Benn, excellent article; one which describes how I arrived in math from a desire to be a history professor. My parents were convinced that I would starve in my desired profession, and they had the means to enforce their beliefs. By my SAT and National Merit scores (there used to be separate tests), I was equally competent, and proved t…
Benn, excellent article; one which describes how I arrived in math from a desire to be a history professor. My parents were convinced that I would starve in my desired profession, and they had the means to enforce their beliefs. By my SAT and National Merit scores (there used to be separate tests), I was equally competent, and proved to be so. They were, sadly, correct! Far better to explain the outcomes of relatively simple math to those who were afraid of symbols, than to change an engineer's mind, even (maybe especially) when they were wrong. I can now enjoy my retirement in the knowledge that I can figure out a plausible answer to current problems/questions across a broad spectrum, and have the ability to see the flaws in the arguments of the many poltroons and idealogical statisticians among us. And I am still prepared to learn from real experts. Including about fishing and cooking.
As one of those poltroons and idealogical statisticians, please don't read this blog too closely, and gloss over the many flaws in its arguments. For I am not yet retired, and have to keep up the illusion of being a real expert for a little while longer.
Benn, excellent article; one which describes how I arrived in math from a desire to be a history professor. My parents were convinced that I would starve in my desired profession, and they had the means to enforce their beliefs. By my SAT and National Merit scores (there used to be separate tests), I was equally competent, and proved to be so. They were, sadly, correct! Far better to explain the outcomes of relatively simple math to those who were afraid of symbols, than to change an engineer's mind, even (maybe especially) when they were wrong. I can now enjoy my retirement in the knowledge that I can figure out a plausible answer to current problems/questions across a broad spectrum, and have the ability to see the flaws in the arguments of the many poltroons and idealogical statisticians among us. And I am still prepared to learn from real experts. Including about fishing and cooking.
As one of those poltroons and idealogical statisticians, please don't read this blog too closely, and gloss over the many flaws in its arguments. For I am not yet retired, and have to keep up the illusion of being a real expert for a little while longer.