Where are all the men?

[00Syd]

Seb keeps joking that I'm majoring in Waitressing, but I really feel like I have a feesable plan. Graduate with a Visual and Media Arts major (specialization in screenwriting), which basically translates to writing skills and a broad aray of basic media production skills. Get a job doing anything with either one of the many post-production houses in NYC or a TV station/show/whatever. Do whatever they pay me for, attempt to make contacts along the way, and write spec scripts in my spare time. Hopefully I'll end up meeting the right person, and someone will read a script, and I'll work my way up to writing for a show, but if not, so it goes. I don't really ever expect to make it that far, but if I do, great. I think that I have a pretty practical plan for such an unpractical major.

Everyone else I know is moving to L.A. to try and break into the industry. Haha, good luck NYC transplant #65400092. Write me a postcard when you can spare a few minutes from your busy job of fetching the PA's Assistant's Assistant his morning coffee.

Never planned on going to Graduate School and never wanted to. WHY THE HELL would I stay in academia longer than I have to? This shit drives me crazy.

 

[Homburg]

It's a very expensive degree but can be worth it if you go into a practice area that's a good match for your skills. I feel ridiculously lucky these days. I didn't always feel that way. In fact, I think I was bitching about life-work balance a couple of months ago! That's a different issue, but anyway, recently I decided to put on my big girl panties and make it work as best as possible.

Well, I would've segued into policy language. Whee.

--

As far as math goes, I'm on of those people who basically sucked at math. I did reasonably well in basic algebra, until we got to the graph this line part, and my brain went "Oh, HELL, no." Geometry, trig, and calculus? Ugh, God. The only reason I passed any of those in high school was that we got lots of bonus points for doing our homework. I don't think I have any spatial intelligence whatsoever, outside the ability to read maps.

I learn best by reading things and then doing them myself. Unfortunately, you can't really *read* math textbooks. They aren't written in a way that makes any sense. And I only had one math teacher in high school and one in college who could explain things in a way that I could grasp. My math skills are like those of basically any English major, LOL.

I got a perfect 100 in an Algebra II course. Last good grade I got in math ever. After that it was trig, pre-calc, calculus, and the slow ensuing degrading of my GPA. Algebra was basically like a series of logic puzzles. I coudl play with them in my head easily. Calculus was useless numerical skullduggery. Masturbation with a graphing calculator. It did not make sense to me, and my brain slithered away from it. I just flat could not manage to memorise equations, and it is one of the very few things of that srot that I've found in my entire life.

Interestingly, I could remember the history of the person/s behind those equations perfectly. And about 80% of the time, I could extrapolate and suss out a formula from what I recalled, and my knowledge of their history and how they thought, and it would work. But because I didn't do it the right way, I lost points.

 

[CutieMouse]

I've never had math taught to me in any way that was successful.

I've come to realize that I'm much more of a visual learner. For example, I was always excellent at biology, I got good grades and lots of praise from my teachers. Once the class got down to the cellular level, though, I was completely lost and my grades slipped quite a bit. I just for the life of me could not grasp the inner workings of cells. Certain hormones cause a cell to produce this toxin which then does X, Y, and Z.... What? No way, am I going to get that. Where did the hormone come from? What is it? What does it look like? Why does it do that? Etc. If I can't picture it, I'm just not going to get it.

Most math is far, far too abstract for me to be able to grasp. Sure, I can place a bunch of bricks on a table and physically add, subtract, and multiply them (actually how I learned to do those things in elementary), but there are only so many bricks I can picture in my mind at once, and I can't picture them at all once they get turned into a letter. No fucking way. You might as well put some ancient Japanese characters in front of me, for all the meaning I'm going to get out of 'em.




I don't blame you. I am absolutely petrified that I won't be able to graduate college because I won't be able to pass the math requirement.

I almost didn't graduate high school because of the Math Regents exam. Ended up passing it my senior year with THE passing grade. It was truly a miracle.

Oh, and I have to commend you for being able to keep coupon calculations in your head, break down cost per ounce while shopping, and knowing algebra well enough to teach it - these are all skills that completely and utterly evade me.

Math is really the only thing that has ever made me feel despair-worthy levels of stupid. The only times I ever cried in school were during math class.

Yes, but the problem was that the second my [BS in Mathematics] friend explained to me that I'd just taught a 7 year old algebra, much less to do it in his head as a word problem - gray fluff exploded out my ears and I had an anxiety attack.

*headdesk*

 

[00Syd]

Yes, but the problem was that the second my [BS in Mathematics] friend explained to me that I'd just taught a 7 year old algebra, much less to do it in his head as a word problem - gray fluff exploded out my ears and I had an anxiety attack.

*headdesk*

I think that if someone told me I had just explained algebra coherently to anybody I would burst into tears and take Jesus into my heart right then and there.

 

[Bi_Kitty]

I'm going to do my best. *Crosses fingers*


As far as math goes, I'm on of those people who basically sucked at math. I did reasonably well in basic algebra, until we got to the graph this line part, and my brain went "Oh, HELL, no." Geometry, trig, and calculus? Ugh, God. The only reason I passed any of those in high school was that we got lots of bonus points for doing our homework. I don't think I have any spatial intelligence whatsoever, outside the ability to read maps.

I learn best by reading things and then doing them myself. Unfortunately, you can't really *read* math textbooks. They aren't written in a way that makes any sense. And I only had one math teacher in high school and one in college who could explain things in a way that I could grasp. My math skills are like those of basically any English major, LOL.

I see you left out the part that the only reason you passed your Sophomore college math class was because of a high school Senior. LOL.

 

[BiBunny]

I see you left out the part that the only reason you passed your Sophomore college math class was because of a high school Senior. LOL.

I also left out the "e" in the word "one," too, so I'm possibly just losing my mind.

Thank you for helping me pass, Kitty who is very good at math.

 

[AngelicAssassin]

I've never had math taught to me in any way that was successful.

I've come to realize that I'm much more of a visual learner. For example, I was always excellent at biology, I got good grades and lots of praise from my teachers. Once the class got down to the cellular level, though, I was completely lost and my grades slipped quite a bit. I just for the life of me could not grasp the inner workings of cells. Certain hormones cause a cell to produce this toxin which then does X, Y, and Z.... What? No way, am I going to get that. Where did the hormone come from? What is it? What does it look like? Why does it do that? Etc. If I can't picture it, I'm just not going to get it.

Sounds like me and chemistry, and i actually loved the subject matter. i could never get higher than a B in either HS, or six quarters/semesters of collegiate general and organic.

... what's paralyzed me about submitting an application to community college for next fall.

Math.

The academic advisor said I'd have to take a placement exam for mathematics, because I flunked out my Freshman year of college...

sheer.utter.panic.

... - but I can't do math. The idea of having to sit in a class and learn that particular foreign language terrifies me.

*shudder*

I don't think I have any spatial intelligence whatsoever, outside the ability to read maps.

I learn best by reading things and then doing them myself. Unfortunately, you can't really *read* math textbooks. They aren't written in a way that makes any sense. And I only had one math teacher in high school and one in college who could explain things in a way that I could grasp. My math skills are like those of basically any English major, LOL.

Most math is far, far too abstract for me to be able to grasp. Sure, I can place a bunch of bricks on a table and physically add, subtract, and multiply them (actually how I learned to do those things in elementary), but there are only so many bricks I can picture in my mind at once, and I can't picture them at all once they get turned into a letter. No fucking way. You might as well put some ancient Japanese characters in front of me, for all the meaning I'm going to get out of 'em.

I am absolutely petrified that I won't be able to graduate college because I won't be able to pass the math requirement.

I almost didn't graduate high school because of the Math Regents exam. Ended up passing it my senior year with THE passing grade. It was truly a miracle.

Math is really the only thing that has ever made me feel despair-worthy levels of stupid. The only times I ever cried in school were during math class.

Next tangent question, if you don't mind. Briefly describe your music appreciation beyond what may play in the background that doesn't grate on your nerves and have you played a musical instrument?

 

[Bi_Kitty]

I also left out the "e" in the word "one," too, so I'm possibly just losing my mind.

Thank you for helping me pass, Kitty who is very good at math.

LOL. Well, I was going to say that the only reason I passed any of my English classes is because of you. So, the trade off is good, I suppose. *wink*

 

[BiBunny]

Sounds like me and chemistry, and i actually loved the subject matter. i could never get higher than a B in either HS, or six quarters/semesters of collegiate general and organic.

Next tangent question, if you don't mind. Briefly describe your music appreciation beyond what may play in the background that doesn't grate on your nerves and have you played a musical instrument?

I couldn't do chemistry or physics in high school, either. They both blew my mind, though it could've had something to do with the whackjob teacher I had, too.

I took a music appreciation class in high school, but I never took any music lessons. I can still read music, though. I have no sense of rhythm whatsoever. And I don't think self-taught one-handed keyboard counts as "playing a musical instrument."

LOL. Well, I was going to say that the only reason I passed any of my English classes is because of you. So, the trade off is good, I suppose. *wink*

It is.

 

[00Syd]

Next tangent question, if you don't mind. Briefly describe your music appreciation beyond what may play in the background that doesn't grate on your nerves and have you played a musical instrument?

Quoted directly from just about every profile I've ever had on any social networking sites:

"I'm into most punk, jazz, rock n roll, soul, northern soul, motown, funk, 50's and 60's pop, 60's girl groups, exotica, hawaiian, swing, doo wop, old school rap, garage rock, metal, rockabilly, psychobilly, psychedelic, Glitter, Glam, and then lots of random weird shit."

And I once briefly played a few songs on the Ukulele. Can't remember any of 'em now, though.

 

[CutieMouse]

Sounds like me and chemistry, and i actually loved the subject matter. i could never get higher than a B in either HS, or six quarters/semesters of collegiate general and organic.

Next tangent question, if you don't mind. Briefly describe your music appreciation beyond what may play in the background that doesn't grate on your nerves and have you played a musical instrument?

Sang alto in the school choir from 5th grade to 7th, then second soprano 8th grade year, and first soprano all of high school and into my freshman year of college (competition choir/classical, pop/show chorus, and church choir). I took piano in the 4th grade, but coordinating two hands/foot pedals/eyes broke my head.

I enjoy silence as much as anything, really... (although I'm on a Dave fix lately)

 

[Netzach]

I can't function without the tunes, and they get very wide ranging. I once dated a drummer who could tell me the time signature of anything. Well, except for Indian Classical which has about six of them going at once.

I always could understand WHY a song was 7/13 or 3/4 or whatever when explained to me, but unless it's 3/4 I can't tell you for shit what time signature a song is on the listen. Even if it's the one you just explained to me five minutes ago.

This is exactly how my brain processes or does not, math.

 

[BiBunny]

I always could understand WHY a song was 7/13 or 3/4 or whatever when explained to me, but unless it's 3/4 I can't tell you for shit what time signature a song is on the listen. Even if it's the one you just explained to me five minutes ago.

This is exactly how my brain processes or does not, math.

This is so me.

 

[AngelicAssassin]

I couldn't do chemistry or physics in high school, either. They both blew my mind, though it could've had something to do with the whackjob teacher I had, too.

i had a strange duck for physics in HS, and struggled a bit during the basic class first semester, but was one of two folk out of 30 that blossomed in second for celestial navigation.

I took a music appreciation class in high school, but I never took any music lessons. I can still read music, though. I have no sense of rhythm whatsoever. And I don't think self-taught one-handed keyboard counts as "playing a musical instrument."

Can you hear the music while reading?

Quoted directly from just about every profile I've ever had on any social networking sites:

"I'm into most punk, jazz, rock n roll, soul, northern soul, motown, funk, 50's and 60's pop, 60's girl groups, exotica, hawaiian, swing, doo wop, old school rap, garage rock, metal, rockabilly, psychobilly, psychedelic, Glitter, Glam, and then lots of random weird shit."

And I once briefly played a few songs on the Ukulele. Can't remember any of 'em now, though.

Now this is interesting. You roll easily from one genre to another and play(ed) an instrument. Mind if i ask why you stopped playing?

Sang alto in the school choir from 5th grade to 7th, then second soprano 8th grade year, and first soprano all of high school and into my freshman year of college (competition choir/classical, pop/show chorus, and church choir). I took piano in the 4th grade, but coordinating two hands/foot pedals/eyes broke my head.

I enjoy silence as much as anything, really... (although I'm on a Dave fix lately)

Even more interesting. When learning a new piece, how long before you transitioned from listen/parrot to read/sing?

 

[AngelicAssassin]

but unless it's 3/4 I can't tell you for shit what time signature a song is on the listen.

How do you know three quarter time, and don't think of the answer, just write it.

 

[BiBunny]

Can you hear the music while reading?

Nope. Not unless I've heard the song before. I also can't half-assedly play any song I've never heard before because I judge the rhythm (?) by the way I hear the words in my head. My musical philosophy is something like "this word corresponds with this note, and that's kinda how the music sounds while this word is being sung." Please note I have a good bit of problem playing songs without words unless I've heard them so many times that I have the tune memorized in my head.

I'm a strange duck.

 

[CutieMouse]

Even more interesting. When learning a new piece, how long before you transitioned from listen/parrot to read/sing?

It's been almost 20 years... I was lucky in that I had a good ear - I could feel when/where the melody was supposed to go (I still can most of the time). "Feel" probably doesn't make sense, but it's the only way I can think of to explain it. When I was doing it 5-15 hours a week, I could pick things up (hear it in my head) within 2-3 readings of the music, and from that point it was just a question of perfecting.

(To this day I still hate Christmas music, and start bouncing rhythm to "King of Kings" from the Messiah if I hear it. )

 

[AngelicAssassin]

Nope. Not unless I've heard the song before. I also can't half-assedly play any song I've never heard before because I judge the rhythm (?) by the way I hear the words in my head. My musical philosophy is something like "this word corresponds with this note, and that's kinda how the music sounds while this word is being sung." Please note I have a good bit of problem playing songs without words unless I've heard them so many times that I have the tune memorized in my head.

I'm a strange duck.

In bold for comment. You seem to translate music much like a math equation uses variables. Tenuous, i know, but interesting nonetheless.

It's been almost 20 years... I was lucky in that I had a good ear - I could feel when/where the melody was supposed to go (I still can most of the time). "Feel" probably doesn't make sense, but it's the only way I can think of to explain it. When I was doing it 5-15 hours a week, I could pick things up (hear it in my head) within 2-3 readings of the music, and from that point it was just a question of perfecting.

(To this day I still hate Christmas music, and start bouncing rhythm to "King of Kings" from the Messiah if I hear it. )

Sounds, pun intended, like your eyes made an auditory connection with immersion?

 

[CutieMouse]

In bold for comment. You seem to translate music much like a math equation uses variables. Tenuous, i know, but interesting nonetheless.Sounds, pun intended, like your eyes made an auditory connection with immersion?

Probably. I'm a very kenesthetic learner. See+hear+touch = memorize. Out of all the math I struggled with, geometry was the only class I got a B in, because in my head it wasn't math - it was art. I could model/think 3D and it almost made sense.

Everything else dealt with columns and rows of numbers that refused to stay straight in my head and dealt with such abstract concepts I could not make logical heads or tails of any of it. I started failing math classes in the 4th grade when they introduced long division; I never moved beyond Algebra I in high school (and only just passed that).

 

[BiBunny]

In bold for comment. You seem to translate music much like a math equation uses variables. Tenuous, i know, but interesting nonetheless.

That is actually really interesting. Maybe that's why I could do the more numeric-based (for lack of a better way to describe it) algebraic equations without too much difficulty. It was just when it had to be translated to graphs and pictures that it became gobbledygook. Hmm.

 

[AngelicAssassin]

Probably. I'm a very kenesthetic learner. See+hear+touch = memorize. Out of all the math I struggled with, geometry was the only class I got a B in, because in my head it wasn't math - it was art. I could model/think 3D and it almost made sense.

and therein my trig/calc teacher made geometry (and her classes as well) make sense. When i got a grasp on 3d, the graphs, lines, columns et al clicked into place. Kinda like use of shade and/or light makes a drawing/photo lifelike versus a flat representation of the real thing. Take a flat cardboard right triangle and punch two holes in the right angle and lesser acute angle. Insert rubber bands through the holes. Twist the rubber bands and then pull the bands taut in opposite directions. As the triangle whips around, you get a cone. i felt like a spot light had come on at midnight in the middle of the desert during a trig class.

Everything else dealt with columns and rows of numbers that refused to stay straight in my head and dealt with such abstract concepts I could not make logical heads or tails of any of it. I started failing math classes in the 4th grade when they introduced long division; I never moved beyond Algebra I in high school (and only just passed that).

Almost everyone i know felt the same way about long division. For the first time, the representation on paper didn't follow the general column rules you mentioned for addition, subtraction, and multiplication. The pencil started jumping all over the place. Once you found the column mechanics buried inside the "new" procedure, however, on comes the spotlight.

That is actually really interesting. Maybe that's why I could do the more numeric-based (for lack of a better way to describe it) algebraic equations without too much difficulty. It was just when it had to be translated to graphs and pictures that it became gobbledygook. Hmm.

i'd tend to agree. As mentioned above, the trick is finding the tether from a known and comfortable concept to a new and incomprehensible one. My apologies for a rather trite leap of faith, but it's the only way i can explain how musically inclined folk do what is essentially a math thing.

 

[graceanne]

Wow, this thread bounces around.

I suck at all forms of math, but fractions. It's been suggested that I do so well at fractions because I've been reading music for so long. lol The other suggestion was that I've been cooking since I was somewhere around six. I think. Well, a long time.

Either way, I breezed through fractions.

 

[RJMasters]

When I started working with 3D programs, my math comprehension went up and concepts which were hard to grasp before became easier. I think working in 3 Dimensional space building models and such help my brain to change from "right angle and linear" type thinking and start thinking more in terms of volumetric and matrix.

 

[graceanne]

"right angle and linear" type thinking and start thinking more in terms of volumetric and matrix.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h284/graceanne1978/Where-are-you-x2.gif

 

[AngelicAssassin]

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h284/graceanne1978/Where-are-you-x2.gif

and as a man, i see hypnotic boobies. Nytol.