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omoikane • today at 4:05 PM • 5 replies • view on HN

> People still play chess and go and StarCraft

Those are activities where repeating the same experience yourself is still enjoyable, kind of like you might eat today even though you already ate yesterday.

Finding mathematical proofs is probably more like seeing the ending to a mystery novel. Once the ending has been spoiled for you, it's really hard for you to enjoy it the same way, and it might be more fun to move on to a different mystery.


Replies

namrog84 • today at 10:07 PM

Some people enjoy rewatching or rereading books and others dont. Careers change and maybe we need a different type of mathematicians that does enjoy this work more than historical work?

jryle70 • today at 4:40 PM

Different people have different feeling and motivation and reasons for doing things. No doubt there are people thinking like you, but it's to early to tell how it will be for the majority.

> People still play chess and go and StarCraft

Because most people still find them enjoyable. You can't say those are less enjoyable than math. There is no universal scale for enjoyment.

> kind of like you might eat today even though you already ate yesterday

You'd die if you stop eating after yesterday's meals. That's survival.

vadansky • today at 6:40 PM

> is probably more like seeing the ending to a mystery novel

So math should switch to a Columbo methodology?

ur-whale • today at 6:24 PM

> is probably more like seeing the ending to a mystery novel

lots of people enjoy knowing the end of the story as they start a book, and it does not prevent them from enjoying the book in the slightest.

Something that always comes as a great surprise to those who don't.

slopinthebag • today at 6:39 PM

some people eat the same bland things every day and others spend a considerable amount of time learning and preparing new recipes.