"mathematicians did not ask for this work to be done" we're going to see a lot more of this in a lot of different fields if these people genuinely loved math, they would be throwing parties to celebrate what might be one of the biggest days for mathematics in decades. but instead they're calling for a boycott and it makes me wonder how many of them actually love math, and how many just love being seen as mathematicians. because for a lot of people, the point of studying math isn't necessarily to understand the world, to explain it, or to advance the field. it's to be seen as a mathematician. to have a sense of importance, to feel valued by others. their entire identity is centered around this, and their goal is to be needed and considered smart i think a lot of people are about to realize that what gave their life meaning wasn't really the work itself, but the fact that they were the ones doing it. and i wonder what will happen when this happens to all professions. will we finally be forced to figure out what it means to be human? maybe people will rediscover meaning in family, relationships and things outside of their careers. or maybe millions of people will have an existential crisis because the one thing they've built their entire identity around is suddenly no longer needed i genuinely wonder if society is ready for it