People have always considered me smart. At least most did. But I cannot, in good conscience, not admit that I'm abysmal in math. Like seriously. I am just terrible at it. If forced, I can do math, but I'm slow as heck in it.

I was told by a few educated people that certain individuals who tend to be great at either math or languages are usually abysmal on either while being great on the other. I guess I'm one of those people.

So... What do you think? Did I inherit bad math-brain chromosomes? Or am I just lazy when it comes to studying math? To be perfectly clear, I actually have a very sharp memory.

I think if you're bad at something academic, you should still understand its importance in the world. Just because it's not for you doesn't mean it's pointless to someone else. On a similar note, just because people think it's necessary for everyone doesn't make it true. Math just isn't for everyone, and that's okay.

My oldest is a whiz when it comes to math...much better than I. When she was in elementary school, I was frustrated that she seemed to be unable to spell. I was told by a staff member at her school that is not unusual. Maybe for some it is either/or.

Might I ask why you feel the need to label every thread you start as 'serious'?

(October 15, 2022 at 10:12 pm)arewethereyet Wrote: My oldest is a whiz when it comes to math...much better than I. When she was in elementary school, I was frustrated that she seemed to be unable to spell. I was told by a staff member at her school that is not unusual. Maybe for some it is either/or.

Might I ask why you feel the need to label every thread you start as 'serious'?

Hi! Thanks for posting.

My answer to your question... I have lots of experience in online communities where I'd ask a serious question only to be shitposted or trolled. I guess I developed a phobia or something? I'll stop it if required.

(October 15, 2022 at 10:19 pm)Gentle_Idiot Wrote:

(October 15, 2022 at 10:12 pm)arewethereyet Wrote: My oldest is a whiz when it comes to math...much better than I.  When she was in elementary school, I was frustrated that she seemed to be unable to spell.  I was told by a staff member at her school that is not unusual.  Maybe for some it is either/or.

Might I ask why you feel the need to label every thread you start as 'serious'?

Hi! Thanks for posting.

My answer to your question... I have lots of experience in online communities where I'd ask a serious question only to be shitposted or trolled. I guess I developed a phobia or something? I'll stop it if required.

I was just curious for the reason as the serious tag generally isn't used quite so much.  In a community there are various styles of give and take and the normal course of conversation is quite restricted by the serious tag.  In my opinion, overuse of it doesn't allow for as much interaction. YMMV

(October 15, 2022 at 10:08 pm)Gentle_Idiot Wrote: People have always considered me smart. At least most did. But I cannot, in good conscience, not admit that I'm abysmal in math. Like seriously. I am just terrible at it. If forced, I can do math, but I'm slow as heck in it.

I was told by a few educated people that certain individuals who tend to be great at either math or languages are usually abysmal on either while being great on the other. I guess I'm one of those people.

So... What do you think? Did I inherit bad math-brain chromosomes? Or am I just lazy when it comes to studying math? To be perfectly clear, I actually have a very sharp memory.

Might be your chromosomes, might be a rubbish math teacher or curriculum in your childhood. Hard to know without a professional diagnosis.

There's a grain of truth to the notion that people are often stronger in languages or math. Two of the common modes* of thinking are verbal and conceptual. If your brain spends a lot of time in verbal mode then you'll likely have an edge at languages but find math harder. If you spend a lot of time in conceptual mode then math will be easier but you may find languages more challenging. That said, some people are brilliant at both or horrible at both.

*There's a lot of debate on exactly how many modes of thinking there are and how to group or split them, but you can make a fairly good argument for a split between verbal thinking that engages the languages centres of your brain and non-verbal thinking.

(October 16, 2022 at 12:34 am)Paleophyte Wrote:

(October 15, 2022 at 10:08 pm)Gentle_Idiot Wrote: People have always considered me smart. At least most did. But I cannot, in good conscience, not admit that I'm abysmal in math. Like seriously. I am just terrible at it. If forced, I can do math, but I'm slow as heck in it.

I was told by a few educated people that certain individuals who tend to be great at either math or languages are usually abysmal on either while being great on the other. I guess I'm one of those people.

So... What do you think? Did I inherit bad math-brain chromosomes? Or am I just lazy when it comes to studying math? To be perfectly clear, I actually have a very sharp memory.

Might be your chromosomes, might be a rubbish math teacher or curriculum in your childhood. Hard to know without a professional diagnosis.

There's a grain of truth to the notion that people are often stronger in languages or math. Two of the common modes* of thinking are verbal and conceptual. If your brain spends a lot of time in verbal mode then you'll likely have an edge at languages but find math harder. If you spend a lot of time in conceptual mode then math will be easier but you may find languages more challenging. That said, some people are brilliant at both or horrible at both.

*There's a lot of debate on exactly how many modes of thinking there are and how to group or split them, but you can make a fairly good argument for a split between verbal thinking that engages the languages centres of your brain and non-verbal thinking.

Thanks bud. I at least have one of those two to lean on. I do feel sorry for those born without a talent for both. If there is a loving God, surely he would've made sure everyone had some fighting chance in intellectual pursuits...

Too bad he doesn't exist.

How do I feel about people who are poor at maths? They are my soulmates, my brothers in arms. These are the people I turn to for solace and comfort when things go pear-shaped, my rock of emotional stability in a world gone mad. These are my people.

Boru

(October 16, 2022 at 4:15 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: How do I feel about people who are poor at maths? They are my soulmates, my brothers in arms. These are the people I turn to for solace and comfort when things go pear-shaped, my rock of emotional stability in a world gone mad. These are my people.

Boru

Ah! Good to see another idiot in math! lol

Math also annoys the living hell out of me.

(October 16, 2022 at 4:19 am)Gentle_Idiot Wrote:

(October 16, 2022 at 4:15 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: How do I feel about people who are poor at maths? They are my soulmates, my brothers in arms. These are the people I turn to for solace and comfort when things go pear-shaped, my rock of emotional stability in a world gone mad. These are my people.

Boru

Ah! Good to see another idiot in math! lol

Math also annoys the living hell out of me.

Three kinds of people in the world, mate - those who understand mathematics and those who don't.

Boru