[kandel]

Devil's advocate: they liked the little bits of math they were exposed to.

I don't know if there's a field i like. But there's something intoxicating in math. Sometimes it's very strong. I listened to a CS lecture now and normally I find CS a bit boring but as he kept describing aspects of the problem he was facing (finding points in intersecting disks) and as the problem got more complicated I got the itch lol. Sitting in a logic class is more exciting than a roller coaster. It's a bit scary because I don't understand why.

[jdeaton]

Makes sense, and I think many people fall into that category. Saying "there's something intoxicating in math" and that you enjoyed the roller coaster of a logic class already excludes one from the situation I am describing.

My comment was too judgemental. People should be allowed to say that they enjoy something without any follow-up and without being judged for it. I think that sometimes it just seems like a facade when people say they really like math because when you try start a conversation on the topic its like they're not actually interested in it at all. It gives the impression there's something disingenuous about their proclamation of liking math. But perhaps its just the way I personally have approached it.

[kandel]

Maybe it's the shallowness of pop math? I sometimes find pop math even insulting. Not a grown up response, sure, but how many times can you hear "WaOw there are Bigger infinities???" sure it's nice that they find it cool but when I start to talk about the things that are more interesting I can see the shift in them as they quickly get bored. Perhaps it's the quick realization that no one outside of math actually cares that is insulting, after all those times they hyped us up.