Kevin's Watch

A bit of topic but I can’t help it....

Lord Foul wrote:Most likely, unless the math class gives me hell. If it were up to me, I'd skip all the "required" classes and just jump right to my major. Honestly . . . But oh well.

from a thread about bookburning

Ylva Kresh wrote:"People who burn books must be insane. I think all books have the right to exist (with the possible exception of my 4th grade math-book ), they are a piece of someones mind. "

Why is it social acceptable to be ignorant when it comes to math and science but not when it comes to reading, literature, history etc...

In some circles people show with pride how ignorant they are about math and science and use it as proof to how cultural and social they are.

You never hear people say with pride “I can’t read very good” or “I don’t understand politics at all” (even if some admit lack of interest but never due to lack of understanding). But go into a lunchroom at the litt. Department at your local college and they will proudly tell you how they suck at math…

/P7 (the stealer of threads…)

Well, if you admit that you have poor reading skills, it's shameful because you should have been learning that almost your entire life. If you haven't mastered it by high school...well, I'll show some restraint this time and pass on this opportunity to ridicule the other students at my old high school. On the other hand, advanced mathematics like the kind you learn in college (calculus, trigonometry, etc) is less likely to play a role in your everyday life.

Math-hatred and math-ignorance is not necessarily the same thing. I'm getting a minor in mathematics, and it upsets me on a near-daily basis! Some subjects may be more difficult, but none rivals Math for its pure evil! I even made a flash cartoon about the subject of Trigonomety, Calculus, and their ability to combine into that which is capable of stealing souls, and consuming free time. It could be that I just hate math because it's one of the subjects I don't intuitively understand...In english I can hash out several pages of BS in a matter of hours and get an A on it, but math requires memorization of ungodly numbers of formulas and equivalencies...bleh. Enough about THAT subject!

If it were up to me, I'd skip all the "required" classes and just jump right to my major.

YES. I am with you there. I've had to take (so far) anthropology, psychology, several semesters of history, a couple more semesters of political science, a few english classes that told me nothing I didn't already know, and I'll have to take MORE of these "crap classes" that have nothing to do with my major or anything I even care about knowing. Seriously, when will a programmer have to be a psychologist? Maybe if the class gave me the power to control the minds of others...but it doesn't, so it's a waste. Anthropology? Thank you for telling me that we evolved from apes, through several impossible-to-remember-and-difficult-to-pronounce stages, before finally becomming modern humans. I've already forgotten everything I learned there. History? Learned it in Elementary school, again in Jr. High, and again in High School. Political Science? Nothing I couldn't learn by watching the news and CSPAN. English? I've been speaking and writing english since before I went to elementary school, and I've taken this class every year thereafter. If I haven't understood it by now, I never will.

UrLord wrote: I've had to take (so far) anthropology, psychology, several semesters of history, a couple more semesters of political science, a few english classes that told me nothing I didn't already know, and I'll have to take MORE of these "crap classes" that have nothing to do with my major or anything I even care about knowing.

OUCH. Psychology is not crap.

Depends on what part of psychology you read... I had a course were we spent half the time on Freud and his theories and that is crap…

/P7

Agreed. Freud is pretty bad. Any neuro is good, as well as behavioural, cognitive great as well. Social is tolerable.

Ur-Vile wrote:Agreed. Freud is pretty bad. Any neuro is good, as well as behavioural, cognitive great as well. Social is tolerable.

When I studied A-Level Psychology, I think behavioural was my favourite, although that could be because it was taught by the teacher who was only mildly boring, rather than the one who was insanely so.

Anyway Keep us updated, Foul. You should walk it.

For the record, the reason I made that math comment is because I no like math, and math no like me. Root canal more fun.

I think I'm an anomaly(sp). I'm great with concepts, be it physics, biology, chemistry, literature, english and such. But the actual application of said concepts troubles me. My reading comprehension is stellar. I also read at a very fast rate, give me a good solid 3 hours and I can read 250 to 300 pages.


Anyhow, Good luck LF. I went to Junior college and got certifications. I didn't have to mess with the "Crap classes". Now I wish I had. My communication and organization skills are lacking.

I've been a linguist and an electronics tech. I've done well above average in both, but I'm far better with languages. I like the theory and problem solving aspects of electronics (schematics, diagrams), but the practical application of it isn't my cup of tea.

Good Luck, Brother Foul!

(though I know you will do very well!!! )

Psychology is most certainly a crap class when you're a computer science major. Besides, it's not like you even get into anything even mildly interesting in the very bottom level Psych class that's required for everybody.

Ah you computer science students; spending more time on Counter Strike and Quake 3 than the wonders of Psychology