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Why most avid readers and prolific writers or bloggers hate Mathematics?
Posted by Tuffour • 6/18/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: bloggers, books, mathematics, reading, writers
Can anyone here help me to know why most avid readers,prolific writers or bloggers hate mathematics?. I loved reading books but I felt uncomfortable in school when I saw mathematical symbols and formula. Why do we develop love and hate for certain topics or courses?
User Comments
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Words have always been kinda friendly to me, whereas numbers are more cold and clinical. I actually wrote a post about this topic a while ago. You can check out my thoughts on the matter here if you want...
trottersville.blogspot.com/2008/10/trotters-61.html -
I love numbers. I was a computer science major in college before changing over to English. But I love words, too.
Comparing numbers and words, words just give me more of a deep satisfaction when they come out right. -
Words make sense to me. Numbers do not. -
When I was a kid my mom focused on reading. Math never came easy to me. Now I am having the same issue with my kids. I think I am focusing too much on one and not the other. My official answer is it depends on what your parents focus on the most. -
Numbers confuse me but I am attracted to words no wonder I sometimes forget my own car numbe and my koved ones cell phone numbers.
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Which is why I like the little letters they have on keypads these days. Rather than try to memorise a sequence of numbers, I remember them as words. It's cool the weirdo words one comes up with that way!
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There's no pathos or humor or wisdom in numbers. They're cold and merciless.-
My calculator disagrees: 5318008
There's humor and wisdom, right there. :-) -
I don't think that numbers are necessarily cold and clinical, but they often don't do quite what I thought they would. They tend to produce results I did not anticipate, or to give me an answer that I know to be wildly wrong. Certainly those results are my own fault for lining them up badly, but it's that inflexibility that frustrates. You can't substitute one number for another an keep the meaning of your formula, while I've changed any number of words in this post as I've gone along and it still means the same thing. -
Legbamel, this is a delightful paragraph.
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I would love to be interested in maths or at least to understand what there is to be interested in...but I was put off maths at school by absolutely appalling teachers! I used to enjoy doing algebra until they killed that for me...bad teachers destroy passion
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I had absolutely awful maths teachers in school, one just told us to copy the answers if we didn't get it.
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Its all about aptitude and ability. According to the theory of Multiple Intelligences (Howard Gardner), human beings have more than one intelligence. Among them, two kinds of intelligences are Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence and Numerical/Logical Intelligence. Those who are good in words are superior in verbal intelligence and those who are good in maths and calculations are superior in numerical intelligence. Those who are good in both are superior in both verbal and numerical intelligence.
So far there has been no explanation of why some are strong in one kind of intelligence and some are strong in the other. Brain imaging studies tell that there is not any specific area in the brain that is related to verbal and numerical intelligence. Since, intelligence is something that is linked to the whole brain, neuro-psychologists and neurologists have come to the conclusion that a combination of a number of brain areas work together in both of these intelligences.-
@saiffarooqi
Since, intelligence is something that is linked to the whole brain, neuro-psychologists and neurologists have come to the conclusion that a combination of a number of brain areas work together in both of these intelligences.
Thank you for providing this fascinating information. I'm recovering from a head injury and it's interesting to know. -
Thank you for the info.
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It's funny, I started off wanting to pursue a career in mathematics, but ended out in writing. I find both interesting, but I couldn't see myself working out equations all day. I think both mathematics and writing can be creative. I guess writing just won out. -
It has something to do with the brain...reading ,writing as well as art is located in the right side of the brain (Ok Psychologist correct me if i got it wrong) and Mathematical ability is on the other side. But I think Music and Mathematical reasoning :they are both related. Music uses the principle of measurement and equation,and the secrets of the universe can be unearthed by using Mathematical formulas.-
@celticmusicfan,
I disagree with your last point. Mathematics/harmony are not principles in themselves of the order of nature. They are the fruit of human intelligence which seeks to understand these principles. -
Ooops my bad. Wrong choice of words.What can I say I am sometimes such an eeeejit for not proof reading what I post
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That's actually a widespread "mistake" at the source of human thought.
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Not true. The author of "Alice and Wonderland" was a mathematician, Albert Einstein was a prolific writer and is still a major source of quotations ("All you need lies within you"), the greatest Electrical Engineer who ever lived was also a famous movie actress (Heady Lamar) and therefore presumably good with words, the great physicist Feynman also wrote and I own a couple of his books, and St. Augustine probably liked math (judging from his thought process in "Confessions") although he did very little with it.
People who are not willing to do math, however, have to do something else with their lives, especially if they are reasonably intelligent, and many become writers.
Also, mathematicians and scientists (esp. Physicists and Chemists) tend to be less interested in humanity, hence Albert Einstein never did fiction.-
Don't forget Pascal.
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There are people who use both sides of the brain to create works that's why we have the combination. It just depends on which part is more dominant.
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Honestly I think just about everybody uses both sides. There's a reason why General Intelligence is still the dominant theory. It's just a difference of interests and time - no matter how smart you are, there are only 24 hours in the day.
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I think it is a matter of interest. I was much stronger in math than English in H.S. But as my desire to understand and express myself grew stronger, I naturally turned to words. And so my writing skills improved exponentially, while my math skills fell into disuse.
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Interest is fostered by schooling. I think teachers are responsible in helping an individual develop varied interests
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Celtic, take my word for it. My interest in poetry and literature was not fostered by any teacher at all. My schooling and school in general never contributed anything to my interest in anything-except playing hooky.
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Sadly, the pollyanna has to agree with nothingprofound.
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Writers are creative, mathematicians are analytical. Regardless of how creative I get with my words, I always come up with the right "answer", but with math I must stick to a specific formula in order to get the right answer. I don't like that-
Yes there is no getting around Math. With math you have to be specific. Everything is measure.With words you can be a slimy alien and work your way in and out of the argument
I sometimes do that. -
No, mathematics at an advanced level is extremely creative. There's nothing creative about grammar, denotation, or spelling. The only difference is that while everyone is exposed to writing at a very advanced level (being a very necccesary human skill) only a tiny percentage (probably less then 1, even most engineers don't really qualify) are really exposed to mathematics at the same level.
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@wonderwoman
that is not true..
The great Indian scientist SN Bose once solved a math question in school in 5 different ways.. the teacher was so impressed, he got a 120/100 in that test.
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Then jeremyjanson, you are in advanced level math I presumed?good for you. most people are not equip to reach that level because we are not exposed to that in the first place ;P
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I'm scratching the surface of it. And anyways, the reason why most people don't reach that level is because they don't need to. You don't need that many people, even in the sciences, understanding math at that level.
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there you go. that is why we are referring to generalities here. the level that most people can reach
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Okay, I'll accept that. Although I would say it's not so much a matter of "can" as "will." Society can't function if it's citizens don't understand language, whereas Math... you only need so many mathematicians. But wait! Prolific writers and readers are not neccesarilly in the category of "most people."
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Lets just say that they have their category. and in that category there is another level. just like when you speak about doctors,teachers and accountants. ok i hope i am not losing you
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I came out weird. I love words, art and am also very comfortable with numbers. I use a little bit on either side of my brain. I like the sense of organisation and control with math, it makes sense b/c there is a right and wrong answer. I also like the overwhelming blanket that covers me with flirty artistic thoughts while chaos surrounds like white fluffy pillows.
I wouldn't be able to live without painting or writing. If I couldn't paint I would go completely mad.
Dr Jeckle and Mr Hyde? I need those extremes in my life. Is any one else like this?
I seem to need some chaos and expression of the thing inside me. -
@dsriharsha
maybe he did solve it one time five different ways, but that doesn't dispel the fact that math is specific and you must stick to a certain equation... I imagine for each of those 5 times the "great" scientist solved the problem, he did it by a certain equation which he had been taught. If I'm wrong, let me know. -
@nothingprofound. That was your individual experience which has nothing to do with the rest of the world. good for you. what about the others?. I didn't mean it is the sole reason. I didn't get into music or Celtic music for that matter by living in Ireland.But then again it's an exception .Because if what you said is true then there is no need to go to school.
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Oh, please read my latest blog if you get a chance....it's exactly on this topic! -
I think it really depends on which thought processes one develops. They're different types of thinking and immersion in one generally (GENERALLY) doesn't lend itself well toward cultivating the other. After reading and writing like crazy my whole life, I learned math in my early thirties. I now tremendously enjoy both, but there's a certain switching of gears involved. When I was teaching math and logic, my mathematical skills were much quicker and more natural than they are when I am immersed for long periods in less technical pursuits.
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I'm a writer who turned accountant, that's why I just blogged about it....I am good at both.
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