[hexscrews]

I'd say that even if your answer is completely wrong, at least you can document WHY it was wrong. And maybe someone can open up a new vein of inquiry that branches off yours.

It reminds me of a sci-fi story where people who decided that they were tired of being emulated retired to a virtual mine where they try to discover new mathematical proofs.

They didn't have to do it, since it served no real purpose. But it opened up new avenues of knowledge.

[felipemnoa]

>>It reminds me of a sci-fi story

Could you mention the the name?

[jonnybgood]

Sounds like Diaspora by Greg Egan. If it’s not, Diaspora also has a virtual mine of mathematical proofs that is mined by the citizens, which are virtual “human” entities living in a simulated world.