[siftrics]

> I really struggle to learn anything which I can't see a practical use for.

That's a close-minded, ignorant world view. Much of the world's most important advancements were made before any practical use could be seen. Why do you think that way?

[TeMPOraL]

> Much of the world's most important advancements were made before any practical use could be seen.

In a sense, yes. But usually this was kind of accidental - as in, people making those breakthroughs weren't doing it because they loved manipulating abstract symbols, or believed that someone, somewhen will find it useful; rather, they had some immediate-term reason for doing the work - a problem to solve, a person to impress, or just doing it for shits and giggles - and only later it turned out their work was the key to something transformative.

I have a similar "mental make" as GP too. Over the years I realized that for me, it's not about practical use to me - it's about knowing why something was invented, what problems the inventors were trying to solve. Learning the historical motivation "grounds" the concept for me, and makes it much easier to understand.

[drorco]

It's just the way my mind works and motivated. Motivation is a very elusive feeling that I did not find easy ways to manipulate. It's not as if I'm totally blocked from learning stuff with no clear purpose, but it will require much more mental capacity that is often difficult to muster in the day-to-day routine. Another example, is I did try to learn what I perceive as totally theoretical math such as "prove that there are infinite primary numbers" which was a nice idea to entertain, but it didn't really make me want to dig in further. On the other hand, learning about linear algebra in the context of machine learning, suddenly got Linear Algebra a lot more interesting and easy to learn.

[siftrics]

Makes sense. Somewhat related --- I find procrastination to be a very similar feeling. I know what I should do, but I feel compelled not to do it, for whatever reason.

I think procrastination and what you are describing are slightly different, though, because procrastination stems from stress and emotions for me, whereas with what you describe, it doesn't sound like you have to be stressed to experience it.

[qorrect]

> Why do you think that way?

Probably the same reason that you're such an ass (genes).

[siftrics]

Sorry man. Just asking an honest question. It's interesting to me that one can hold two opposing ideas and see no issue:

- History has demonstrated clear value in discovering and understanding concepts that have no practical use today

- One should not care to understand things that have no practical use today

Seems bizarre to think both things. That's why I asked.

[dangerlibrary]

You are shadowboxing - fighting an argument nobody is making. Someone is describing their personal experience of the world, not arguing that this is the best way to think about the world. It's an opportunity to learn about the ways that people learn things differently, if you can be curious and kind about it.

[siftrics]

You're right. I could've been kinder. Apologies.