Comments on: Aaaack, Math! http://uzair.nairang.org/articles/2006/10/30/aaaack-math/ Where Uzairs Roam Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:48:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Uzair http://uzair.nairang.org/articles/2006/10/30/aaaack-math/#comment-4892 Uzair Sun, 05 Nov 2006 02:40:57 +0000 http://uzair.nairang.org/articles/2006/10/30/aaaack-math/#comment-4892 <p>Hmm, interesting. I was just talking about this the other day with an American kid who's here for a year. My position: (a) most people aren't that interesting, and really don't have an original perspective to offer (b) almost all people make their arguments in such verbose ways that I lose interest and my attention wavers. I've begun noticing, BTW, just how bright-eyed and naive 20-year olds can be. This kid, for example, routinely brags (outright) about how smart and popular he is, all the while ignoring the fact that others are hmm'ing along out of courtesy. I got pissed off with him and almost told him that, but then I decided it would be unfairly mean. I mean hey, I'm sure I was/am in that phase, and I've/I'll grow out of it, so why not him.</p> <p>In other cynical news, I've lost confidence in the power of argument/debate. It takes too long, and the probability of the two parties agreeing is minute.</p> Hmm, interesting. I was just talking about this the other day with an American kid who’s here for a year. My position: (a) most people aren’t that interesting, and really don’t have an original perspective to offer (b) almost all people make their arguments in such verbose ways that I lose interest and my attention wavers. I’ve begun noticing, BTW, just how bright-eyed and naive 20-year olds can be. This kid, for example, routinely brags (outright) about how smart and popular he is, all the while ignoring the fact that others are hmm’ing along out of courtesy. I got pissed off with him and almost told him that, but then I decided it would be unfairly mean. I mean hey, I’m sure I was/am in that phase, and I’ve/I’ll grow out of it, so why not him.

In other cynical news, I’ve lost confidence in the power of argument/debate. It takes too long, and the probability of the two parties agreeing is minute.

]]> By: syed http://uzair.nairang.org/articles/2006/10/30/aaaack-math/#comment-4815 syed Sat, 04 Nov 2006 12:12:21 +0000 http://uzair.nairang.org/articles/2006/10/30/aaaack-math/#comment-4815 <p>So do you take breaks to write your blog or do you do that while you study? Another question, how come you didn't correct the blondes with a 'no, no let me help you get it right' kind of attitude. I agree with your assesment of how the engineering/math based subjects differ from humanities/social sciences but I always found that I went to class in the humanities because I got to hear opinions from other students, this was where most of the real learning happened. You could read the book yourself but you never get to compare your ideas with others. In math/engineering subjects there is no place for your own version of things. What the professor teaches you is what you should learn, I don't know of any engineering classes that actually allow students to present their own opinions. There is plenty of scope for the mixing of engineering and the arts, I mean we could go into quite a lengthy conversation about the synergy that could exist between the two subjects but what would be the point ?</p> So do you take breaks to write your blog or do you do that while you study? Another question, how come you didn’t correct the blondes with a ‘no, no let me help you get it right’ kind of attitude.
I agree with your assesment of how the engineering/math based subjects differ from humanities/social sciences but I always found that I went to class in the humanities because I got to hear opinions from other students, this was where most of the real learning happened. You could read the book yourself but you never get to compare your ideas with others. In math/engineering subjects there is no place for your own version of things. What the professor teaches you is what you should learn, I don’t know of any engineering classes that actually allow students to present their own opinions. There is plenty of scope for the mixing of engineering and the arts, I mean we could go into quite a lengthy conversation about the synergy that could exist between the two subjects but what would be the point ?

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