I just recently graduated with a bachelor's in mathematics and I will begin my pursuit of a PhD starting this fall. One question that crossed my mind that I never consider before was when is someone a "mathematician"? Is it when they achieve a certain degree? Is it when that's the title of their job? The same question can be applied to terms like "physicist" or "statistician"? When would you all consider someone to be a "mathematician"? I'm just curious and want to hear opinions.
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im a bit agnostic to the title of mathematician being gatekeeped because i no longer consider myself mathematician anymore (unless out of convenience when asked about my abilities) because of the nonsensical, arbitrary elitism.
(1) we have so few mathematicians, and the topic itself is so unpopular already. we need so much help in climate change, i really dont think we should be pushing people away who have a love for it, especially those who have good hearts. which leads me to my other point.
(2) when is someone no longer a "mathematician"? we shun people if they dont have a degree, been published, do research, or work in industry/university level. but what about mathematicians working for amoral finance companies, the fossil fuel industry, and whatever other place destroying the world. where is our shunning of the mathematicians who are traitors to humanity? what happened to using our powers for good?
i was gatekeeped my entire 12 year long journey to earn my bachelors degree. my entirety of 18 years of post secondary is filled with unnecessary suffering, just to be too burnt out to put up an effective fight. no, im not a mathematician. im a computational theorist. EVERYONE is welcome to be one. beware, i am a tenth degree black belt in it, so if you challenge me, you might find out :p