Math is racist

[Chesterton]

Berkeley. Yes, that one. I think its rep as liberal bastion is a little overblown. The academic standards are quite high there, to the point that total nonsense is pretty rare, which comports with my experience. Town is another matter...or was, before gentrification became almost total.

Oh wow, this is not possible! I swear this is the truth: after I asked where, I was going to type "Please don't say Berkeley".

 

[durangodawood]

Oh wow, this is not possible! I swear this is the truth: after I asked where, I was going to type "Please don't say Berkeley".

Ahaha. Bingo. But look at any assessment of top U's for math, engineering, all the sciences. Berkeley is among the top schools in all those fields. Not a lot of 2+2=5 going on there. And where liberal bias crops up in the humanities, its typically defended with rigor and not the nonsense youre talking about. The one program that disappointed me personally was the art dept. This was based on my opinion of student work at the time. I suspect my opinion would have been similar anywhere tho, as high-concept low-execution conceptual art was all the rage nationally.

 

[Chesterton]

Ahaha. Bingo. But look at any assessment of top U's for math, engineering, all the sciences. Berkeley is among the top schools in all those fields. Not a lot of 2+2=5 going on there. And where liberal bias crops up in the humanities, its typically defended with rigor and not the nonsense youre talking about. The one program that disappointed me personally was the art dept. This was based on my opinion of student work at the time. I suspect my opinion would have been similar anywhere tho, as high-concept low-execution conceptual art was all the rage nationally.

I believe you about that. Every once in a while I'll be reading or listening to someone I'd consider somewhat conservative and then I'm surprised to learn they went to Berkeley. I don't know when you were there, but I wonder, does the school have any collective memory that it was considered the birthplace of "the free speech movement"? Is there at least a plaque on a wall or anything? I think they need to put up a plaque, lol.

 

[durangodawood]

I believe you about that. Every once in a while I'll be reading or listening to someone I'd consider somewhat conservative and then I'm surprised to learn they went to Berkeley. I don't know when you were there, but I wonder, does the school have any collective memory that it was considered the birthplace of "the free speech movement"? Is there at least a plaque on a wall or anything? I think they need to put up a plaque, lol.

I recall there being some sort of free-speech display thing. But I cant picture it.

If there's one prof I wish wasnt a Berkeley guy, its John "torture memo's" Woo from the law school. 2+2=4, but you could torture it into =5.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Math, as we know it, originated in what is now Iraq. We still hang on to the Babylonian base-60 system when we work with hours, minutes, and seconds.

Don't forget circles! (degrees)

 

[bekkilyn]

Don't forget circles! (degrees)

Did you know that circles can sometimes be square?

*looks innocent*

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Did you know that circles can sometimes be square?

*looks innocent*

So can pies.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Two $2 bills would still equal $4.

Four loonies or two toonnies would make bad characters.

 

[Radagast]

I don't know when you were there, but I wonder, does the school have any collective memory that it was considered the birthplace of "the free speech movement"? Is there at least a plaque on a wall or anything? I think they need to put up a plaque, lol.

When I was there (a while ago, now), there was a gigantic free speech display on the wall.

 

[Radagast]

Don't forget circles! (degrees)

They are exactly the same Babylonian base-60 system as hours/minutes/seconds, following a Greek tradition of doing astronomical work base-60 in Babylonian style.

But, of course, it's the number that matters, not the base you use.

 

[Chesterton]

When I was there (a while ago, now), there was a gigantic free speech display on the wall.

Pity that no one looks at it.

 

[Radagast]

Pity that no one looks at it.

I think the message was that free speech was good then.