Summary of Key Points
This article focuses on two main events: First, a technical flaw on the official website of the International Congress of Mathematicians led to the exposure of the speaking schedules for potential Fields Medal (the highest award in mathematics) candidates, prompting netizens to speculate that individuals such as Wang Hong and Deng Yu might win the award. Second, a Zhihu user named “banal,” known as an “all-around troll,” maliciously attacked mathematicians like Deng Yu and Wang Hong, as well as many public figures. However, Deng Yu proved to be quite the opposite of the stereotypical image of a “cool mathematician”—he has a fondness for百合-themed anime and supports gender equality, showcasing the diverse lives of top scholars.
1. The Small Mistake with the Fields Medal Candidates: An Official Website Bug Causes a “Spoiler”
The Fields Medal is considered the Nobel Prize in mathematics and is awarded every four years to mathematicians under the age of 40. A bug on the official website of the International Congress of Mathematicians allowed netizens to discover four scheduled speeches that were supposedly exclusive to Fields Medal winners. According to tradition, only the confirmed recipients have their speeches listed in advance; therefore, people are speculating that Wang Hong, Deng Yu, and two others could be this year’s winners. It should be noted, however, that these are just preliminary plans, and the final results will not be announced until the end of the month, so it’s still uncertain at this time.
2. The Zhihu “All-Around Troll” banal: Attacking Everyone Without Mercy
There is a Zhihu user named “banal” who is a professional at causing trouble for others. He mocked Deng Yu for not understanding functional analysis (even though Deng Yu is a renowned mathematician) and also criticized Wang Hong. When Chinese Olympic champion Fan Zhendong won, banal had previously vowed to eat dirt if he lost, but then he tried to manipulate the situation by asking netizens to delete related images. He was overjoyed when Portugal and Norway lost in the World Cup and has also targeted celebrities like Quan Hongchan, Zhang Songwen, and even the movies “Zootopia 2” and “Black Myth:悟空.” His behavior is characterized by taking joy in others’ misfortunes and pouring cold water on their successes, with most of his 160+ responses being malicious attacks. Netizens refer to him as the “strict father of the Fields Medal” or a “Zhihu tycoon,” but he is essentially just a person who vents negative emotions.
3. The Contrasting Charm of Mathematician Deng Yu: Mastering Advanced Mathematics While Being a Fan of百合 Anime
Deng Yu breaks the stereotype of mathematicians as being aloof and solely focused on their work. As a potential Fields Medal winner, he has a secret passion for百合-themed anime; his Zhihu profile image features the character Maki Kikura, and his signature is very anime-inspired. During his undergraduate years, he discussed mathematics in forums while sharing百合 manga. He even created a forum called “Jiudianyuanba” to promote the marriage of the百合 couples Ryo Takashimizu and Ren Sera and has collected questions about what it’s like for girls to develop romantic interests in other people. Netizens joke that his lack of exposure to百合 anime might hinder his mathematical progress, but it seems that even top scholars can have innocent, girly hobbies.
4. Deng Yu’s Down-to-Earth Side: Opposing Gender Bias with a Positive Outlook
Deng Yu is not only interesting but also has a very positive set of values. He openly opposes gender discrimination, calling the idea that older unmarried women are abnormal absurd and stating that “half of humanity should not discriminate against the other half.” He also educates others about the low risk of HIV transmission between lesbian couples and believes that people like Xu Bo deserve little respect. He directly criticizes the notion in百合 literature that women in certain professions are out of place, highlighting his warm and non-stereotypical approach as a scholar.
5. The Dual Nature of the Internet: A Platform for Both Interesting Individuals and Malicious Trolls
The article highlights the dual role of the internet: it can highlight unique individuals like Deng Yu, who is both skilled in mathematics and passionate about anime, as well as trolls like banal. More importantly, the internet allows ordinary people to connect with top scholars (such as Deng Yu through Q&A sessions on Zhihu) and enjoy the convenience provided by technology. We should embrace the interesting and valuable content on the internet while staying away from malicious trolls and fully appreciate the fun that the internet can bring.