Sociological/Psychological Phenomenon

From: Pubkeybreaker (Robert_silverman_at_raytheon.com)
Date: 05/31/05 

Date: 31 May 2005 08:15:33 -0700

I am curious about something.

What is it about math and crypto that makes an amateur
believe that he/she can actually come up with a new theorem
or algorithm that has somehow been miracuously missed by
large numbers of previous (or current) mathematicians???

I am sure that these same people would not post their ideas
 for (say) a new neuro-surgical technique. They do recognize
that they have no competence.

What is it about math in particular, as opposed to other
technical fields of knowledge, that amateurs are unable to
 recognize their lack of competence? People are certainly
able to recognize that they know nothing about surgery.
Why do they fail to recognize the same thing with regard to
 their mathematical knowledge?

We also see the same thing in sci.physics-- Amateurs (and cranks)
who post their own (mostly mistaken) 'ideas'. These people
do not seem to similarly pollute medical newsgroups.

Clearly these people are looking for fame for solving some famous
problem. But they do not seem to look for fame by (say) semi-serious
efforts to cure disease.... They know they lack skills for the latter.