci.math isn't necessarily one of them.

> Another of the same variety, informs me that I should have every detail
> worked out formally before I dare to put something out in public.

Not a bad idea. It certainly saves other people's time and, if you were
capable of embarrassment, would save you some.

> However, in real research failure is part of work, and public failure
> is not as important as wasting time with flawed ideas.

'Real research' is about eliminating errors -- not propagating them.
Inevitably, errors *do* occur, but they are neither a valid objective nor
an integral part of the process.

> I still like the sports analogy of baseball, and I think a LOT of
> people in intellectual circles just don't get how important lessons are
> in sports, like how even the best players mostly fail--and VERY
> PUBLICLY FAIL.

Math is a pure science -- baseball is a sport. Get a life!

[snip crap] 

--
There are two things you must never attempt to prove: the unprovable -- and
the obvious.
--
Democracy: The triumph of popularity over principle.
--
http://www.crbond.com
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