Where are all the men?

[Homburg]

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

My first thought exactly.


I sucked at graphing and higher math. Couldn't make the leap back from graph to equation. There was a logical connection there that I could get, but couldn't really comprehend. It was weird, as I am usually pretty strong in visual-spatial intelligence.

 

[MisterSir]

I seem to be in the minority again, because I'm good at most of the maths I've done. I remember having trouble with geometry because I'm not good at anything involving diagrams, and anything more than simple trigonometry was completely out of the question, but algebra and calculus? Gimme. It's clearly something to do with my wiring, because I've never not been good at the empirical subjects; the others, however, the subjects where it's all opinion I can't deal with. There's a name of this, doesn't it make me a left-brain person or some such?

 

[Netzach]

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

Purely by its abundance. Can I overlay Sweet Jane, Louie Louie or any unfuck-up-able blues based song here? Ok, Louie Louie has an interesting limp to it, but it's still 4 beats.

How's that for the liberal arts answer? I'm a deep listener, sure, but I'm mostly interested in the anthro/history parts. I got through dance by clapping. I can pick out the clave in Latin music because I've been told to look for it, and hamhandedly do.

I'm superb at pattern recognition - those are the only logic problems I rock. I was great at geometry. Diagrams and visuals, oh God thank you, and LAWS and THEOREMS, you might as well just give me the answer. Trig? Holy shit, a mess. Putting calculation back into the mix I'm screwed. Same with sciences, I rocked the hard botany class with the bio majors first half and then almost failed the course when it got into plant biochem.

The only time I *liked* math, mind you still took 4 hours to do a 1 hour assignment and failed or near-failed every *timed* test was in astro. All of a sudden, there was a reason to do the math. I wanted to find out the rates of acceleration or masses of stars, not whether john is in line in front of jimmy, which much as I can try to motivate over, I just couldn't to the same degree. If I'd been doing work that interesting in HS, and I could have been, because the math wasn't that challenging to someone who has a foundation, I don't think I would have hated and dreaded it, just not done as well as in other things and whatever, such is life. Some compelling interest might have helped close the gap a little.

Part of my issues, I honestly believe among them, is actual learning/brain differential. I had a tutor, a doggedly determined college student. It doesn't help to repeat the same thing to someone 80,000 times when it's not working. Part of my issue is that, being a human, I'm pretty rewards oriented. If I *never* perform well on something, and if I've put in a good solid try, unless I have some really compelling reason to chew through metal to overcome, I'm not going to. Had there been more tangible urgency and reality injected into math, and had anyone tried other approaches when the mainstream one so clearly isn't working for me, I think results would have been better.

The fact that I can *understand* the concept, listen in, and feel like I actually get it, but then I would almost always c- or lower on a *timed* test or take 5 times longer than expected to do homework that might be 50% right, makes me think that this wasn't garden variety giving up on it. It's like it would make perfect sense to me, and then if I spun around 3 times and did the same problem I'd get another wrong answer.

I'm way out of my HS "math is stupid" phase of hatred - it's not remotely that. I started thinking about my version of events and not my mother's version of events and I realize in retrospect that I *did* work really really hard at it, considering how little pay off there was for me.

 

[00Syd]

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?

I don't really think that memorizing a few chords is really the same as knowing how to play an instrument. Actually knowing how to play beyond "Put your fingers here, that's a chord, put your fingers there, that's another chord, now do that in order," is knowing how to play an instrument.

I only started "playing" because my dad did and I knew he would dig it, but it was never my thing, and I never really cared for it that much. I'm surprised I kept at it as long as I did.

 

[CutieMouse]

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

My first thought exactly.

That's what I saw, too. LOL

 

[Sir_Winston54]

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

My first thought exactly.

That's what I saw, too. LOL

I saw them briefly, then I saw a headache coming on and scrolled down quick. <Sigh> I like boobies, but not swirly things, unless they're in ice cream.

 

[graceanne]

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

ROFL

I seem to be in the minority again, because I'm good at most of the maths I've done. I remember having trouble with geometry because I'm not good at anything involving diagrams, and anything more than simple trigonometry was completely out of the question, but algebra and calculus? Gimme. It's clearly something to do with my wiring, because I've never not been good at the empirical subjects; the others, however, the subjects where it's all opinion I can't deal with. There's a name of this, doesn't it make me a left-brain person or some such?

I'm normally in the minority for this kind of thing. To put in perspective my grandpa was a math teacher, my mom and sister are accountants, and I have cousins who miss math class, and another who's working on becoming a mathematician (why?).

They all look at me like I'm some mutant.

That's what I saw, too. LOL

I saw them briefly, then I saw a headache coming on and scrolled down quick. <Sigh> I like boobies, but not swirly things, unless they're in ice cream.

You are some strange people. *shakes head*

I know. Duh.

 

[Sir Victor]

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

I see bouncing boobies lol, well sorta ... boobies ... not a word I usually use ...

Interesting thread, but too long to read ....

 

[Sir Victor]

I believe that much of the math difficulty thing is a lack of good teachers; no offense to teachers, but it is very difficult to do it well. I've found that many in a given field may know the material just fine, but they don't have the ability to teach it. People with difficulties should of course be tested for learning disabilities. Math came easy for me, I was a tutor in school.
I agree with much of this: http://tentoni.wordpress.com/2007/05/21/learn-math/

http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_...aspiring_school_teachers_fail_in_math20090519

http://www.newscientist.com/article...ome-people-cant-put-two-and-two-together.html

 

[Shankara20]

Damn it!

See what I missed while I was pantie shopping this week.

http://static.manolith.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/national-man-day.jpg​

"National Man Day – After more than a half year of hype, National Man Day is finally here. The brainchild of Joel Longanecker of Dayton, Ohio, this create-a-holiday can apparently be celebrated by men the world over, despite the “national” in the title. The celebration’s Facebook page says it better than I ever could: “I’m not asking you to throw some sissy party, or to go buy a new power tie because you’re a man. All I’m asking you to do is step up live this day like a man would. Blow something up, shoot some animal, punch your buddy in the face for no reason, be a good father, play football and literally knock someone’s head off … Do something manly.” Does that include sitting at home and blogging? Sigh." link​

and

Today has been declared "National Man Day" -- by two brothers in Indiana, anyway. But it turns out they chose a day that is dedicated to a less than manly pursuit.

Aaron and Joel Longanecker, 26 and 19 respectively, have been trying to get men to join their cause on Facebook since late last year. Their goal was initially 1000 men. Instead, a remarkable 260,000 have signed on. The Longaneckers wrote:

This day is the day for all men to stand up and say, "Yes, I am a Man." And "Yes, I will step up and do manly things and whatever I want to do on this glorious day!"

According to the brothers, those manly things include watching Rocky movies all day, sitting in your favorite chair and scratching yourself, and eating a 20 ounce steak.

But here's the problem. Monday, June 15 is also "Sneak a Kiss Day," a day when sweethearts are supposed to steal kisses from each other. Just for the record, real men don't sneak kisses -- they just do it.

So instead of sneaking kisses, here's what the Longaneckers say you should be doing today:

I'm not asking you to throw some sissy party, or to go buy a new power tie because you're a man. All I'm asking you to do is step up, live this day like a man would. Blow something up, shoot some animal, punch your buddy in the face for no reason, be a good father, play football and literally knock someone's head off... Do something manly. Be a man like God intended you to be... Take this day and celebrate your manhood! link
​

What did you do to celibate National Man Day?

 

[Sir_Winston54]

.... What did you do to celibate National Man Day?

ROFLMMFAO!!!!

To answer your inadvertent typo question: I was celibate.

To answer your intended question: I took a nap.

 

[jabez]

It all started when they took dodge ball out of school.

no shit

 

[Homburg]

What did you do to celibate National Man Day?

I worked. Then I took Eldest Daughter out to dinner for her birthday.

 

[Shankara20]

ROFLMMFAO!!!!

To answer your inadvertent typo question: I was celibate.

To answer your intended question: I took a nap.

What makes you think it was inadvertent?


By the way, is my Freudian slip showing??

 

[Sir_Winston54]

By the way, is my Freudian slip showing??

Is that the pink one with the scalloped lace trim at the bottom?

 

[MisterSir]

no shit

For my own curiosity, how many times has the topic changed focus since WD posted about dodgeball? I guess eleven.

By the way, is my Freudian slip showing??

What? God no.

I struck out at the pub, for one, although I can't say I was trying too hard. Was in London most of the day with my best mate, picked up the first two issues of Civil War (which I've been meaning to do for months), then went drinking later. Good day.

 

[Shankara20]

Is that the pink one with the scalloped lace trim at the bottom?

I know how much you like that one, but it was my summer cotton lavender slip this time...

 

[DVS]

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?

OK, this thread is FINALLY getting back into something I'm good at.

The area of math was not good for me in HS. It was partly that I didn't apply myself, but I also think it was partly that the teachers weren't able to explain it to me in a way that I could understand it. I think differently than the average person, because I'm a more feeling and visual thinker than a logic kind of brain.

That last statement kind of scares me, because I went into computers. But, like many things I delve into, I put my own spin on computers. I had a knack for explaining the workings of hardware and software to the uneducated and glassy eyed users, when the more logical brainiacs couldn't. I humanized the computer for those who needed to understand and connected them to the world that they had previously no connection with.

I basically gave the computer a personality and allowed the users to communicate with it, that way. They needed to know what the computer wanted, and once they understood that, they seemed to understand their relationship with it. My boss was much smarter than I, in the computer programming area, but I was the conduit with the user. He would create and I would explain. It worked.

But, getting back to the math thing, I tanked most of the classes I took. Only when I got into computers and had to pass right angle trig did I have a teacher that could communicate the logic to me. I got it and understood it. Something I think my mind was closed to in my younger years, but I also think this teacher had a skill that other teachers didn't have. I understood and was doing trig problems with ease within a few weeks, with his help. He was a great teacher to be able to do that, in my opinion. I'm NOT a math person.

Getting to the musical area, I've always excelled in music. From day one, I had the knack to hear tones, and harmonies and rhythm patterns. I started organized music classes in 5th grade and this went on into college, where I was going to be a music teacher.

Of course, my stubborn dislike for the ways college class organizers setup degree requirements was my downfall. Music majors had a tough time of it, just to get all of the required classes in. Our major classes only counted 2.0 credit hours when a business major's major classes counted 3.0 credit hours.

Most of our classes were an every day thing, and not only required homework, but also time with a piano keyboard to work out theory lessons. There were a limited number of keyboards available, for the number of people needing one. You had to work your time around an available piano, and that sometimes turned out to be late at night. Keep in mind, that was long before the electronic keyboard was created. The only available keyboard was an actual piano.

To make a long rant shorter, my day would be full of non-stop classes most every day and I could only get 9.5 credit hours per term (my college was based on three terms per year, not two semesters) and a business major would be taking 15.0 credit hours and only have classes on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. That was one reason it took nearly six full years to get a music degree and only four years for a business degree.

I stuck it out and learned to play most instruments. I could play most brass instruments with no real problem. I started out on trumpet in 5th grade, so I had an edge. Woodwind instruments were more difficult because the reed tickled my lip. My professor wasn't amused, though.

I did quite well with the strings, except for violin. the fretboard is made for thinner fingers and someone with my hand size must actually move one finger out of the way and slide the next finger into position to get the note to be in tune. With the voila I did better, but my fingers were made for the cello. At least that's what my string teacher said.

Every student had to have a major instrument and I ended up picking percussion. Keyboard percussion, to be more precise...vibes, marimba, xylophone, etc. And, I learned the basic rudiments on snare drum and also was quite flashy with the tenor drum mallets in marching band. For those who don't know, twirling sticks isn't much more than smoke and mirrors.

After leaving college, I reverted back to playing piano...or synthesizers. By that time, digital age had begun and my world was opening up. I wish I was in school today, with all of the advantages colleges have. But, I'll never go back. I'm too stubborn and set in my ways.

And, I'm doing fine on my own. I have a small recording studio in my house (just a computer with software and some keyboards, mics and drums) and I'm happy. It would be nice to be able to make a living at what I enjoy, but the older I get, the less I see that happening. But, I can deal with the reality.

Music is a part of me. I could never live without music. A world without music is almost like a world without air to breathe. My sister is the same way. She majored in music and actually made it though the crap and became a music teacher. Her major instrument is piano and can sight read most anything.

The difference between us is she can't ad. lib. at all and I am pretty good at it. She sees the music and the notes, where I hear the tune and the chords. Two different kinds of musician, but from the same family. I thought that was kind of strange. Maybe not.

Sorry, I don't think this was as brief as requested.

 

[DVS]

I know how much you like that one, but it was my summer cotton lavender slip this time...

Lavender is such a soothing and pastel color. It's a color that just speaks summer, too.

 

[DVS]

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.

7/13? does not compute!

 

[YourCaptor]

Random comment.

I once took a questionnaire to see how high I rank on the masculine and feminine scale.

It seems I am rather masculine, and low on femininity. Honestly that came as somewhat of a surprise.

Also the average college student scores higher on the feminine trait then masculine.

 

[MisterSir]

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 missed this the first time around, so: A couple of people might know a little of my predominant musical taste, but "loud rock" seems a good summary. Pilfering it straight from my Facebook page, favourite bands include AC/DC, Coheed and Cambria, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Muse, Queen, Rush, Soundgarden, Spinal Tap and the Who - a neat cross-section incorporating hard rock, thrash metal, progressive rock, a bit of grunge and whatever Queen count as.

I played the violin for a couple of years as a kid, but I'm currently learning to play the drums (right now, it's a case of improving my stamina so I don't feel like I have two bits of floppy pasta sticking out of my shoulders by the end of a single song). Makes sense, most of the above is fairly drum-heavy.

 

[Keroin]

Oooo, do you get to play with an elastrator? Details, details!

*sizes up a jack fluffy bunny in my orbit.*

LOL. Sorry to deflate the fantasy, this is all surgical. We have four days to spay and neuter as many cats on the island as possible. There are two vets, two assistants (including me) and a coordinator, then there are a few other volunteers setting traps and bringing in feral cats.

My job encompasses basically everything except actual surgery. For neuters, I will give pre-surgical injections, pluck ball hair (kind of like peeling a grape), sterilize the area, give an ear tattoo, Deworm, deflea, inject antibiotics, monitor post op, etc, etc. Neuters are pretty easy except that 70% of the cats are feral and would love nothing more than to carve you up like a jack-o-lantern.

Interesting that all the vets I've worked with or talked to during my time here have been women. This used to be a very male field. Which leads me to wonder if women are becoming the majority in vet schools or if they are just more likely to volunteer their services? (All these vets are volunteers from overseas).

 

[Shankara20]

We have four days to spay and neuter as many cats on the island as possible.

don't use the word "neuter" in a thread about men, for crying out loud!!!!

 

[MisterSir]

I got the strangest urge to protect my genitals just then. Wonder why.