Talk:KinderCalculus/blead

Rename.

If this were the worst word choice in the book (which it isn't, at the moment), I would say this is a bad choice and needs to be changed. Even taken by itself, it teaches kids to make strongly negative associations with math. --Pi zero (talk) 11:48, 25 June 2010 (UTC)

The closest words to Blead are Bleat and Bleed, and because of the spelling, the kids may start to think of maths as bleeding... looks like a pretty violent book in mathematical standards. Kayau ( talk | email | contribs ) 14:42, 27 June 2010 (UTC)

Agreed. This is not a good name, perhaps BaLD would work with the B-L-D theme they are trying to get across. Together with a joke about bald math teachers to go for the subversion tactics the book intro discusses and it could work well. Thenub314 (talk) 19:00, 27 June 2010 (UTC)

Is that joke published before? If it isn't, that may be OR as well... Kayau ( talk | email | contribs ) 13:03, 28 June 2010 (UTC)

If I managed to find a good joke to insert into the text I will make sure to properly attribute the joke for you. :) Thenub314 (talk) 13:07, 28 June 2010 (UTC)

Originally, I wanted to use "Bleed" to refer to DC Comic's multiverse reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleed_%28comics%29 , in which the Snowflake and Monster Group provide a foundation. There, the Bleed is the interstitial spaces between multiverses. It's a good way of planting the seed for more exciting math to come. There is also an amazing history and fiction around this concept. In my opinion, the stories around it is some of the best stories ever told in comics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_%28comics%29. Think about it, what could be a richer experience for kids than compelling stories, set against a mathematical backdrop of cool ideas like

• Quantum Mechanics
• Max Tegmark's MUT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Tegmark and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematical_universe_hypothesis ), and
• the Beauty and The Beast of mathematics (Monster and E8)

I think such richness is worth a little hurt.

I too did not want kids associating math with something painful. But the idea of the multiversal Bleed with all its mathematics was so compelling that I compromised and opted for a re-spelling as Blead. "Bald" jokes does play into the subversive approach, but it also gives a green light for kids to be mean about bald men, especially when the bald men are not math professors. I want to be subversive, but only when it comes to generic subjects like potty humor or wedgies.

Given that this book is now in Wikiversity and directed at adults, I propose to revert to the original Blead and provide alternate terms such as Bald for adults to choose from. I urge you to read Planetary before passing judgement. You can find a teaser here http://www.dccomics.com/media/excerpts/planet_prev.pdf , where there is reference to "Integral Design Theory" aka "Description Theory" that bears a resemblance to Max Tegmark's work. The story does have adult elements in it, but it's nothing that a benevolent Sharpie cannot fix. What do you think? Numiri 16:11, 26 July 2010 (UTC)

Go for it. I think the changes made to try to make the text fit into Wikijunior should be undone. When everything is up and a bit more complete would probably be the best time to discuss which metephores are best to use. Because I imagine something a bit consistent from beginning to end would work best. Thenub314 16:05, 26 July 2010 (UTC)