When pop history bombs: a response to Malcolm Gladwell

Re:When pop history bombs: a response to Malcolm Gladwell by fighterpilot on Wednesday June 16, 2021 @08:30PM (#27535026)

The point of the "Igon Value Problem" is to have a term to describe popsci writers who create oversimplistic and overconfident narratives of complex domains that they know little about, often making basic errors and leading readers astray.

Whether or not I know about eigenvalues myself is a bit besides the point (although, yes, I did learn that in college).

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Re:When pop history bombs: a response to Malcolm Gladwell by tptacek on Wednesday June 16, 2021 @09:49PM (#27535444)

Well, we're on a message board, so of course you're going to say you know what an eigenvalue is. That's the point of asking if you could handle some simple matrix questions. :P

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Re:When pop history bombs: a response to Malcolm Gladwell by fighterpilot on Wednesday June 16, 2021 @10:12PM (#27535553)

I still don't understand the point of asking me that. I'm not the one writing books or articles in an authoritative tone on topics I know little about.

If I were to write an article about math with glaring errors, then your question would make more sense. Until then, my linear algebra ability isn't relevant.

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