Sometimes the issue isn't time - it's money and access to schooling. Just because you've had the access, doesn't mean others do - and there are many, many who don't.
> Just because you've had the access, doesn't mean others do...
I don't think that the author of the post you're responding to is making any sort of normative claim.
> Sometimes the issue isn't time - it's money and access to schooling
I think the author is suggesting that if you have that kind of free time, then you either a) must be independently wealthy, or else that b) trading some of that free time for cash you can use to buy credit hours is a net positive because the guidance is worth it (again, assuming your goal is to learn math as opposed to eg obtain a uni degree).
I agree that's not necessarily a good assumption globally, but it's probably a decent assumption for almost everyone in the west, both in terms of self-learning capabilities and in terms of available funds.
I don't think it's a decent assumption for "almost everyone" in the west. I'd say it often is the case that you won't have enough free time for such studies unless you trade cash (income) for the free time. At which point you may not have much after paying the bills. Or you're unemployed and, well, don't have the cash. You suggest trading some of that free time for cash, as if unemployment were something people solve by snapping their fingers and choosing to make a trade. That sounds a bit insulting towards all the people (who are many) that struggle with unemployment in western countries.
> You suggest trading some of that free time for cash, as if unemployment were something people solve by snapping their fingers and choosing to make a trade
Not at all; I meant in the form of a loan, where free time is time you would otherwise spend retired.
And I was also assuming that you already have a decent job that allows you to work 40 hours or so and make a comfortable enough living to consider spending your free time learning math.
Frankly, I can't possibly imagine trying to do something like learn advanced mathematics while also struggling with un- or under-employment. I grant that there are probably people far more motivated and resilient than I assume :-)
I don't think that the author of the post you're responding to is making any sort of normative claim.
> Sometimes the issue isn't time - it's money and access to schooling
I think the author is suggesting that if you have that kind of free time, then you either a) must be independently wealthy, or else that b) trading some of that free time for cash you can use to buy credit hours is a net positive because the guidance is worth it (again, assuming your goal is to learn math as opposed to eg obtain a uni degree).
I agree that's not necessarily a good assumption globally, but it's probably a decent assumption for almost everyone in the west, both in terms of self-learning capabilities and in terms of available funds.