People's distaste for Science/Maths

[Brutal Peanut]

I much prefer History. I never took to Math or Science (a nice way of saying even when studying I could never grasp it fully), but that doesn't mean I hate it. Not at all. I think Science/Math are wonderful and important tools that have helped us shape what we are now and will help further us down the road of awesome discoveries - just don't ask me to understand every little detail of it. It'll be like talking to a jellyfish. You CAN, it's kind of cute at first, but ultimately pointless,..and a bit weird.lol =D

 

[Panda Mania]

Whoa, OP. Don't confuse science/math with academia as a whole. It's a lot more than that--but I'm sure you knew that.

It is fascinating to me how intellectualism as a whole is looked down upon (at least in my social circles). I'm certainly careful to not talk too scholarly in my classes...although this is partially due to the fact that no one but the teacher would know what I'm saying Perhaps most people don't share this quality, and, lacking it, fail to understand and respect it...that's actually really depressing--are most people really that shallow/dumb? Still, if they don't share the scholarly enthusiasm, I recognize and accept that; nothing gives them the right to bash mine, however.

Along the same lines...people should not deride science, math, or any of those "nerdy" fields. They are most honorable and beneficial. However, as a very non-science-y, math-y person (humanities ftw!), I would advise you to not disdain that quality, for my dislike is born out of a exasperation with the impersonality of these subjects. To each their own, my friend. Everyone should understand each others' preferences without expecting them to share the same ones.

 

[jadias]

the best science is physics because it has the most math

Arguably physics is the basis of everything else. Chemistry relies on physics at a tiny scale and biology is largely governed by chemistry.

I guess you could even argue that physics wouldn't really exist without maths, but I see maths within physics as more of a means to an end rather than the basis of our understanding (the quantitative mathematical solutions generally can't be derived without first having a qualitative grasp of what you're trying to solve).

 

[zelda2fanboy]

Crap education and crummy teachers. I sucked hard at math almost every single year I was in school up until my second semester of high school when I got the greatest math teacher on the planet. From that point on, everything else was a variation on what the guy had laid out and I made sure to take as many classes with him as possible. Without him, I never would have gotten through college because I never would have gotten basic shit down.

Science and math teachers really don't know what they're doing most of the time and try to get by on their enthusiasm for the subject. I had math and science teachers in 6th and 7th grade who had the attitude that homework should dominate a kid's life, so they'd load us down with packet after packet after packet of the most random pointless bullshit they could think of, not even considering that we had six other classes in a day.

I think math and science teachers come from a place of intellectual superiority a lot of the time and sadistically put down their students as much as possible. My algebra teacher (before the godlike one of second semester) gleefully made it impossible for the average person to keep up, cursed at us regularly, and put kids on the spot to try and belittle them. All to get a small elite of students who knew what they were doing, so he could go home and feel like he was "making a difference" for the four or five kids he favored.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

I'm more of an English and History guy myself. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing how the world works and the explanations for it in mathematical terms, but I just enjoy reading and writing much more. Just personally preference really.

 

[artanis_neravar]

snip

Engineers are badass. What subjects looked down on you? Was it those snobby english lit. majors or the hippy actors? Also I can't understand why anyone in maths would look down on engineering, I could have done engineering and DAMN that maths is hard...
EDIT: OT: I find it so hilarious how many people find work doing something menial and stupid instead of moving our society forward, and badmouth scince because they are too stupid to understand that how they live their life is governed by it.

Usually it's the "Sport Management" majors. In my freshman English class (it was mandatory) we had to say what our major was. When I said engineering a sports management major asked "Why would you want to be an engineer? what have they ever done to improve my life." I was at a lose for words when I realized he actually meant it, no correction I was at a lose for polite words. Until, that is, my teacher told me to "go ahead" I said something along the lines of "What are you? Retarded? Engineers are behind cars, roads, the building you live in, air conditioners, the chair you're sitting in, the desk you're sitting at, your phone, your computer and the McDonald's cash-register you're going to spend the rest of your life working with."

 

[Klarinette]

I love science, and the only reason I lost interest in and stopped taking math is because the grade 11 math class was all about finances and super fucking boring. THANKS, HIGH SCHOOL.

 

[derob]

Applied sciences (this includes math) are generally seen as some sort of mode of language only attainable to those who willingly dedicate their lives to it. That some may show disdain towards the field of applied sciences in general is not necessarily because of this perceived difficulty in attaining any sort of immediate "meaning", but rather the dynamics between language and the sciences itself. The capacity for just about any professional in the field of applied sciences requires an expansive experience with mathematics and other branches of abstract practice which require a vast amount of rigor.

This split between the "mundane" language used by those outside of the field of the sciences and the "specialized" or "abstract" language of those in the field of sciences is what is ultimately (a few modern thinkers, most notably Slavoj Zizek here agree) impeding a more immediate cultural impact amongst those outside of the scientific forum.

 

[Atmos Duality]

I'm sorry to say that I cannot relate. My department at college is quite thoroughly scientific; grads and undergrads can be found as casually discussing their topics as many discuss sports or TV.

 

[Aprilgold]

I love science hate math, math is just boring.

 

[BoredDragon]

The only disdain I hear for at least math is when a new confusing lesson is introduced and, since I'm a computer science major and have to take advanced calculus classes, is all the time.

 

[remnant_phoenix]

College not for love of nerdy stuffs, college for parties and to gets a good job!!

Seriously though, most people just don't find academic discussion, of any kind, fun or entertaining, which is sad.

I'm a teacher, so I feel your frustration. I believe that the biggest problem with education in the world is parents who don't nurture a love of learning in their children. Though some people may have "nerd" genes and may be inherently predisposed to like academics, appreciation for learning and respecting the power of education are things that have to be taught.

 

[Shadowkire]

I have never, ever heard anyone despising or ridiculing someone because that someone was into science/math. At least not since the last time I saw a movie involving kids in school/college from the 80s.

 

[mega48man]

college students are usually quite proactive about their studies (when they're not partying partying partying yeah!) because 1; it's costing them MONEY and 2; it's to get a degree. but when anyone tries to stick out by sounding like a know-it-all at something they know little about, they just look like a fucking dumbass and earn a LOT of disrespect.

now there is a line, and we've all seen it: popular kids and nerds. nerds stand out with the glasses, scrony arms, dorky clothes, etc. you get the deal. popular kids, you get the deal. all you gotta do is be like them, become them, and from within let your love for math and science subtly spread to all the other popular kids. soon, america will not be dumb.

the only thing keeping popular kids from embracing math/science in the first place is that social barrier of not wanting to be associated with nerds, who will laugh at you for not knowing some insane equation formula to make themselves feel better than you. it's a lot like my anti-otaku theroy; normal kids don't like anime because of the social barrier created by otaku's obsessive fandom.

social barriers can only be taken down through assimilation. after that, anything is possible. but until then, the cliques will remain strong rooted.

 

[lumenadducere]

You're in what amounts to high school? Then it's a very simple thing - you're all young. They'll grow. And trust me, if university over there is anything like it is over here in the US, it's almost completely reversed. The science/math students get mad props, while everyone else desperately jokes about how they won't have jobs when they graduate...because it's true.

So just wait it out. Like many other things that likely bother you, it's a matter of youth and time.

 

[JET1971]

I like science, but I find math to be one of the dullest things I've ever tried to learn. I rank it there with watching paint dry on the dullness scale.

That's generous of you giving math that high of a rating.
OT: I feel the same as the guy I quoted.

And Me too! calculus never helped me balance my checkbook... and PI never helped me balance my budget. All those are very important but I just have no interest in them. and when I went to school math was about numbers not letters, calculus and triginometry was optional.

OT:

Science? Love it! My best grades were in science classes and If I watched TV it was not a sitcom but a documentary or sci-fi.

One of the issues thats being overlooked is Science and math majors were always considered the nerds classes, and nobody wants to be a nerd.

 

[God's Clown]

Science and Math are complex and hard. You have to want to understand them to be good at them. Most people can't be bothered with learning the equations and formula's, so they find it boring. It has nothing to do with that they hate it or whatever and more so has to do with it just not being interesting to them.

That is my belief anyways. I for one hate math completely and utterly, and suck at science, but I find science interesting at the least. I am fundamentally unable to do science at any skill level, but enjoy reading about it and watching people show such passion for their work.