How do people know though?

So far into an online process where noted really was on web, with my broad definition which is ANYTHING solving the information distribution problem, since 1996, is fascinating to consider the how of a blog like this one with a readership from 63 countries so far this year according to Google Analytics.

Back then was arguing on Usenet where eventually was through Google Groups, where am not sure when that happened, where wasn't really there to argue but to play with some math ideas. Guess wasn't as bad at that as some of the people who would start obsessively replying to me would claim.

Often was just brainstorming though. Trying out idea, after idea, after idea and tossing as soon as realized it didn't work. Until had exhausted EVERY possible way of attacking one particular math problem, after having deluded myself had solved it, where a TON of people knew the error but wouldn't tell me. And I finally could see it myself and mentally collapsed.

By then was known around the globe JUST in this math area but insultingly, as these math people were not happy with my innovative techniques for tackling math problems, they'd say relentlessly while relentlessly stalking my posts.

And I didn't even bother acknowledging most of them by then. Was focused on my ideas and only considered posts that helped me evaluate them, for the most part. At times was drawn into other things but insult wars? Boring.

Oh, so yeah, had FINALLY thought had something perfect and argued that for SIX MONTHS until saw had a dumb error, and mentally collapsed. There was nothing salvageable. The shock felt is hard to express. But it came and after a time, maybe some weeks I guess, it went.

Pulled myself back together. Chastened and debating with myself, realized I just liked the process and enjoyed playing around with math things JUST for the fun, which sounded good to me. Guess realized I wouldn't stop, but could shift my motivations!!! And then why stop? I was having fun, and not taking TOO seriously, any more.

And then promptly realized that one problem? Where had tried everything?

I had tried everything possible with basic techniques was using. How might I expand possibility?

And in a couple of weeks had invented my own mathematical discipline, though didn't realize it fully then. That was December 1999 and did kind of feel like significant was just before year 2000. Is kind of hard to do something like that. And skepticism is max, and you end up testing every part of it, over and over and over again.

But was back and ended up arguing with math people, and skeptical of my own things, wanted something else to feel more confident, so started thinking about prime numbers. And in a couple of weeks had my own way to count prime numbers. Which to me is one of my wildest stories. Took about two weeks and went LOOKING for something like that for my FEELINGS. And had it August 2002.

So at that point there were people who am sure knew. And they could just look at this thing.

Later also to feel better as was STILL arguing with math people where wonder now wonder why I still bothered, I decided to write a software app, to have something solid, you know? Math things were solid but a tool, felt a different kind. So I wrote Class Viewer and put on SourceForge.

It roared around the globe in certain circles before Google was really big, so watched wondering when was in thousands of...what were they called? Directories. Editing and finally came to me. And not surprisingly took over search: Class Viewer

Have had it ever since for the most part though recently seem to have #2 a lot, and that was since 2004.

So yeah, for people who know certain things, would make sense to keep up with what I'm doing lately. Just the things I've mentioned here, which are more highlight items as I kept doing more things would justify constant global attention.

Which is the basics of how people know to do things like follow my blogs.

Have been putting up big things online since 1999. Oh cool that rhymed. Um, going to stop that now.

Decided to just label metaspace. In essence am discussing the meta of how I maintain global reach.

Gist of it seems to be a relentless poring out of ideas online over two decades, with some more than significant enough to grab and hold attention of people across many countries. How many people though? Realize I have lots fewer clues there.

The key then is the enabling power of the web, for information distribution, with a driver of an idea production which actually is rather high. I've pumped out so many have no clue how many actually.

Just quit bothering to count even the ones I consider globally important.

Just seemed so arbitrary the determination. How do I know say, that functionally defining money is significant at global level? (I think it is.) But definitely think entertainment is? And sure a new way to count prime numbers should be, but what about some other math thing? Besides, what do I care really?

Is up to others what value they see in ideas or not, and with global it is about value to others.


James Harris

Creativity and finding solid ground

Yesterday found myself in a creative mood and brainstormed a television idea and had here at first, but FINALLY am sticking with saying not just giving away, so realized should be on my blog Seriously Commercial. Before Saturday was a free day there, as it has a day based format, so decided to label as Saturday Creative.

So yeah that makes sense! And thought would give some info for people who saw and wondered where it went.

Feel like have done a lot of work to get to a system that gives me flexibility to put out my various ideas and be creative in the right places. So really glad now established a blog for commercial things, as creativity can just come at you, rapidly. In the past have had blog posts which simply disappeared as realized didn't really fit overall direction of a blog, and had no place else for them.

For those who wonder have sense of solid ground now with my process of putting out ideas. I like to write, enjoy the creative process, and make no pretensions about how speculative I try to be. I'm pushing the limits of what I think I know and took up label of meta innovator, which is a challenging label.

But like, I've invented my own mathematical discipline, found my own way to count prime numbers, defined mathematical proof functionally, and functionally defined science and also entertainment, among other things. And I really like to have fun. I think I live up to the label, meta innovator.

So yeah, when I was a kid, really liked hanging out in the library. Of course. Love that as a fitting seemingly non sequitur.


James Harris

My perspective and correctness quest

Maybe a shorter behind the scenes might work. Have done several lately which got really long quickly, but will tell myself upfront, to keep this one short. And yeah got into idea of trying to figure some things out myself back in 1995, and realize now web was for the most part here, with Usenet and Internet with World Wide Web, which arrived in 1989, but so much was ahead, like social media on it, where I include blogs.

But timing for me was perfect as was using email for a bit bugging actual mathematicians when thought had some good ideas which got guilty fast, and they were nice. But was clear when your obvious mistakes are pointed out, when you're out of your league. So was kind of relieved to find on Usenet were math places public, and should have been ok. But the haters. They were just nasty, and no sense to it, but I was like, is free speech! And I'd keep posting even when they'd insult relentlessly as that was how they'd try to force people off. Was not going to reward their bad behavior with success for it. And that was long before the hater thing was really understood.

Regardless I was having so much fun though.

And that just made the haters more mad that insults didn't work the way they wanted. And I'd get lots of attention for my innovative approaches, which was fascinating really and I was wrong a LOT, but hey, mistakes come with trying. And reality is was making fewer and fewer mistakes as I learned. But regardless would own up when pointed out to me, which was why was so disappointed with my last spectacular mistake run, when found out some of those math folks had known of a mistake for SIX MONTHS while I went on and on. And didn't tell me what it was (they did say I had one though should admit). Getting kind of long already. Time to tighten up.

Oh but still so much fun! And by then was global, which was by 1999, but just with math things, and you're doing detective work to even figure that out. And web metrics is still primitive I think, even today with advanced tools, as so many people opt out.

Oh, oh but main thing is: you want to be correct! Is WAY easy to start getting people cheering you on, and believing in your things, which can be so FAST, and hurt when have to come back and say, sorry had some mistake. I got tired of that years ago. So is easy to be very upfront when speculating, or guessing, or trying out some new ideas to say hey, these things might go away!!!

These days the process is well worked out. And I don't work to convince. I try to share well.

So yeah is over 20 years now since started arguing things out, and trying out ideas, and battling at times with the haters, to the rather more mundane things like here on Beyond Mundane? Ok, isn't really mundane. Is beyond mundane. I don't argue. I work at how I share. Um, I think have covered what wanted to cover.

So yeah, not so much into doing things meant for fans--not claiming to have any--while do appreciate people interested in the work, as SO much disappointment had to deliver to people in the past when sketchy ideas collapsed. And now while on a constant quest for correctness, have a process to limit that bad news delivery. And is easier anyway, to just share some ideas where focus more on how that is done, and leave it up to others to decide if works for them or not. (So LOVE being a fan, but seems weird to think of having any. Maybe should figure out a way to get over that? But how? Maybe... Or...)

And the fun? Well that has just been a constant. And the adventure just keeps coming. And enough behind the scenes! Still kind of a long post I think.


James Harris

Functional perspective elucidated on defining entertainment

Will talk through what I call a functional perspective with my definition of entertainment as being something that helps a person safely control mood.

Reason I call it functional is that it can immediately let you explain how for instance, riding a roller coaster can be exciting for one person, who feels safe with it and wants that thrill, but NOT entertaining for another person who maybe would prefer to curl up with a good book.

There are actually two abstractions involved: controlling mood, and feeling safe.

Defining mood is another subject, where I like description--a constellation of emotions. Though can be rather simple, at times.

Like if you want to laugh? You can deliberately go watch a funny movie, and if you do NOT want to laugh, why would you bother? And some folks can go watch a movie they expect to make them cry.

Here's a tweet that talks that as well.

Great thing about entertainment is it caters to you. Reality is what can scare you when you don't want. Entertainment does when you do.

— James Harris (@jstevh) March 15, 2017

But also if you are in the mood for a quiet evening with friends in a warm and inviting surrounding taken care of by attentive strangers who will bring you food, then a nice restaurant can fit the bill, and bill you accordingly as well. Why I chuckle at people who wonder why you'd pay so much more for ambiance.

We pay one way or another for mood with any entertainment. Because there is work involved for those providing.

Like you want to be a great host? You better work! Your guests will know the difference.

Ever been to a party where suddenly you just lose the mood or never even feel it? Best to just go ahead and leave or DRAG through the evening. I'm the go ahead and...I'm the liven up the party type.

That we can try to buy a mood is a lot about the business of entertainment.

People who don't bother? Probably have more boring lives which may fit THEIR mood. You know like that person who never goes to restaurants, never goes to movies, never watches movies and never reads books or watches anything really, but is fine with it.

That person is NOT me. I love my entertainment, and LOTS of it.

Of course such a person could have a hobby. But then also probably would find money spent with it at some level. And have talked money elsewhere, functionally.

We've covered a TON of territory with a functional definition where examples are not meant to convince! The examples help to elucidate to comprehend the relevance of the abstractions.

Notice, if you just go, a ha! Then you don't need any of those examples, as just getting entertainment is a way people use to control mood safely, as I change it up a bit, would do it for you.

If so, good for you! I like working through functional examples to understand the abstractions better.

Oh, if you're NOT convinced, notice I don't care. If I'm right, even if you don't believe me, others who know you could look incredulously at you, if you claimed one thing, and then promptly ask: So what are you all in the mood for? Just nothing TOO wild and crazy you know?

Now though general principles are worked through in a quick post to understand how I do things with my functional definitions in other areas.

A functional definition in contrast to a descriptive one is definitive in letting you know you have the thing and I think works best with abstractions where description is less useful. Like go look up an establishment dictionary definition of entertainment and compare.

Oh, and also notice focused on just two primary abstractions to encompass entertainment, where ranged widely so could talk a restaurant, and there is no reason to think that my interest here indicates any interest in being an entertainer myself. Also shows that for me the entertainment industry is more vast as a concept than may be for others.


James Harris

Pondering the money conundrum

Having a connection in one's mind between success and money can make you feel like a fraud, talking the subject without much of it, but have readily admitted my probing into what money is, has been driven by a lack of it. Before didn't think about it as much, when usually had enough.

And web is great that way in terms of free things like Blogger where can have blogs up, without worrying about money there, and I use my blogs to work through problems. Often really am just thinking out loud, as putting up things public helps me focus, and dismiss bad ideas more quickly.

With the basic functional idea that money is a social IOU backed by society, could figure out much. Recognizing money flows had a HUGE impact for me as realized yeah, mostly flows through contracts. And then realized that pay on the job is really about services gaining remuneration under a contract, where noted recently it pays to be polite! Duh.

Having been someone who maybe took jobs too for granted in the past, have finally accepted that yes, while having global reach is really cool that can be a consideration for a business to NOT take you on as an employee. But also will admit got frustrated years ago wondering why wasn't making more money working with all that global reach I like to blab about so often. So figured that one out too.

Which results in my newest blog Seriously Commercial which is yet to actually go fully commercial, though consider the foundations laid. Gist of it is that looks like much of what I need to do is provide promotional services to others, but must do with best practices, which have worked out to my satisfaction. That was a lot of work on this blog as well, figuring out promotion.

In our times people want GREAT referral. Which to me means they both understand why you're promoting something to them, feel is a benefit, both before, during and after any business transaction, and with any part leading up to the possibility of it. Their choice, always. Is a huge thing really.

Also for me though there are significant requirements generated by learning to be global where probably benefited by keeping money separate to the extent I have. Makes you really picky. Oh, you thought the opposite maybe? (Who knows. Part of me is like, well if you're desperate for money, could force to NOT be picky, right?)

Well, consider how hard it is to maintain interest on our global stage with relentless competition for attention.

You think people and organizations that do it manage by NOT being picky?

For me, looking them over from my own perspective, appreciate I never realized fully just how picky they were! And to move in those circles, have to emulate. Otherwise even if managed to exploit situation for a bit, would watch it rapidly collapse.

(My ability to exploit would collapse. Would STILL get the global attention though. Oh.)

And you know what? Have kind of gotten used to the positive global attention. Sort of grows on you.

One brilliant thing though have learned is that success and money really weren't as connected as I thought. And thinking about success has helped me appreciate the people who get it done, for real, more than before. Success maybe is a moving target more than I realized, and is not so easy to grab with any one thing, like money. Which isn't putting down having it.

Main thing with money now realize, is having enough.


James Harris