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Everyone is capable of, and can benefit from, mathematical thinking

(www.quantamagazine.org)
155 points sonabinu | 3 comments | 21 Nov 24 01:45 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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gsabo ◴[21 Nov 24 05:19 UTC] No.42201370[source]▶
I agree with the sentiment of this. I think our obsession with innate mathematical skill and genius is so detrimental to the growth mindset that you need to have in order to learn things.

I've been working a lot on my math skills lately (as an adult). A mindset I've had in the past is that "if it's hard, then that means you've hit your ceiling and you're wasting your time." But really, the opposite is true. If it's easy, then it means you already know this material, and you're wasting your time.

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1. faangguyindia ◴[21 Nov 24 06:57 UTC] No.42201821[source]▶
When I was a young adult, i spent a lot of time on math and physics.

I was initially celebrated for the mathematical talent.

But as life progressed, I my family started seeing me as an academic loser.

Basically, no girls would be interested in me because "mathemetical talent" doesn't help you with that.

And i seen handsome men had more respect from society than spending countless time on math.

So, i later gave up because my family kept pressuring me to attain real success, girls, money and car and i became a programmer.

Funny enough, I was still a loser in societal view doesn't matter I started clearly half a million a year.

So most people don't try hard at math because math is not rewarding, for most people.

It's much better to build physique, music talent, comedic talent, this helps you get girls and respect from peers.

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2. shrubhub ◴[21 Nov 24 07:14 UTC] No.42201899[source]▶
Most people don't try hard at the gym. Most people don't try hard at music. Most people aren't comedians.

This reads like the foreword to the incel handbook.

3. sureglymop ◴[21 Nov 24 09:00 UTC] No.42202407[source]▶
"A loser in societal view"... What does that objectively mean? That only reads like you had or have a low sense of self worth. It must've been your perceived definition of what society is because how could you have come to such a conclusion? I think I'd actually subconsciously tend more to viewing someone as "a loser" if they made such a statement because it comes off as self victimization (without an apparent explanation to an outside observer).

And what's the shtick about girls? What are and were you looking for, love and a genuine relationship or attention to compensate for something? Personally I think your values and personality are what matter most and personality is usually what people fall in love with. Though charisma can help a lot to get the ball rolling. Most of what it takes is to treat people normally and nicely and you will have as much of a chance to find love as most people.

Though respect from peers and attention from women ideally shouldn't be your driving force. I think curiosity and passion are much better driving forces that don't involve such external factors and possibilities for insecurities.

Your post reads as if it expresses a frustration and a sense of entitlement. You may not be intrinsically entitled to the things you think you are. Think about that for a bit and try to be rational.