View Poll Results: Should we add LaTeX support to the forum?

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  • Yes

    7 38.89%
  • No

    9 50.00%
  • I don't know what LaTeX is, but Yes!

    2 11.11%

Thread: LaTeX

  1. #31
    Cat without Hat CornedBee's Avatar
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    Did it ever occur to anyone that perhaps we don't do a lot of mathematical discussion because we completely lack LaTeX and therefore can't?
    Now that's just nonsense. Lack of graphical formulas may make mathematical discussion somewhat cumbersome, but to say that without LaTeX we're completely unable to discuss math is absurd.
    All the buzzt!
    CornedBee

    "There is not now, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be, any programming language in which it is the least bit difficult to write bad code."
    - Flon's Law

  2. #32
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by master5001 View Post
    Did it ever occur to anyone that perhaps we don't do a lot of mathematical discussion because we completely lack LaTeX and therefore can't?
    Err... no, master5001.
    Wouldn't ever occur to me because we don't need latex to discuss maths. That just doesn't make sense. It's true that lacking a way to express the notation is a bummer. But mathematics can be - and has been - discussed on these boards without having to learn a (I'm sorry to say) needlessly complex syntax.

    Besides, if the need arises you can always discuss your maths with the help of latex using tools such as these, or simply post the markup on the forums and let anyone who's interested in replying to copy-paste to their editor.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  3. #33
    Banned master5001's Avatar
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    >> Lack of graphical formulas may make mathematical discussion somewhat cumbersome, but to say that without LaTeX we're completely unable to discuss math is absurd. <<

    Now how can you be absolutely sure of this fact? I mean obviously we will never know until we add LaTeX support, now will we.

  4. #34
    Cat without Hat CornedBee's Avatar
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    You mean, if we added a markup language for cat macros, we'd be discussing the private lives of movie stars?
    All the buzzt!
    CornedBee

    "There is not now, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be, any programming language in which it is the least bit difficult to write bad code."
    - Flon's Law

  5. #35
    Banned master5001's Avatar
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    Oh come on now. Surely my circular logic is transparent enough for you to see through. I am just trying to stick to my guns here. It was my thread afterall. I can't abandon ship mid-stream.

  6. #36
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    Well, in that case I return your question to you?
    How can you be sure it's needed when in fact mathematics has been discussed on these forums without it and, as I said and you chose to ignore, you can post the markeup

    EDITOR REVIEW: which means evidence points to the fact we don't need latex support.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  7. #37
    Banned master5001's Avatar
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    Can I answer your question with another question?

    Hmmm... How lofty of me, it seems I already have.

  8. #38
    Banned master5001's Avatar
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    Alright.. I will be serious for once: Its a low priority need, I will acknowledge that right up front. And even in terms of low priority needs, its a rarely used or necessary extention. So your points are valid, Mario. One could just do as you suggested. As far as I am concerned, we have lived our lives a long time without the existance of LaTeX or its kin on the forum.

    I know that a lot of common forum extentions are not used here to preserve the security of the forum. In the big picture, that is definitely a very important part of the forum.

  9. #39
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    To be honest my argumentation derives mostly from the experience that rarely, very rarely, a one-man suggestion meets the needs of the community. What happens mostly is that we think we have a good idea, it is in fact generally speaking a good idea (have I something against latex support? 'course not!), but the fact it doesn't exist yet is because it's not really needed.

    Usually the process of implementing new features happens more naturally and involves a lot of people screaming for it, or no one does and some day the feature just pops up and people start to use it because it's there and the admins thought it cool.

    Not to say one shouldn't suggest. By all means, do. But saying it's pointless to argue
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  10. #40
    Banned master5001's Avatar
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    Which is why I make such obviously convoluted arguments. I can't disagree with you on that one, Mario. I can't disagree at all. I know it comes up from time to time, but its occurance is rather few and far between.

  11. #41
    Banned master5001's Avatar
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    Is this an elaborate ploy to eliminate any threads that could be used to demonstrate a need for LaTeX on the forum? You be the judge.

    (lol... I know... I am grabbing at straws now. Sue me)

  12. #42
    Malum in se abachler's Avatar
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    If it comes down to it, there are applications out there that ca geenrate an image of the formula, then you can post the image to the forum. Problem solved, without buggering up the security.

  13. #43
    Banned master5001's Avatar
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    Well I appreciate your no vote... *grumbles*

  14. #44
    Banned master5001's Avatar
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    After carefully tabulating the results of this poll I have discovered that Floridians still do not know how to vote! Though I guess if you take it at face value the poll is inconclusive. But if you take it seriously, "no" seems to be the opinion of the people.

  15. #45
    Hail to the king, baby. Akkernight's Avatar
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    I would vote yes, 'cause I like the name of the thing, but I have no idea what it is, or why you people wanna discuss math!? Ain't the school enough? :P
    I try ignoring math as much as possible outside school, that's why I have 'em friends who like to calculate the angle from them and to the moon... :P
    Currently research OpenGL

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