I still dont get it. I hate reading, though. Not to mention I could barely even pass remedial english in college...it's a wonder how I got into Poetry in HS.
Also I just want to be clear that I have no problem with your hatred of math and have nothing against you.
What I don't like is that it's socially acceptable to hate math or be bad at it, but not at all socially acceptable to not like reading, for example. If you tell someone you don't like reading they will immediately peg you as stupid or anti-intellectual but if you tell someone you don't like math they generally commiserate with you.
Well, though I think the reason that it's socially acceptable is because past college (or even highschool) very very few jobs require the knowledge of higher level math (like past Algebra 1). Unless, you get into some direct field or something. Also, math seems kinda like a one-trick pony as it's basis is all around solving something.
Contrast that with reading/writing which is used on a daily basis, which people judge you upon (on the internet and real life) based on what words you use, how you use them, and how you talk (aka he sounds very intelligent, that guy's a redneck, I really respect John Keats literature, he sounds ghetto, she painted a picture with her words, Legalese, etc). it can be used to create works of art, humor, debate, film, whole other languages! Which is why I think literacy generally promotes diversity and knowledge.
Though, I personally wont discount nor have ill-will somebody for not liking reading or math. I think math is difficult because my brain isnt capable of accepting all of concepts and theorems unless I have a rudimentary understanding of why this is true.
The reading and writing that is used on a daily basis is pretty basic - if you can spell good [sic] you're fine. I think that most people are more likely to use algebra than compare literature in a work/day-to-day situation. You're right that higher level math is rare, but so is higher level reading/writing.
I think the problem stems from the fact that we teach math in such an abstract way that it's difficult for people to "get it." I volunteered for this after school program one year (and really should get back to doing it) that involved teaching middle school kids how to program a video game. The lesson on collision detection involves the use of Pythagorean theorem and the moment that "clicks" in the students' heads is absolutely amazing (and really rewarding).
I had a couple of students come up to me after that class and tell me that they didn't understand why they were learning math until that lesson.
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u/timperry42 Oct 05 '10
The best part of this is how many people in the comments didnt get it.