Live data from Hacker News

A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics

jeremykun.com

221–223 of 223 posts

Re: A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics

#221
post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are many easy ways to rephrase OP's comment into one that isn't so direct and denigrating. The only thing "apparent" here is that OP has trouble with empathy.

"Direct", yes. "Denigrating", how?? I'm genuinely asking so I can fix that in the future, unless you think criticising is offending. >The only thing "apparent" here is that OP has trouble with empathy. Again, I can do without the online pretend-therapy. Amazing how perceptive some people are that they deduce the most profound things from a dozen lines of text!

I wanted to say I found your original comment critical, but not offensive. But I found the reply made to you offensive, because personal and aggressive. Which I think is how you see it too.

However, it seems several people took the side of the replier.

So I reviewed your original comment, and I think I've found the problem: it exaggerated and labelled, e.g. droning, talk talk talk, talking about nothing, neverending paragraphs.

Many of these aren't literally true ("nothing", "neverending"). Others are emotionally loaded ("drone"). It's probably almost always better to speak directly, without exaggeration or emotion... but this is particularly important when criticizing.

I didn't notice these at first because I tend to filter out decoration, and just hear the content (i.e the literal meaning) - though this is much easier to do when I'm not personally involved!

I think, "to be blunt", to speak plainly, to get to the point, really mean to be factual and accurate - without emotional language, exaggeration or labeling.

Anyway, I notice dang asked to not continue this thread, but I was troubled by it, and reviewing it helped me - maybe it will help you too.

Re: A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics

#223
post #196

I'm a little skeptical of CreateSpace. Why did you decide to self-publish?

I actually used to work for CreateSpace! I think they do a splendid job on the printing, and the royalties are much better than a publisher. I think I will write a longer blog post with more details.

I had a CreateSpace textbook once and the mathematical notation was so grainy that it was unpleasant to read.
Post reply on HN