> What's more, people who "can do math" should be taking the blame for those who say "I can't do math" rather than using pointless semantics to wag a finger at them.
You're invoking a false dichotomy here by assuming that one of the two groups (if they are even well defined at all) should be assigned blame and the other should be held blameless.
It's debatable whether blame should be assigned at all. Many people who do not suffer math phobia live lives where advanced mathematics is rarely, if ever, needed. These people "can do math" but simply find little practical need for it. If their lives are no worse in the absence of serious mathematics, I see no reason to intervene. That said, I do think we would be better off with a more mathematically literate society.
In recent years it seems like there has been a great deal of collective guilt and introspection by the technically literate. It probably has a lot to do with the rapidly increasing difference in one's quality of life that deep technical knowledge of various kinds can produce for individuals. It will never be productive to launch crusades with mottos like "everyone can program!" or "everyone can do math!" because these crusades presume that everyone who can do X should do X. A far more productive use of our time and energies is to expose children to these disciplines early in their lives and be honest with them about the potential rewards (practical, personal, and aesthetic) they can bring. There is no need to blame anyone or try to make anyone feel guilty.
>>Many people who do not suffer math phobia live lives where advanced mathematics is rarely, if ever, needed. These people "can do math" but simply find little practical need for it. If their lives are no worse in the absence of serious mathematics, I see no reason to intervene.
This is highly debatable. We had an economic meltdown just a few years ago, and one of the (many) reasons for it was that people were taking loans that they could not afford to pay off later, given their income, assets and expenses. Many of those people were victims of predatory lending because their math knowledge was so poor.
Commenters in this thread might not think compound interest is advanced mathematics. But you're right, the majority don't have enough confidence in maths to attempt basic finanicial planning, and this is an issue for society.
You're invoking a false dichotomy here by assuming that one of the two groups (if they are even well defined at all) should be assigned blame and the other should be held blameless.
It's debatable whether blame should be assigned at all. Many people who do not suffer math phobia live lives where advanced mathematics is rarely, if ever, needed. These people "can do math" but simply find little practical need for it. If their lives are no worse in the absence of serious mathematics, I see no reason to intervene. That said, I do think we would be better off with a more mathematically literate society.
In recent years it seems like there has been a great deal of collective guilt and introspection by the technically literate. It probably has a lot to do with the rapidly increasing difference in one's quality of life that deep technical knowledge of various kinds can produce for individuals. It will never be productive to launch crusades with mottos like "everyone can program!" or "everyone can do math!" because these crusades presume that everyone who can do X should do X. A far more productive use of our time and energies is to expose children to these disciplines early in their lives and be honest with them about the potential rewards (practical, personal, and aesthetic) they can bring. There is no need to blame anyone or try to make anyone feel guilty.