so, am i mathematician or not?

well, it depends on how you define it.

some people will claim that a mathematician is somebody that has a degree in mathematics, and i certainly adhere to that categorization, and then some. my sole awarded degree is a four year b. mathematics (honours) (2006), but i could apply for a graduate degree if i wanted to - although that statement may not be true for much longer, as those extra credits will eventually run out.

others will claim that, to truly be a mathematician, one must work in the field and publish papers. i have not done that and will not be doing that any time soon.

so, if i have a math degree, why don't i get a job as a mathematician? well, it's not exactly something that you apply for online, to start with. that basically means being a math prof. the other option is building weapons, and you know i wouldn't like that. and, let's be real - this is in fact a really shitty job with poor pay, bad benefits, zero security, awful hours and poor career advancement.

the reason i'm not technically a mathematician is in truth because i decided i didn't want to be one. i decided i'd rather be a musician.

if we're having a discussion about deep topics at the graduate level, you can call me on this, and i won't push back. i'm honest about this; i'll defer when necessary. but, you don't have a math degree, do you? and, you don't have a dozen graduate courses under your belt, either, right? or minors in related fields like economics, physics and computer science, either, right? usually, i'm the one that should be deferred to. you'd have to get very specialized to get out of my league...

if we're having a discussion about polling methods, or basic calculus, or introductory game theory, i have all the specialized knowledge you need. and, you can choose not to trust me if you want, but i'd point to my track record on that.