tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post4581755612615888984..comments2024-03-29T08:55:55.727-05:00Comments on Computational Complexity: Does Bob Deserve the lavish acknowledgement: A problem in LogicLance Fortnowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752030912874378610noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-52823002517947613012015-07-28T18:01:01.486-05:002015-07-28T18:01:01.486-05:00I'd assume based on the context that the state...I'd assume based on the context that the statements were meant to be in English and not logic. The English is ambiguous and everyone knows this. So, it's "correct" if (1) one meaning is precisely correct or close enough and (2) it's ok if people get the wrong idea and Bob ambiguously gets more credit than he deserves. If it's important to be precise, then the English is incorrect. <br /><br />People might read the statement to say Bob helped with the proofreading and Carol helped with some of the proofs. <br /><br />What if Bob and Carol are your family and they helped you prepare for a party. Would it be correct to say, thanks to my family for help with cleaning the house, taking out the garbage, and cooking for the party, even if only one person took out garbage? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-4991181599267882432015-07-15T21:12:32.272-05:002015-07-15T21:12:32.272-05:00I'd say the combined statement is wrong, and t...I'd say the combined statement is wrong, and that "B and C did X and Y" means "B did X and Y; C also did X and Y". An example makes this clear: "Bob and Carol crashed and survived". You wouldn't say that if one of them died in the crash!Omarhttp://math.harvard.edu/~oantolinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-89269106968944848282015-07-06T03:21:31.886-05:002015-07-06T03:21:31.886-05:00What about: I thank Bob and Carol for proofreading...What about: I thank Bob and Carol for proofreading. Carol also provided help with some proofs. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-54854609565689616722015-07-05T21:53:17.073-05:002015-07-05T21:53:17.073-05:00But GASARCH, you didn't tell us that.But GASARCH, you didn't tell us that.orcmidhttp://miser-theory.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-57416942972258337922015-07-05T21:38:27.680-05:002015-07-05T21:38:27.680-05:00(I thought I aleady wrote a reply- so this may app...(I thought I aleady wrote a reply- so this may appear twice.)<br />The post is loosely based on a real incident, so it would not be appropriate to say which paper and which people, even though none of this is controversial.<br /><br />Yes- shortening proofs may lead to a co-authorship, but in this case it would not have been appropriate--- the shortening was minor and the theorem was one of many.<br /><br />Anyway, I am more interested in the logic question.GASARCHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06134382469361359081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-24145449572632069712015-07-05T21:34:26.152-05:002015-07-05T21:34:26.152-05:00Bob's correction was not in a proof, it was in...Bob's correction was not in a proof, it was in the abstract in a statement of the main result. <br /><br />GASARCHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06134382469361359081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-84828899599342289652015-07-05T21:22:52.229-05:002015-07-05T21:22:52.229-05:00In this case, Bob's proofreading helped make t...In this case, Bob's proofreading helped make the proof correct, so the acknowledgement is justified.JeffEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17633745186684887140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-3657110506648940782015-07-05T20:42:19.209-05:002015-07-05T20:42:19.209-05:00Would you be so kind and generous to your readers ...Would you be so kind and generous to your readers to point out the "true incident" ? <br />Otherwise, let me point out of another "true incident" where nobody really cared enough about semantics in the acknowledgment section. And in "true incidents" sufficient help with proof short cuts could lead to co-authorship depending on the circumstance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com