factitious: Photo of me in a purple coat after getting a haircut (Default)
factitious ([personal profile] factitious) wrote2008-06-08 12:20 am

Not really a poll, since apparently those cost money

Which of these ideas is best?

a) Historical fiction about the discovery of the cubic formula, with battle scenes based on actual challenge problems from the time

b) Incredibly detailed fansite for some minor forgotten book selected arbitrarily from a used bookstore

c) Noir drama set on the forums and in-game chat of a fictional MMORPG

d) Webcomic review site that only reviews parody remixes of actual webcomics

[identity profile] factitiouslj.livejournal.com 2008-06-08 07:50 am (UTC)(link)
Pretty much. At the time, mathematicians would sometimes publicly challenge each other to debates or sets of problems for honor, money, and sometimes university positions. That was one incentive for keeping discoveries to yourself rather than publishing them: you get the (probably temporary) advantage of being the only one who can easily solve problems of a certain type.

[identity profile] aperientur.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
I like A) and C).