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Mathematician Claims New Yorker Defamed Him
An anonymous reader writes, "Last month the New Yorker ran the article 'Manifold Destiny' (slashdotted here), by Sylvia Nasar, author of 'A Beautiful Mind.' Now a renowned Harvard mathematics professor, Dr. Shing-Tung Yau, is claiming the article defamed him. His attorney wrote the New Yorker a letter (PDF) threatening that Yau will have 'no choice but to consider other options' if Nasar, her co-author, and the New Yorker fail to undo the damage done."
why does the guy bother? he's got a maths degree, and works at harvard. why the hell does he care if some journalist spreads proverbial shite about his theory. presumably the theory has gone through the channels to become legitimate and several other mathmaticians have also proofed the piece. he's obvously bored, or its a bit of a stunt to get people to read the theory, and the journalist is basically fanning the flames.
dont like jounralists. agreed, speading the proverbial does rake in the money, but i have to wonder at how much consideration there is for others...
if the guy's theory is flawed, then surely it be best that someone does flag discrepencies in it...