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- cody50, on 10/12/2007, -5/+121Sometimes rejecting prize money is noble. In this case, it just seem foolish.
- cantoral, on 10/12/2007, -1/+42He seems to think that all he needs is to be left alone to do math.
- jer2eydevil88, on 10/12/2007, -2/+36"I am not saying that because I value my privacy, or that I am doing anything I want to hide. There are no top-secret projects going on here. I just believe the public has no interest in me."
I think he's wrong. Anyone who can solve that complex of a problem has a lot to offer to society and could be very successful. - Toupee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+32"Friends say evidence of Dr Perelman's innate modesty came when - having finally solved the problem after more than 10 years' work - he simply posted his conclusion on the internet, rather than publishing his explanation in a recognised journal."
That's actually pretty cool. Still, it's a shame the guy isn't too willing to accept the money - he obviously could use it, if only to help out his mother. - j10s, on 10/12/2007, -0/+31If you read the entire article, this man seems to be very depressed. Lets hope he comes around.
- aks123, on 10/12/2007, -4/+34Who knows, maybe 75/mo is enough for them. I don't think we have a right to judge how much money other people need to make their lives fulfilled.
- ahutch1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+30this guy is my new hero. I know it seems foolish to not take the money, but its obvious he doesn't care about the fame, just the math. Instead of publishing it in some math journal he was just like screw it and put it on the web. kudos to him imo
- eplawless, on 10/12/2007, -3/+31Does anyone have his email? I want to write him to encourage him to take the money, and try to convince him that he has made a difference in the world of this mathematician, at least.
- LucasVB, on 10/12/2007, -1/+23I grew a huge respect for this guy the past months.
I think he's absolutely right. The public doesn't really care about him, the mathematical community doesn't really care about him and any attention he might receive is purely shallow. He recognizes this and doesn't feel any need to embrace this silly "fame".
He is the discoverer of the proof, and that's all there is to it. He is fine with that, and just wants to keep working with maths. For him, his job here is done. I agree with his point and attitude. - Neme, on 10/12/2007, -0/+18He may just be suffering from the humiliation he was put through (mentioned in the article). After recieving such a blow, perhaps he has alienated himself too far from society.
And I cannot help but be reminded of "Pi"'s protagonist, Maximillian Cohen. :P - Metasquares, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15"Anyone who can solve that complex of a problem has a lot to offer to society and could be very successful."
He just solved a very difficult problem that had plagued mathematicians for years. He's already offered a lot to society and was very successful. That does not mean that the public will take interest in him, however :) - GraceMolloy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+18a million dollars could have insured that I'd think.
- dfunct, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16Thats easy - hes almost defiantly got a form of autism, its not that hes stupid its that he really doesn't want all the attention.
Plus hes one of my new hero's so back off - andreo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13@j10s:
I agree. This sounds like depression. His friends, instead of talking about how modest he is. Should be trying to get him some help. If not I have a feeling that we will be reading about him again with-in a couple of years. This time the story will be about how he was found hanging from the ceiling.
Also here's hoping that receiving the Nobel prize equivalent in mathematics will land him another job.
One more thought. Isn't it funny how people that can really contribute to this planet is forgotten about. While talking heads, bimbo models and singers, and people that in general just love to hear them self talk get all the fame and fortune. - maijc, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13maybe he is smarter that anyone in the reply, no offense, but maybe he think if he claim the $1,000,000.00 award, he will become egocentric or cocky or selfish. He says nothing gonna change his mind... and i believe that solving the Poincare's Conjecture, is more valuable than the million dollar. Just my thoughts.
- gothfox, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12He doesn't seem to care about his mom either, which doesn't strike me as something I would call noble. $74/mo is not much here in Saint-Petersburg, to say the least.
- polumrak, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Almost every word of this article is a complete crap. An hour of Perelman's lection cost more than you can imagine. He is one of the most brilliant people of our time. He's a genius, not an authist.
Whoever wrote this is an idiot. Complete, total idiot, classic idiot, an idiot by a book. And so is everyone who thinks Perelman is a fool. - dtfinch, on 10/12/2007, -5/+13His mom should kick his ass.
- leobaby, on 10/12/2007, -7/+14Intelligence is not always a blessing.
- AICkieran, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7I find it disturbing how many people equate money with happiness, All the money or material possessions will not make you a better/more happy person, Maybe he's happy with surviving how he is now.
He probably gets his reward by knowing he did something no one else could and that it would benefit others.
Doing something ONLY because you enjoy it and that it will benefit others is much more rewarding than doing something because you want to get paid for it. And seriously, Someone that intelligent do you think that if he didn't like his lifestyle now he'd be earning a 6 figure salary? - MrTea, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8I think I would've done the same thing as well. I mean, he's accomplished so much just by living a simple life. If it were me, I wouldn't want to complicate my life with a little fame and fortune.
- Medusausi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Whether WE think he should have taken the money or not, his name WILL be written in the annals of history. Some things are more important than money and the stress and headaches having a lot of it brings.
- freebirdpat, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10Almost sounds like a real-life Good Will Hunting. At least from what I read, those that enjoy doing math always seem to be a little on the odd side.
- n0xie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Not all people value money. I think he made himself pretty clear on that point in the article. Not all humans are capitalists you know...
- endgames, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I should also add, he also lives modestly, perhaps borderline poverty.
- hasbeen, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I can understand that he doesn't want to leave the country/home for several reasons, but fame certainly isn't one. The reason is that he ALREADY is famous, otherwise you wouldn't read about him in newspapers and mathematical journals. Accepting the prize wouldn't really change this, he might get a bit more publicity for a few days, but that's about it.
In any case, if he doesn't want to leave his home for whatever reason, the cash prize should be sent to him. If he simply doesn't want it, then he can always donate it. - endgames, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5This isn't where he posted it, but here are notes on his solution to the tune of 192 pages.
Enjoy!
http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/math/pdf/0605/0605667.pdf - endgames, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Charles Webb, author of "The Graduate", gave the earnings from the sale of the rights of his book to charity. I've always found that equally admirable and confusing. This is right up there with Webb.
"plastics!" - CoffeeGoddess, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I agree with j10s in that he sounds clinically depressed. It would certainly explain his view that he is uninteresting to the public and why he would show so little interest in leaving the security offered by the familiar surroundings of his home.
Hopefully he has friends who will convince him to go and accept the money, it would be good for him on so many levels, not just financially. Hopefully they can convince him to find some help at the same time, too. - endgames, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Here are his submissions:
http://www.arxiv.org/abs/math.DG/0211159
http://www.arxiv.org/abs/math.DG/0303109
Here is an explanation of his solution in terms a little easier to comprehend:
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jun2003/math-j03.shtml - Spikito, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Hell atleast take some of it, or maybe even take all and donate most to a charity. I dont like people giving me mony, but damn, a million?
- sithmat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5He chose genius over vanity, so what? I would marry him.
- Drhilarius, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Why is this such a bad thing. We live in a society, a world, dominated by money and profit. We are held back by the attitude that if something doesn't earn you dumptrucks full of money then it really isn't worth doing. Indeed, there is an implicit critique in his rejection of the money: that this thing was worth doing not because it was profitable, but rather because it was an intrinsically good and valuable thing to do.
- preved, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I know some people from #239 high school where Perelman studied, I know what is life in Russia and especially in St. Petersburg.
I'm Russian and I lived there for 28 years, until I came to US to get some more experience in IT.
Folks, most of you have no idea why he is doing that. Not because he is scared of mafia, or stupid, or psychologically impared. Not even close.
This guy does not value the money. You gotta believe it's possible.
He's already been in US, he's seen the world. He's returned back, where he can enjoy his life. It happens to be St. Petersburg city, his work, his environment, math problems, insights, etc.
He has far more brilliant mind than most of us, he knows what's good for him and what's bad. Not you. He does.
He decides not to accept the money? Well, it must be good for him.
I don't think anybody is in position to tell him what to do.
I bet he is happy far more than any average man with a million dollars in pocket. - mikebritton, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4He just loves math. Too much money would take him away from what makes him happy. I can digg that.
- gforb, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5If he takes the money:
1) He would have to deal with some nasty people looking for money.
2) He would probably be badgered into appearing on some TV program designed to make him look stupid.
3) There is probably a relative who would badger him into being "successful" on *their* terms, not his.
If he doesn't take the money:
He and his mom live in (more) poverty.
Solution:
Take the money and run. Then he and mom move. Take the phone off the hook. - grozny, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Lemme try to explain why even million is nothing for this work:
Without some 'highly mathematical' work being done for math analysis and diff. geometry by Hauss etc. (some 3 centuries ago) and then 'less mathematical' and 'more physical' Maxwell (by the turn of 20th century) and then even less math/more handiwork by Tesla, you'd still burn whale blubber instead of turning on switch of electric bulb.
Without 'highly mathematical' papers of Turing and von Neumann - no PC, no internet, no MP3, imagine that.
Is that worth something for you? - MrDaniil, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Well, lets put it this way - if he doesn't want to accept the money, don't offer it to him but hold it on a side for him. If he can't show up to accept the congradulations, come to him and offer it to him. He's done a lot; show it then.
- daonlyfreez, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Simply bring the man the prize in cash and force him to take it, he can always burn it if he wants to. :p
- yahoofrom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Math trolls are always promoting themselves while a true genius never promotes himself. Ironic.
- ellenweber, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5What I find compelling about this sad story is that the areas of the human brain related to math questions differ from the areas of the brain related to intrapersonal intelligence. Where some would take criticism and be able to move on -- others struggle and are devastated with any personal problems that come from criticism or what appeared to be rejection. This story proves the case for multiple intelligences of which his math smarts are off the chart. Thanks for the interesting post.
Brain Based Business - sapo916, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Can someone just get the damn money and bring it to him... I mean *****, just put it somewhere where its impossible for them to reject it other than giving it away.
- grozny, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@pdesigns
Please don't pity him or second-guess his motivation. If you read carefully what's written about Grisha Perelman, you'd note that he was a visiting scientist in Columbia Univ.
@all
My bet he can't care less about moving to US and taking professorial position there. Ever tried to get US visa abroad? Application fees are high and non-refundable. Refusal is very common, money math genius or dumb commoner alike.
And seems that you don't know what a math professorship implies in US - lot of dumb paperwork, dumb moneybags snorting at every penny and idiotic students who don't even know what indefinite integral is. Math is still much more respected and developed in Russia than in US. Albeit in decline, sadly.
Most of you ppl here have very distorted view of scientists in general and Soviet scientists in particular. Mostly based on idiotic PI and - what was that another run-o-mill movie about 'nutty mathematician'? - 'Brilliant mind'?. Plus Cold War propaganda.
Also, why do you believe 100% the article states correctly his sources of income and what he *really* is as a person? That $$$$$$$ clouds your brain. But not his.
I've followed his proof (to my limited ability) and fancy I've grasped the gist, his idea about 3D manifolds classification (epsilon-neck, epsilon-cap etc.) and how he applies it to remove singularities in the flow is so brilliant, it's actually much more than *just* Poincare Conjecture proof. It lays foundation for many future breakthroughs in fluid mechanics, cosmology - bah, count all physics that uses flux and operates within 3D manifolds (a lot of it does). This will change everyday life in a half century or so.
Just like without Hauss and Maxwell there'd be no electricity. - FelixdaaHack, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Interviewed in St Petersburg last week, Dr Perelman insisted he was unworthy of all the attention, and was uninterested in his windfall. "I do not think anything that I say can be of the slightest public interest," he said.
A better article:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/maths-genius-living-in-poverty/2006/08/20/1156012411120.html - ChiChiCuervo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4It's not just that. Since communism largely destroyed morality, and the most immoral aparatchiks managed to gain control of all the money, the wealthy in Russia spend massive amounts of money, time, and effort on mafia-style warfare with each other. For anyone who is modest and wants to live a normal life in Russia, having wealth can be a terrible curse.
However, from RTFA, i agree that this guy is just depressed. After all, he could take his mother, money and move someplace safer... even nearby like Helsinki. - writingrights, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Headzoo--it's entirely possible that the interviewer asked a question that drew that answer out of him. "Do you have any big plans? things you're keeping quiet for now?"
- rolosworld, on 10/12/2007, -6/+9"One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing."
--Socrates - headzoo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Ah.. good point. The way it was presented, the guy sounded really paranoid.
- yahoofrom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Yeah, Salieri is always trying to hurt Mozart. (I know, historical Salieri ain't antagonist. but metaphor i mean.)
- mustbepatient, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Did you happen to read the entire article? He sounds miserable, and with the attitude he appears to have now, he will probably not contribute much else. I think he's a case study for the importance of valuing ones' self.
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