[QUOTE=R.D. Silverman;282945]And the attitude that one deserves credit for a superficial effort is a generic problem for all of society.[/QUOTE]
Well, yes, I can agree with that. However, I don't understand how that's supposed to explain why you have to be trying to change things on this particular forum.

[QUOTE=Brian-E;283031]I wonder how often you and Dr. Silverman and all other experts here get questioned by journalists of general newspapers and magazines who have not studied Mathematics in any depth but who wish to write an article about your work for a general readership. The readers are just as unwilling to study as the journalist who must write the article and then move on to other subjects. Both journalist and general readership do however have a passing interest in what, say, algebraic number theorists are working on. Is this enthusiasm also "misplaced"?[/QUOTE]Occasionally, though I don't consider myself an "expert".

Personally, I don't consider that enthusiasm misplaced. Neither do I personally think the posters' here have displayed misplaced enthusiasm. In making that comment I was suggesting to Bob that he might wish to reconsider his statement. Sometimes, perhaps, my phrasing is just too oblique.


Paul

[QUOTE=xilman;283043][...]In making that comment I was suggesting to Bob that he might wish to reconsider his statement. Sometimes, perhaps, my phrasing is just too oblique.


Paul[/QUOTE]
Sometimes it's impossible to be diplomatic without being oblique. And to be honest I realised deep down what you were really doing but misused your innate diplomacy by implicitly attacking you when I knew you would not bite my head off about it. I'm a coward sometimes! Additionally I thought Dr. Silverman was being given too hard a time (by other posters, including by me at one point, but never by you) so I prodded you instead.
Thanks for your clarification.

Would I be right in guessing a supermod (Paul is the likeliest candidate) entitled this thread, by definition a continuatuation of either another or a PM (see post#1), and thought the Soap Box the most appropriate location?

David

It was me what done it, guv.

[QUOTE=fivemack;283059]It was me what done it, guv.[/QUOTE]
That figures.
If it were Paul, he would presumably have cast the first stone:smile:

David

[QUOTE=R.D. Silverman;282964]Also, throughout this discussion I have not made any personal comments
toward those disagreeing with me. Why is it necessary for you to resort to
such?[/QUOTE]

You are right. I am sorry. Please accept my apology.

[QUOTE=garo;283079]You are right. I am sorry. Please accept my apology.[/QUOTE]Quite enough grovelling thank you Piers.

Stop it already.

Since it's the Season of Mirth...
 

I'll wheel this out again:

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJdlF-DCUKs]The Joy of Learning[/url]

[QUOTE=Christenson;282657]Bob:

As this is a hobbyist forum, you really can't expect people here to have serious amounts of math...calculus, possibly, but linear algebra, etc? And yes, the state of education is abysmal (degreed electrical engineer I work with can't apply ohm's law!, and another couldn't understand parasitic coupling, but she's not with us anymore) but decrying the state of my education or anyone else's (especially when I'm not in a math program anymore, but am working on a career) isn't likely to accomplish any education.
[/QUOTE]

Very well said!

RDS has a 0.0 GPA in People Skills and guess what "Bob?" It's more important to get along with others than to understand how the Horizontal Iwasawa Theory plays a role in proving Fermat's Last Theorem.

[QUOTE=SaneMur;283184]Very well said!

RDS has a 0.0 GPA in People Skills and guess what "Bob?" It's more important to get along with others
[/QUOTE]

For 'others'. read "peers, associates, and friends".

[QUOTE]
than to understand how the Horizontal Iwasawa Theory plays a role in proving Fermat's Last Theorem.[/QUOTE]

When teaching students, the latter is far more important. And as some of
your other posts show, you have not yet even reached the level of
student for college level math. You are neither a friend, associate, or
peer, and I have no desire to interact with you "socially". It is not a
college level teacher's job to interact socially with his/her students. It
is actually frowned upon.

I have been very careful through this friend to stick to a philosophical
discussion. You, on the other hand, found it necessary to make a
personal attack. Yet you attack me for lacking social skills.

Hypocrite.