In this presentation we will report from a qualitative investigation of the practice of mathematicians, with focus on how mathematical values come into play in relation to problem choice and communication of thoughts and results. We have shown that mathematicians balance three criteria’s when choosing what problems to work on. These criteria include continuity to previous work, metacognitive considerations and a number of criteria relating to the values in both the larger mathematical community and smaller sub communities. The data shows that considerations about what other mathematicians in general and a few locally leading figures in particular, might think about a certain problem are very present when mathematicians consider whether or not to pursue the problem. Understanding such criterion reveal insights into what is valued in the mathematical community as such, and how this differs across sub disciplines and even very small groups of mathematicians.