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What I find really ironic is that a lot of the men that say they are bad at math are also huge sports fans and can recite the most arcane statistics, ratios and other math related sports tidbits like they are Rainman counting cards at the casino. For some reason, it is considered cool to be stupid or at least act like you are in the United States.
This is so insulting. No, not all of us can do a certain level of math "if we want to". Maybe I do have a learning disability involving the left side of my brain, who knows - I never had issues with reading comprehension, etc, but I have struggled with math all of my life. I have attempted to obtain my college degree on more than one occasion and the math has always been my roadblock.
Not everything is a choice. Some people are gifted in certain areas and some are deficient. Sometimes, extra study time and tutors won't change that, sometimes they will. Everyone is different.
I think you're selling yourself short. Many times bad teachers (or a very stressful school life/home life) can cause students to not master certain math principles. Case in point, if your parents were going through a nasty divorce in 4th grade, around the time when fractions were being taught, I would bet dimes to dollars you don't "Get" fractions. One problem about math in the lower grades is how its taught (very cumulative) unlike most classes. So, if you miss a week of school you can probably jump into the next history lesson fairly well, but missing a week of math lessons can mess you up on the next chapter.
Another problem is our super long summer vacations cause students to forget way too much during the break. So when you get back to school after three months and you get thrown into Algebra you might start panicking because you "forgot" some math rule. It doesn't help if the teacher gives you attitude like "well didn't you LEARN that last year??" if you ask for help.
I bet if you enrolled in an online math class and worked at your own pace, with some assistance from Khan Academy you would do much better than your think.
This is so insulting. No, not all of us can do a certain level of math "if we want to". Maybe I do have a learning disability involving the left side of my brain, who knows - I never had issues with reading comprehension, etc, but I have struggled with math all of my life. I have attempted to obtain my college degree on more than one occasion and the math has always been my roadblock.
Not everything is a choice. Some people are gifted in certain areas and some are deficient. Sometimes, extra study time and tutors won't change that, sometimes they will. Everyone is different.
I used think just like you. Yes, you can learn math. It may require hard work and lots of practice but I am positive you can do it. I have sat on the same math problem for 2 days straight until I finally got it..it was a slow start but eventually I started to understand. I started at junior HS level math. As an adult, ..struggled with it what seemed forever. Once I finally got it I moved on to higher levels. The last 2 days I have been struggling again. If you don't use it you lose it. You can do it. If I can most people can. But again, you have to really really want to.
I'm really bad when it comes to doing math in my head. I assumed that it's just one of those things that some people are good at and some people aren't. Just like some people can't spell. I'm great at spelling, but math without a calculator (or pen and paper) is tough for me.
Some have spoken to the "short" American school year as a contributing factor when considering our collective poor math abilities, others have speculated on the notions of genetics when looking for answers, and still others insist that understanding math is simply a matter of hard work and persistence.
My own experience in public school with regard to math was one of constant badgering by teachers, their insistence on repetitive demands to "adapt" to their own methods of math instruction left a lot to be desired. I'd have to agree with those who see the problem as one that allows a closer scrutiny of teaching methods, after all, today we do know that the one shoe fits all US public edu-tainment format is considered a failure in many academic circles.
Why is it "socially acceptable" to have a low math aptitude? Well, I'm thinking the answer to that is obvious in light of the fact of our poor training methods, how else could someone respond to the revelation that their inability to do the more advanced math is much more widespread than they thought. I also think that the OP may have missed the opportunity to phrase the question in a way that allows for this reality to be examined as something more than a social disgrace.
On another note: It isn't just math, our writing, speaking, and general reasoning powers are also lagging. Our national problem of meaningless communication has reached new pinnacles of ridiculousness, texting, sexting, tweeting, obsessive facebook and electronic socializing, all has rendered us as a nation of people who find the most ignorant and meaningless statements as something worthy of our time and effort.
Well, I've got to go now and figure out how much dirt I'll be needing to cover a particular area with a depth of six inches, where's that darn calculator?
I've seen lifelong friendships be born out of conservation of people laughing about "sucking at math" lol
really
...maybe it's become socially acceptable in these times because of the good ole calculator...
When I was a kid there was no way they were used in schools...now it's the norm.
I sure am glad I learned good math skills...ones I use almost daily when I think about it...
I'm surprised ( and maybe a little dismayed) at the inability to do even basic multiplication that I encounter with a lot of young adults now a days.
Being as there's sooo many with poor math skills maybe it's become more acceptable, though I personally sure don't see anything funny about it, and I sure wouldn't be sharing that I suck at math with anyone else.
It is socially acceptable to be bad at everything and that is a good thing. People are good at certain things, why to ruin a lifetime by doing something unpleasant?
It is a smart move to learn as much that does not become cheated but otherwise.. There is better things to do than count things that does not lead into anything.. If likes it, then fine, get your thrills but otherwise.. Go to do something what you like more!
So this thread is about railing against the use of calculators?
Most people will know enough mathematics to function in society. So what is the baseline you guys are judging on? 12th grade trigonometry and calculus?
Most people will know enough mathematics to function in society. So what is the baseline you guys are judging on? 12th grade trigonometry and calculus?
Because it's taught by dimwits. I have NEVER had a qualified math teacher. Every single one of them could barely solve an equation let alone teach a class full of behaviourally disordered students math lol
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"well didn't you LEARN that last year??" 
