From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Msuck: nntp://news.gmane.io/gmane.science.mathematics.categories/6357 Path: news.gmane.org!not-for-mail From: edubuc Newsgroups: gmane.science.mathematics.categories Subject: Re: "schizophrenic" reference Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:24:20 -0400 Message-ID: References: <20101101135231.CF3035C25C@chase.mathstat.dal.ca> Reply-To: edubuc NNTP-Posting-Host: lo.gmane.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Trace: dough.gmane.org 1288923942 18583 80.91.229.12 (5 Nov 2010 02:25:42 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet@dough.gmane.org NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2010 02:25:42 +0000 (UTC) Cc: categories@mta.ca To: Tom Leinster Original-X-From: majordomo@mlist.mta.ca Fri Nov 05 03:25:37 2010 Return-path: Envelope-to: gsmc-categories@m.gmane.org Original-Received: from smtpx.mta.ca ([138.73.1.114]) by lo.gmane.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1PEBzl-0006hd-FW for gsmc-categories@m.gmane.org; Fri, 05 Nov 2010 03:25:37 +0100 Original-Received: from mlist.mta.ca ([138.73.1.63]:33524) by smtpx.mta.ca with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1PEBzG-0000so-60; Thu, 04 Nov 2010 23:25:06 -0300 Original-Received: from majordomo by mlist.mta.ca with local (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1PEBzD-0002MX-QQ for categories-list@mlist.mta.ca; Thu, 04 Nov 2010 23:25:03 -0300 In-Reply-To: Precedence: bulk Xref: news.gmane.org gmane.science.mathematics.categories:6357 Archived-At: Concerning terminology one more opinion exemplified by this example: I think that it is a VERY BAD HABIT to attach a mathematical meaning to words that have a comun use in every-day language, which come together with all sorts of connotations. Like "schizofrenic". Somebody proposed "schimatic", and I find this a good choice: 1) it is erudite and etimologically justified 2) it sounds right 3) (and more important). It is not a word known in everyday language. For example, I did not know it (neither in spanish, english or french). So, when I would see "schimatic" in a math text, I would say "what the hell does it mean ?", and look at the mathematical definition. Then I will know, and "schimatic" will have attached from now on only its mathematical meaning. I suggest that when in need of a word for a mathematical concept, to look at the LATIN language, which is a DEAD language, so no problems. And furthermore, it has a long tradition for scientific names. (and plurals "topoi" for example ja! sorry Peter) e.d. Tom Leinster wrote: > On Mon, 1 Nov 2010, Dusko Pavlovic wrote: > >> tom's was just the one where i blew up. i am sorry, tom. > > No problem. > > I understand that posts about terminology get tedious, but I do actually > think this matters. Mental health organizations constantly have to fight > misconceptions about mental illness. Those misconceptions can do real > harm to those who are ill. Schizophrenia as "split personality" is > one of > them. For example, Mind, a well-known British mental health charity, > says: > > There is more media misinformation about schizophrenia than about any > other psychiatric diagnosis. It's not true that schizophrenia means > 'split personality' > > Many websites on mental health contain statements along similar lines; a > few links are below. > > We have the freedom to choose any term we like for the mathematical > concept. We can do a small good thing by not choosing a term that > perpetuates a damaging myth about a serious psychiatric disorder. > > Best wishes, > Tom > > Links: > http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/schizophrenia#danger > http://helpguide.org/mental/schizophrenia_symptom.htm > http://healthmad.com/mental-health/seven-myths-and-misconceptions-about-schizophrenia/ > > http://www.ehow.co.uk/list_6112881_common-misconceptions-schizophrenia.html > > http://overcomingschizophrenia.blogspot.com/2008/09/common-misconceptions-about.html > [For admin and other information see: http://www.mta.ca/~cat-dist/ ]