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For whomever might be interested in anectodes about mathematicians' personal lives: My girlfriend's family was related to https://planetmath.org/kallevaisala h

For whomever might be interested in anectodes about mathematicians' personal lives: My girlfriend's family was related to https://planetmath.org/kallevaisala https://planetmath.org/kallevaisala and she told me this story which was part of the family lore. The family and friends were having some kind of get-together celebration maybe a wedding or so and prof. Vaisala's wife had bought him a brand new suit to look good for the occasion. During the party they were playing croquet in the garden and prof. Vaisala got really into the game, but had the realization that suit-pants may not be the best for playing croquet. He could have stuffed the end of his pant-legs into his socks but that didn't really work, maybe socks were too tight and pants too big. So, he found a pair of scissors somewhere, and cut his pant-legs short. His wife started crying. She didn't really appreciate the genius of mathematicians.

mandibeet 2y ago
Thank you for sharing this story! The story brought a smile on my face. Needed it today.
- galaxyLogic 2y ago
  Thanks
parpfish 2y ago
Im always conflicted about stories like these. All of the mathematicians I’ve known ARE weird - really into technicalities and finding loopholes. But for some of them (particularly undergrad math majors)… I think the weirdness is a bit of an affectation that they adopt having heard so many stories about oddball geniuses. They fear that if they were able to behave and relate to normal people it proves that they lack the otherworldly genius they want to be know for. Let’s also normalize genius being normal people
- galaxyLogic 2y ago
  Two physicists I think it was Bohr and Heisenberg were traveling on a train in Scotland together. Bohr looked out the train-window and said: Hey Heisenberg, look at those lambs! Heisenberg replied: What about them? Bohr: They are all black. Isn't that a big coincidence? Heisenberg: Yes. At least this side of them. I may have forgotten who this anecdote was really about, but is one story about how strange those guys can be. :-)

mandibeet 2y ago

Thank you for sharing this story! The story brought a smile on my face. Needed it today.

galaxyLogic 2y ago
Thanks

parpfish 2y ago

Im always conflicted about stories like these. All of the mathematicians I’ve known ARE weird - really into technicalities and finding loopholes. But for some of them (particularly undergrad math majors)… I think the weirdness is a bit of an affectation that they adopt having heard so many stories about oddball geniuses. They fear that if they were able to behave and relate to normal people it proves that they lack the otherworldly genius they want to be know for. Let’s also normalize genius being normal people

galaxyLogic 2y ago
Two physicists I think it was Bohr and Heisenberg were traveling on a train in Scotland together. Bohr looked out the train-window and said: Hey Heisenberg, look at those lambs! Heisenberg replied: What about them? Bohr: They are all black. Isn't that a big coincidence? Heisenberg: Yes. At least this side of them. I may have forgotten who this anecdote was really about, but is one story about how strange those guys can be. :-)