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I think you're being a bit harsh. I can barely do simple algebra right now but I like math. I liked my math classes in high school and college because it felt s

by 93po 3y ago

I think you're being a bit harsh. I can barely do simple algebra right now but I like math. I liked my math classes in high school and college because it felt satisfying to both learn and solve problems. It felt challenging in a unique way that my brain had never been forced to do before. It felt good that I was above average at it and it felt good to understand something something that started off looking like gibberish. You can love paintings without knowing anything about how to paint.

jdeaton 3y ago
Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh. On the other hand, I feel its more similar to asking someone who says "I love reading fiction" what is a book they liked and them not having an answer.
- kandel 3y ago
  Yeah but it is the situation. I remember a roommate saying "I love math!". When I talked with her a bit I understood she likes doing solutions of easy integrals\derivatives because they are simple, relaxing, and rewarding for her - her math classes were easy and she could get accolades by just doing those simple excersizes. Ofcourse the distance between that and a proper field of math is vast. But that was math for her.
- warmcompress 3y ago
  There are comments on HN I find correlate to blithe superciliousness. A light expression of common sentiment (math is beautiful!) without domain knowledge is somehow a marker of social superiority... yeesh. kandel's sibling comment being the kind of reasonable rejoinder that shouldn't have to exist if there was a good faith follow-up to this sort of conversation, instead of turning up the nose...
  - jdeaton 3y ago
    You know what, I think you're right. I should be less judgemental. I'm not sure why I thought that was okay. I think some of it comes from the disappointment when someone describes themselves as loving math being part of their personality, but then when I try to engage with that as a jumping-off point or common interest its like there's nothing there.
    - 93po 3y ago
      Props to you. Thanks for the kind follow-up

by 93po 3y ago

jdeaton 3y ago

Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh. On the other hand, I feel its more similar to asking someone who says "I love reading fiction" what is a book they liked and them not having an answer.

kandel 3y ago
Yeah but it is the situation. I remember a roommate saying "I love math!". When I talked with her a bit I understood she likes doing solutions of easy integrals\derivatives because they are simple, relaxing, and rewarding for her - her math classes were easy and she could get accolades by just doing those simple excersizes. Ofcourse the distance between that and a proper field of math is vast. But that was math for her.
warmcompress 3y ago
There are comments on HN I find correlate to blithe superciliousness. A light expression of common sentiment (math is beautiful!) without domain knowledge is somehow a marker of social superiority... yeesh. kandel's sibling comment being the kind of reasonable rejoinder that shouldn't have to exist if there was a good faith follow-up to this sort of conversation, instead of turning up the nose...
- jdeaton 3y ago
  You know what, I think you're right. I should be less judgemental. I'm not sure why I thought that was okay. I think some of it comes from the disappointment when someone describes themselves as loving math being part of their personality, but then when I try to engage with that as a jumping-off point or common interest its like there's nothing there.
  - 93po 3y ago
    Props to you. Thanks for the kind follow-up