> Perhaps in practice my definition of "a mathematician" is "someone who, when wrong, responds to disagreement by changing their mind rather than becoming defen

> Perhaps in practice my definition of "a mathematician" is "someone who, when wrong, responds to disagreement by changing their mind rather than becoming defensive or downvoting you", an event I see on a daily basis in lectures on mathematics and very rarely outside of them. Mathematicians are often OK at this within their discipline, but we're as bad as anyone else at it when dealing with human affairs. (At least, I am.) I might rather suggest the less flattering characterisation of a mathematician who will argue with a statement with which they agree, just to see if it breaks. (At least, I do.)