Re: [math-fun] Wiki article on Circumscribed_circle
You have to ask yourself, who _are_ these "senior researchers", anyway? What sort of person sits around all day waiting for someone to make a change to an obscure page of Wikipedia, only to pounce on the offender (anonymously, of course). Since (to my knowledge), these people aren't getting paid, I can't imagine what sort of personality would find this sort of anonymous pouncing to be enjoyable or fulfilling. But then I am reminded that upwards of 33% of the East Germans willingly spied on the other 67% (probably the 33%, too!), and for apparently _no money, or any other consideration_ ! This sort of behavior _has_ to be genetic; else how else could such behavior be so widespread? I'm reminded of the librarian who looked extremely depressed & upset. When asked what the problem was, she (librarians were always "she" in those days) said "Someone took a book out today." "But I'm going to make sure that I get it back!" At 01:09 PM 6/4/2012, J J wrote:
You see, this is exactly where No Original Research falls flat on its face.
The required competency for checking Henry's math would pass as "doing research" to most Wikipedian authorities.
My own experience editing Wikipedia is similar to Henry's.
After trying, unsuccessfully, to remove some clearly bogus pseudo-science (clearly bogus by several standard textbooks) from a physics article, I cited anotherWikipediaarticle that (clearly and obviously to me) disagreed with the first.
I was told, by a "senior editor", that there was no way that they could enforce that articles be consistent with each other.
On June 3, 2012 at 10:59 AM Henry Baker <hbaker1@pipeline.com> wrote:
à Just check the math, and if it is correct, allow it.
[OT: non-math, non-fun] * Henry Baker <hbaker1@pipeline.com> [Jun 05. 2012 14:40]:
[...]
But then I am reminded that upwards of 33% of the East Germans willingly spied on the other 67% (probably the 33%, too!), and for apparently _no money, or any other consideration_ !
Except possibly: - being allowed to study (or a decent job) - not landing in jail because something was cooked up beforehand - getting a phone - getting a bathroom in one's flat (as opposed to the one shared with the whole house) - getting a decent flat at all - getting good medical treatment - everything above applied to one's children / partner / close friend
This sort of behavior _has_ to be genetic; else how else could such behavior be so widespread?
Erm, no. Check North Korea (expecially what happens in those camps) to see what people (regardless of genes) can do to each other. Alternatively, read about every war we do know more about than plain nothing. Reports from humanitarian organisations (amnesty international or similar) tend to be quite instructive. In peace times dictatorships tend to bring out the worst as well. Compared to what's going on right now(*) in several places in the world living in the GDR was hardly the worst one can think of. (*) and likely at each point in history.
[...]
Gruesse aus Deutschland, jj ;^)
[Definitely not math or fun.] When I said "genetic", I didn't mean to smear Germans, but all humans. My nephew is a PhD evolutionary psychologist, so I've had a running discussion with him for years about weird/creepy human behaviors that seem to be built in. Here in the good ol' US of A, we put all those US residents of Japanese descent into prison (aka "Relocation") camps during WWII, including a lot of citizens & American-born. Earl Warren, then Attorney General of California, organized this, and was rewarded for it by being elected Governor of California in 1942. He attempted to atone for this later during his service on the U.S. Supreme Court. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Warren At 06:04 AM 6/8/2012, Joerg Arndt wrote:
[OT: non-math, non-fun]
* Henry Baker <hbaker1@pipeline.com> [Jun 05. 2012 14:40]:
[...]
But then I am reminded that upwards of 33% of the East Germans willingly spied on the other 67% (probably the 33%, too!), and for apparently _no money, or any other consideration_ !
Except possibly: - being allowed to study (or a decent job) - not landing in jail because something was cooked up beforehand - getting a phone - getting a bathroom in one's flat (as opposed to the one shared with the whole house) - getting a decent flat at all - getting good medical treatment - everything above applied to one's children / partner / close friend
This sort of behavior _has_ to be genetic; else how else could such behavior be so widespread?
Erm, no.
Check North Korea (expecially what happens in those camps) to see what people (regardless of genes) can do to each other. Alternatively, read about every war we do know more about than plain nothing. Reports from humanitarian organisations (amnesty international or similar) tend to be quite instructive. In peace times dictatorships tend to bring out the worst as well. Compared to what's going on right now(*) in several places in the world living in the GDR was hardly the worst one can think of.
(*) and likely at each point in history.
[...]
Gruesse aus Deutschland, jj
;^)
participants (2)
-
Henry Baker -
Joerg Arndt