Comments on: MathOverflow

By: Peter Cameron

Peter Cameron — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:16:21 +0000

I have succeeded in the first step of the programme. So it is just a case of checking the 2-transitive groups now. Of course, this means that my poor MathOverflow problem is now an orphan, and has to make its own way in the world. I think there is something interesting there, but it is necessary to think a bit harder about what the right conditions (to make an interesting problem) are.

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:09:15 +0000

Thanks for the tags, Peter.

By: Peter

Peter — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:53:47 +0000

Peter, if you allow me one more comment. Would you consider a) linking to your question here b) linking to this post on your question (say, as a comment) c) tagging this post "PlanetMO" so that it can be found on mathblogging.org/panetMO ? I think that'd be excellent for people looking to learn more about your question (and your writing here).

By: Peter

Peter — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:50:10 +0000

I don’t think the points and badges are designed to show you how much the mathematical research community trusts an MO user but how much the mathoverflow community trusts an MO user.

In that sense I find them absolutely useful. At the very least they are a very good measure of activity — for better or worse if you look at some undergrads…

I would rather judge people by their MO profile than their h-index. It’s much more transparent.

By: Qiaochu Yuan

Qiaochu Yuan — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 01:44:00 +0000

“Measure” is perhaps too strong a word (and I would say that applies only very roughly to reputation and not very much to badges). Nobody’s using badges or reputation in a performance evaluation. I just think of it as a cute way to trick my brain into doing more mathematics; I don’t take it too seriously, and I don’t think anyone else does either.

By: Peter Cameron

Peter Cameron — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:39:32 +0000

Extensively is the word… I am not particularly bothered by it, but the statement that badges measure how much the community trusts you seems particularly inappropriate in mathematics. I convince you by showing you a proof, or pointing you to where you can find one.

What worries me (though not enough to make me lose any sleep) is the fact I discussed in my post on impact factors, that when a measure becomes a target it is no longer useful as a measure.

By: Qiaochu Yuan

Qiaochu Yuan — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:54:03 +0000

Regarding points, badges, etc. the issue was extensively discussed on meta when Emmanuel Kowalski made similar remarks.