Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: makattak on June 26, 2018, 09:50:33 AM

Title: Math is Oppression
Post by: makattak on June 26, 2018, 09:50:33 AM
... or, Remind Me Again How Scary Those Christians Are?

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-77760-3_12

Quote
In this chapter I challenge the idea that mathematics is an unqualified force for good. Instead I show the harm that learning mathematics can inadvertently cause unless it is taught and applied carefully. I acknowledge that mathematics is a widespread force for good but make the novel case that there is significant collateral damage caused by learning mathematics. I describe three ways in which mathematics causes collateral damage. First, the nature of pure of mathematics itself leads to styles of thinking that can be damaging when applied beyond mathematics to social and human issues. Second the applications of mathematics in society can be deleterious to our humanity unless very carefully monitored and checked. Third, the personal impact of learning mathematics on learners’ thinking and life chances can be negative for a minority of less successful students, as well as potentially harmful for successful students. I end with a recommendation for the inclusion of the philosophy and ethics of mathematics alongside its teaching all stages from school to university, to attempt to reduce or obviate the harm caused; the collateral damage of learning mathematics.

This is from a textbook. Above is the summary of the chapter.

Now the religion of the left is worried that learning mathematics might teach people how to reason without resorting to emotion. That such a tool might lead people to dispassionately address other areas with reason and logic.

And that cannot be allowed.


Remind me, again, how the scary Christians are the ones destroying education?
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: 230RN on June 26, 2018, 10:02:41 AM
Quote
Now the religion of the left is worried that learning mathematics might teach people how to reason without resorting to emotion. That such a tool might lead people to dispassionately address other areas with reason and logic.

And that cannot be allowed.



Eleventy X +++ !!!
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: RoadKingLarry on June 26, 2018, 11:01:39 AM
And yet again, another indication that humanity is way, way overdue for a plague.
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: just Warren on June 26, 2018, 12:03:07 PM
None of this adds up! What are these people counting on? Are they trying to divide our society?
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: K Frame on June 26, 2018, 12:06:30 PM
And History is hurty dead white man oppression.

Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: 230RN on June 26, 2018, 12:11:34 PM
None of this adds up! What are these people counting on? Are they trying to divide our society?

Very good. 
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: Perd Hapley on June 26, 2018, 12:42:33 PM
None of this adds up! What are these people counting on? Are they trying to divide our society?

Is there no limit to their madness?
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: K Frame on June 26, 2018, 12:49:02 PM
None of this adds up! What are these people counting on? Are they trying to divide our society?

It's the sum of all fears...

A factor in the downfall of our society...
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: brimic on June 26, 2018, 01:08:47 PM
Math makes feminist bridges collapse.
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: HankB on June 26, 2018, 01:47:41 PM
And attitudes like this appear to be multiplying exponentially. Total idiocy - we're descending to the lowest common denominator.
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: brimic on June 26, 2018, 03:36:56 PM
I told my son early on that "Math is the language of God."
He excels at it.
I'm doing my part to raise the next generation of oppressors.
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: zxcvbob on June 26, 2018, 03:53:11 PM
I told my son early on that "Math is the language of God."
He excels at it.
I'm doing my part to raise the next generation of oppressors.

(https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.442471027.7013/flat,750x1000,075,t.u1.jpg)
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: KD5NRH on June 26, 2018, 05:31:18 PM
(https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/purity.png)

I know I've seen a chart of this tying pretty much every at-least-semi-normal major back to math.
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: MechAg94 on June 26, 2018, 05:39:27 PM
Teaching people to think is scary....from the BigGov point of view. 
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: freakazoid on June 26, 2018, 08:24:37 PM
It's not the first time I've seen them claim that education is racist and oppressive.
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: MechAg94 on June 26, 2018, 10:03:16 PM
I was thinking of doing a Godwin on the thread with a reference, but I think I'll refrain.  I am kind of glad I can't read a more in depth description of what the guy is talking about.  It sounds like a bunch of psycho-babble. 

https://www.academia.edu/34139433/THE_ETHICS_OF_MATHEMATICS_IS_MATHEMATICS_HARMFUL
I spoke too soon.  Here is a link to at least some of it (might be the whole thing). 

I got through the intro a little.  Yes, part of it is people who are not good at math might feel bad because they suck at math.  Then he seems to start into babble about whether math is good or bad.  IMO, that is a silly question.  Just another wrench to throw into the works of education to screw it up even more and do nothing but confuse kids who need to learn freaking math.  When I next come across a check out person who can't calculate change in their head, I will think of this writer. 
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: Scout26 on June 27, 2018, 12:10:42 AM
(https://i2.wp.com/cliffslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/stripper-meme-generator-screw-this-i-ll-be-a-stripper-2642a8.jpeg)
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: Hawkmoon on June 27, 2018, 01:43:46 AM
When I next come across a check out person who can't calculate change in their head, I will think of this writer. 

She checked me out at Walmart last week. My purchase came to $16.10. I handed her $21.10. She held it and looked at it ... for a looooooooooooong time. Then she looked at me. Then she looked back at the money for a loooooooong time. Then her face lit up and she said, "So you'd like a five back for change?"

"Yes, thank you."

I have to give credit where credit is due. She did finally get it without punching it into the register and letting the machine figure it out. I actually enjoy those more. After they look at the "extra" money I gave them, when they ring it up and it comes up with a nice, round number for change, it's clear from the facial expression that the "associate" is wondering, "How the heck did he DO that?"
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: Scout26 on June 27, 2018, 02:37:47 AM
I wait until after the register has given them the change "answer", then I fork over extra bills or coins, just to watch them vapor lock. 
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: cordex on June 27, 2018, 07:00:41 AM
I wait until after the register has given them the change "answer", then I fork over extra bills or coins, just to watch them vapor lock. 
There are people who do this for a living.
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: MechAg94 on June 27, 2018, 09:08:40 AM
One other thought that comes to mind is that some of these people apparently cannot stand to see any sort of subject that might involve a simple Black&White or Right&Wrong choice.  If that exists, they have to find some way to confuse the issue and create or expand a grey area.  Is that an obsession with some people or is complicating everything just a means to an end?  I thought it might just be idiot PhD candidates looking for something to write about, but I figure it is more than just that.  I guess another choice is that they are idiots who are barely qualified for their own field of study and do not have the knowledge/capability to write anything substantive. 
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: lee n. field on June 27, 2018, 09:54:56 AM
Teaching people to think is scary....from the BigGov point of view. 
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: 230RN on June 27, 2018, 08:05:24 PM
One other thought that comes to mind is that some of these people apparently cannot stand to see any sort of subject that might involve a simple Black&White or Right&Wrong choice.

If that exists, they have to find some way to confuse the issue and create or expand a grey area.

Is that an obsession with some people or is complicating everything just a means to an end?  

You nailed it right there.

Yep, cast doubt, sow confusion, offer solution in the form of nannyism --a later step.  Don't worry about it, we'll take care of you and guide you.

Standard operating procedure for all proto-socialists and community organizers.  And you aren't the only one to notice this throughout Leftist movements.

Quote
I thought it might just be idiot PhD candidates looking for something to write about, but I figure it is more than just that.  I guess another choice is that they are idiots who are barely qualified for their own field of study and do not have the knowledge/capability to write anything substantive.

When I read that passage from the math book, I wondered what was wrong with my head and why I did not have the knowledge/capability to make sense out of it.  I'm glad someone else thought it was garble-de-gook.

Terry
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: Scout26 on June 28, 2018, 12:23:35 AM
There are people who do this for a living.

Where do I go to apply for this job ??  I've been doing it for free for a while now.
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: cordex on June 28, 2018, 06:59:42 AM
Where do I go to apply for this job ??  I've been doing it for free for a while now.
https://youtu.be/dGF3B3t3TME
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: MechAg94 on June 28, 2018, 08:49:41 AM
When I read that passage from the math book, I wondered what was wrong with my head and why I did not have the knowledge/capability to make sense out of it.  I'm glad someone else thought it was garble-de-gook.

Terry
The very idea that he is going through a thought process of applying a good/bad question to math is absurd.  That fact that he didn't close out the thought process in one paragraph shows how confused he is.  He obviously didn't learn his math very well or he would be able to break down the problem and determine that math isn't the root cause of the stuff he is complaining about.  There might be bad stuff about how some people teach math or what math is applied to, but the math itself is not good or bad.  It just is.  

IMO, it is very similar to liberal arguments claiming that guns are evil.  
Title: Re: Math is Oppression
Post by: 230RN on July 01, 2018, 08:36:08 AM
The very idea that he is going through a thought process of applying a good/bad question to math is absurd.  [/b][The] fact that he didn't close out the thought process in one paragraph shows how confused he is.[/b]  He obviously didn't learn his math very well or he would be able to break down the problem and determine that math isn't the root cause of the stuff he is complaining about.  There might be bad stuff about how some people teach math or what math is applied to, but the math itself is not good or bad.  It just is.  

IMO, it is very similar to liberal arguments claiming that guns are evil.  

Well, it sounded very much like the "feminine logic" we hear about: skipping over relevant components to support a preconceived conclusion. I realized later that this was precisely why I couldn't make sense out of it.
  
Not, you understand, that I don't screw up my own logic sometimes.  And misuse they're, their, and there. But...

Terry, 230RN