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

(www.quantamagazine.org)
669 points sonabinu | 2 comments | 21 Nov 24 01:45 UTC | HN request time: 0.58s | source
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ggm ◴[21 Nov 24 09:08 UTC] No.42202446[source]▶
I want to say yes, but I have two counters. One is that math nerds at school insisted on intimidating for the win and I just hated it.

The second is notation. I had a snob teacher who insisted on using Newton not Leibniz and at school in the 1970s this is just fucked. One term of weirdness contradicting what everyone else in the field did. Likewise failure to explain notation, it's hazing behaviour.

So yes, everyone benefits from maths. But no, it's not a level playing field. Some maths people, are just toxic.

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1. jajko ◴[21 Nov 24 09:37 UTC] No.42202569[source]▶
> One is that math nerds at school insisted on intimidating for the win and I just hated it.

Only an adult can look and see what that was - immature, insecure little boys, desperately trying to show off as bigger/more mature or kick down anybody showing any weakness or mistake. Often issues from home manifesting hard. Its trivial to look back without emotions, but going through it... not so much.

If my kids ever go through something similar (for any reasons, math nerds are just one instance of bigger issue) I'll try reasoning above, not sure if it will help though.

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2. bmitc ◴[21 Nov 24 13:08 UTC] No.42203956[source]▶
> Only an adult can look and see what that was - immature, insecure little boys, desperately trying to show off as bigger/more mature or kick down anybody showing any weakness or mistake. Often issues from home manifesting hard. Its trivial to look back without emotions, but going through it... not so much.

I'm not so sure that adults always get it or rise about this. This happens in the workplace all the time.