To clarify my last post....

[sharnjilraedan]

I don't really expect everyone to understand the concept of alephs, multiple infinities, and the like. However, there is a huge problem at hand. We have a serious issue in society that we chastise individuals for having an inability to read, however it's perfectly acceptable to claim that they are inept at math

Comments

[_ogmios]

Being unable to do basic arithmetic is one thing, but expecting people to have "multiple definitions of infinity" is akin to expecting people to be readily able to define, "pernicious," "loquacious," "apoplectic," or "lugubrious." These are not everyday words, and calculus is not everyday mathematics.

[sharnjilraedan]

Yes these are two extremes, but when I mention I'm an algebraist (or anything else regarding math) people flip out going "oh my god, I can't do math" and create this wall of anti-understanding. My favourite question is "don't we know everything about math". There's this fundamental disconnect between simple math, and the fact that mathematicians use it in every day work.

The point to be made is the same; we tolerate people refusing to learn math because there's a stimga that it's hard. We don't tolerate a stigma of illiteracy because it's relatively easy. However math is just as easy as reading. It's not taught that way, nor is it explained that everything has a purpose. Math is a giant pyramid. You need your fundamentals to move on and that everything has a reason to be taught in math.

[_ogmios]

It's perfectly acceptable to not know how to spell, though.

[sharnjilraedan]

I know a lot of people who say they're inept at math/are unable to do math etc who are actually quite good at it. They've created this personal block in their minds that math is hard/bad/difficult and continue to sit by it.

I do think the majority of people who say they are unable to do math are people who have just decided that they can't do it and refuse to try to learn.

Yes, some of the higher up math is very hard to understand. However there's a lot of math that's accessible to everyone. I just find this stigma towards my field is absurd.

[exhiled_mind]

Between math and literacy, I have to side with literacy. You have to face that most people can get along with the most basic math these days (basic arithmetic and statistics), but reading is a must. Obviously, math majors/engineers/comp scis/etc are not who I refer to, but those who don't have math directly in their jobs/life. If you can't read, you can't be effective in most thing and cannot progress and learn new things easily. Also, you cut yourself off from society - social norms, inability to learn new theories and ideas, inability to read everyday objects (food lists, traffic signs, newspapers, etc