Why do people think it is perfectly acceptable to say that

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I hate math because I don't understand it. It is not my first language, or even my second language, but rather it is a foreign language I speak haltingly and with a very strong accent. I am not a native mathematician. I use math as a tool, not as something I spend hours studying. It is a tool I utilize when all other means of solving the problem have exhausted themselves. So when someone says they are minoring/majoring in math, I say "That's cool. I personally hate math and view it as something akin to a job performed with a gun to my head."

People say the same thing to me when I tell them I am studying economics. It doesn't bother me because even I think economics as taught in schools is boring, but it has the potential to be very interesting if you approach it differently, and without such a counterintuitive mathematics approach. But that is just me.

People enjoy what they are good at, and tend to avoid what they aren't good at, and they also tend to belittle things that can't/don't understand---which is why they say "Oh, that's boring." or "I hate math."

There are a lot of things that people simply cannot know or understand if they don't understand math.

But understanding something and enjoying something are not the same thing. I understand math concepts. I love to read about quantum mechanics and probability theory---and I am working on gaining a better grasp of probability maths---but I transpose numbers and things get all crazy mixed up in my head when I go to solve equations, which makes the whole math class an less-than-enjoyable experience.

Math is one of the reasons I enjoy classical music so much. Music is essentially the quantification of sound, and masters of that language make beautiful music.

But I intensely dislike math classes, and I think that a lot of people would enjoy math more if they weren't required to perform maths without understanding the relationship expressed in an equation, but if they are very comfortable with the theory being defined by math, then they understand it and appreciate it more. But that is just opinion.

Remember the barbie doll years ago that said "Math is Hard!"

Yuck

I like math, but most people are afraid of what they don't know or don't understand. I can't stand crosswords, I love Suduko (sp:?)

Hopefully with better education and new games, perceptions may change.

math rules!

My brain is horrible with numbers but I love the aesthetics of maths (or the maths of aesthetics?) - Fibonacci numbers, Golden Section, fractals etc. I see so many forms and patterns in nature that are so beautiful and I know there's amazing maths in there. I just can't quite get my head round it!

maybe its just their reply. "what r u interested in?" "x" "oh, i like x too" or "oh i hate x" etc. whats it matter if its math or what?
"what is ur fav show?" "the simpsons" "oh i hate cartoons"

Dyscalculia.

Maybe I'm just a damaged, bitter, untrusting individual, but people LOVE ignorance. It's a safe and secure blanket for them to hide under. Duck their heads into the sand. Sound familiar? Ignorance is bliss?


damnit, I don't belong here... I'm just an antisocial jerk.

I camn understand your anger, I get mad when I mention I like Pokemon and prople either laugh or sing the cartoon theme tune at me (I mainly play the games!! !) or say it's a kid's thing. No-one likes their interest being ridiculed or belittled.

I had a really hard time with math all thtroigh school and used to say I hadted math. Funny enough, I've gotton better at sworking things out in my head (mauinly addition) so I don#t 2haste" it as much.

I wonder why it improved once I LEFT education??? Maybe because then I could learn it in my own way at my own pace in a way I could understand? Anyone else get this???

JulieArticuno

Accepting another persons opinion on your interest(s) is hard to accept especially if they attach stigma or bias towards it.
I can't understand why people aren't interested in the subjects I have and had interests in, I certainly can't accept opinions that have no intelligent meaning or show embarrasment if they are seen to interact with my interests.
The very thought of having an interest that is regarded in the NT world as not normal or boring/odd is very hard to understand and accept. What seems odd is that many people seem to share the same opinions on a one given subject, it would be ok if their opinion was of a positive nature but it seems many of my interests with buses/aircraft/physics have had a negative effect.
What drives NT's to all act the same?
Why do they ignore logical opinions and choose to accept those that their peers choose?

I don't want to upset you further but I don't have any common interest in Mathematics, when I apply my mathematic skills in physics then I immediatly show some interests in mathematics becuase it turns numbers turn to logic.
Mathematic is logical and essential but boring is a word that expains their ignorance towards it, just as turning your back on physics signifies ingnorance towards the very creation of life and yourself.

Most certainly.

I like most maths but am one of those people who just say whatever comes to mind and had often been heard when I was younger to say that something was boring. I have learned that it is better to say something like: that subject doesn't interest me right now.