5 ms·

I don't think it's a decent assumption for "almost everyone" in the west. I'd say it often is the case that you won't have enough free time for such studies un

by clarry 10y ago

I don't think it's a decent assumption for "almost everyone" in the west. I'd say it often is the case that you won't have enough free time for such studies unless you trade cash (income) for the free time. At which point you may not have much after paying the bills. Or you're unemployed and, well, don't have the cash. You suggest trading some of that free time for cash, as if unemployment were something people solve by snapping their fingers and choosing to make a trade. That sounds a bit insulting towards all the people (who are many) that struggle with unemployment in western countries.

throwaway729 10y ago
> You suggest trading some of that free time for cash, as if unemployment were something people solve by snapping their fingers and choosing to make a trade Not at all; I meant in the form of a loan, where free time is time you would otherwise spend retired. And I was also assuming that you already have a decent job that allows you to work 40 hours or so and make a comfortable enough living to consider spending your free time learning math. Frankly, I can't possibly imagine trying to do something like learn advanced mathematics while also struggling with un- or under-employment. I grant that there are probably people far more motivated and resilient than I assume :-)
- bpchaps 10y ago
  Such as Ramanujan. ;)
  - throwaway729 10y ago
    Sure, there are outliers. My post explicitly deals with the common case only.
    - bpchaps 10y ago
      Yes, but think about those in between the outliers. Troubled situations and many cases where loans aren't feasible or possible. I'll pass on a world where policy and education only deals with the common case.
      - throwaway729 10y ago
        Of course. I hate the higher ed situation in the US as much as the next guy and wish we could move closer to the systems available in much of Europe, especially Germany (perhaps without the pre-high school bifurcation). I interpreted this thread as being about advice to a typical person interested in learning math who exists in the society we (specifically, Americans) live in today. For the exceptional, the appropriate advice is of course different.

by clarry 10y ago

throwaway729 10y ago

> You suggest trading some of that free time for cash, as if unemployment were something people solve by snapping their fingers and choosing to make a trade Not at all; I meant in the form of a loan, where free time is time you would otherwise spend retired. And I was also assuming that you already have a decent job that allows you to work 40 hours or so and make a comfortable enough living to consider spending your free time learning math. Frankly, I can't possibly imagine trying to do something like learn advanced mathematics while also struggling with un- or under-employment. I grant that there are probably people far more motivated and resilient than I assume :-)

bpchaps 10y ago
Such as Ramanujan. ;)
- throwaway729 10y ago
  Sure, there are outliers. My post explicitly deals with the common case only.
  - bpchaps 10y ago
    Yes, but think about those in between the outliers. Troubled situations and many cases where loans aren't feasible or possible. I'll pass on a world where policy and education only deals with the common case.
    - throwaway729 10y ago
      Of course. I hate the higher ed situation in the US as much as the next guy and wish we could move closer to the systems available in much of Europe, especially Germany (perhaps without the pre-high school bifurcation). I interpreted this thread as being about advice to a typical person interested in learning math who exists in the society we (specifically, Americans) live in today. For the exceptional, the appropriate advice is of course different.