Comments on: Are all mathematicians geeks?

By: Kristie

Kristie — Sat, 17 May 2008 22:39:11 +0000

Maths is tough. I think that’s what puts people off. I did a couple of first year uni maths papers, and while I sailed my way to A’s in physics papers, I had to work my arse off and beg extra tutoring just to get B’s in the maths papers. I hate Maths :(

By: Mark O'Neill

Mark O'Neill — Sat, 17 May 2008 10:03:47 +0000

Sorry, I should have clarified more clearly in the article. Billy Connolly is a stand-up comedian. He was making a joke about mathematicians and algebra and also ridiculing his own terrible skills at math.

He wasn’t being serious in saying that math should be abolished or anything! It was just a comedy standup routine. :-)

By: jack

jack — Sat, 17 May 2008 08:20:55 +0000

i don’t think he meant not to teach math at all, but more like the upper level maths that are just ridiculously unnecessary.

i hate math, failed calculus 2, but i consider myself a pretty geeky guy.

By: Laurens

Laurens — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:05:45 +0000

No, it’s not because of the stereotype that not many people choose to study mathematics. I think it’s just because math isn’t interesting enough for most people: it’s way too abstract.

The problem with math (and other sciences) is that in order to realise the importance and relevance to the real world, you need to break through that “outer shell” of complex, scary definitions and theorems and formulas. Few feel like doing that and those that do are most of the time the “geeks” of society…

Claiming there’s no point in teaching math is ridiculous. Withouth math, we would still be in the dark ages.

By: brandon

brandon — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:43:14 +0000

Well I go to a tech school, and here even the engineering majors make fun of the math majors for being geeks :D