[Haskell-cafe] Off-topic: Mathematics and modesty

[Chris Smith]

On Tue, 2011-08-30 at 20:58 +0200, Jerzy Karczmarczuk wrote:
> With all my respect:
> I think I know several mathematicians who learning that a person asking 
> for help begins with trying to distinguish  between knowledgeable, and 
> those who just think they are, will simply - to say it politely - refuse 
> to engage.

I don't agree with this.  It's the most natural thing in the world to
listen to an answer and then try to figure out whether the speaker knows
what they are talking about or not.  Those who expect us to forego that
step aren't really engaged in mathematics any more.

-- 
Chris Smith