So, I don't now what is wrong with me the older I am getting I am started to realize I am smart at some things, and pretty stupid at others. Like for example maths I can't do math (I have to cheat) and spelling and writing I write like a 5 year old, no matter how hard I try to become more intelligent to get rid of my ignorance, it seems nothing works out, so I think I might just be an idiot, I mean like mentally retarded, but I am smarter then most people (or I think I am) so I don't get it. For example: when I joined this forum a long time ago, I was a Muslim (I believed in the supernatural) however then I grow up and came to my sense and realized it was all nonsense, fairytale's but yet there are billions of humans who actually really believe in something like a God, so I am smarter then all of them. But then, I can't do math and I can't write (unless am on the computer, spell check etc) so why the hell can't I do math and I have a hard time reading, I am a slow reader too, I sometimes jumble up the order of the letters in a word. So, basically either I am an idiot or I am ignorant. Ignorance is curable, idiocy isn't. Anyone else feel the same way?
Don't call yourself that, you might just have a learning disability or dyslexia, those are rather common.
Well I was in the special needs class in high-school, because of my writing and poor math. However, my favourite subject was science in school, and I was in the top group in that class, I used to love learning about electricity, cosmology, chemistry etc, it all made sense. I can remember, since when I was about 4/5 years old that I could not write properly. I remember I had to look directly at the blackboard and write on the paper letter for letter, if I took my eyes of the blackboard I would lose my position. Any my writing when I used to look down used to be wonky it was all over he place. Back then there wasn't any awareness of dyslexia. I've never been tested for it either, but I heard dyslexics love math they are supposed to be good at it. In school my teachers thought I din't want to learn, so they just ignored me, science was the best subject because of the teacher, even though she was a lesbian she was the best teacher. But now am always cheating my way into degrees. I like science but I can't do it, because I need math grades.
Me too! I like science, but I'm really bad at math. I was even tutored in math by a college level professor and it didn't help.
Not everyone has the same talents. Thankfully. You can say a Math genius is a genius, doesn't mean he can tie his shoes.
Do not do this. I suspect part of the reason you've come here is out of guilt. You know what you're doing is wrong. You should get yourself to a doctor. It does sound like you might have dyslexia.
Missing some early concepts can make mathematics almost incomprehensible. This is best understood by comparing mathematics to a subject like history.Suppose you did poorly in an ancient history course in 7th grade. Perhaps due to lack of interest, a bad teacher, laziness, whatever. Then in 9th or 10th grade you take an American or European history course. If you have matured a bit & are no longer lazy or lacking in motivation, you could do very well in the American/European history course. It does not require a good knowledge of ancient history. Mathematics is different. If you miss some concepts taught early, you are likely to have serious problems with later courses. You cannot do algebra if you never really understood arithmetic except at some rote memory level. If you messed up with algebra, later courses (especially calculus) will be close to impossible for you.I have encountered some very intelligent people who could not cope with fairly elementary mathematics. It might take some very special intellectual skills to deal with graduate level mathematics and/or to do high level problem solving. It does not take more than average intelligence to do well in most undergraduate mathematics courses.
We all have strengths and weaknesses in many areas of life. While we may not be good at math we might be great at ping pong or writing. While there might be a mental problem with not being able to comprehend certain things many of us just don't want to understand things that don't interest us and therefore we don't try very hard to overcome our dislikes but rather excel at what we enjoy doing or learning about. We are not idiots if we don't enjoy a subject, we just want to learn what we want to and leave other things alone for they just take up our time that we could be doing what we like. Even if we don't like a subject if we really wanted to learn about it sometimes we can overcome our dislikes and actually learn something that we once disliked. While it is more difficult to overcome our dislikes at times, when given proper help, we find that we will eventually enjoy those things that we once thought were unattainable. There are many that excel in math but can't write a decent story or even put a poem together.
Yes! There is some indication that these developmental disorders are not in fact merely disabilities, but by-products of some extraordinary development in other areas that may not be culturally recognized as such.
So far you are writing better than many folks here. Maybe something else is going on with you. Anytime a person begins to have doubts at this level, it's not a bad idea to see a doc. You say you were in special ed. Do you know why? (Are your parents still alive? Can they tell you why you were in special ed?) How far did you get in school? Do you remember any tests that you did well on? Poorly on? Do you remember feeling these kinds of doubts about yourself before?
Yeah, I can write better on the computer, computers make sense, the words come to me naturally, when I write on paper, I can't even figure out the order, and when I write some of the letters in the word will be capitalized and some in lower-case, and the whole structure will not be aesthetically pleasing to look at. When I was in high-school this was over 15 years ago, and I used to struggle with copying text to a sheet of paper from the blackboard or I wasn't interested I had very specialized interests, for example if the subject was too complex I would pretty much give up on it. With regards to my parents they were 1st generation immigrants, my father was more into making money, and my mom was always trying to scare the crap out of me, she was always unhappy.
Hahaha, the good old times, I used to drink alot back then, but tried to hide it because I was a Muslim! Now being an atheist I don't feel guilty about alcohol or doing cocaine.
Hmm... so you're worried about your maths, spelling and writing, but not overly concerned about your cocaine and alcohol issues. Ok...
Muslim Your story has many elements that remind me of me. I too have the hardest time doing anything but the most basic math, but have no problem understanding(grocking, maybe)concepts in physics and high school level chemistry and biology. I too type slowly and need to proofread carefully to at least not spell like an ill educated hick. My typists(Hunt and Peck)may be slow, but then so is my mind so it sometimes works out that I can actually get a coherent sentence out without drooling on the keyboard. In my experience cocaine is to be avoided at all cost, it exacerbates all the problems I seem to have. Alcohol is something I choose to avoid for other reasons, I am not a teetotaler, but I go months between singlemalts. If you feel you must have some form of chemical relief from your daily frustrations(believe me, I know how hard it can be)then a little good medical grade marijuana is the ticket, if you are fortunate enough to live in enlightened America. If not so fortunate...well...move. (Disclaimer: I do not recommend or advocate the breaking of any law applicable to your location, rather that you relocate to a location where the laws are more sane) GrumpyPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Strange, because I can swear alcohol is the most terrible chemical to ingest, however with cocaine, (pure cocaine) I've never felt out of control, it has in fact made me rational. Alcohol is terrible, I'd take cocaine over alcohol.
You may have also have had some degree of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It's a fairly commonly diagnosed problem in children today, But when I was growing up, it was totally unknown and never diagnosed. Not all attention deficit problems are obvious to others, but just try and focus on a topic you have little interest in and studying it will be next to impossible. Even a mild dyslexia problem can make you a poor speller, and that alone could have a big impact on your self confidence in class. Now what happens when you have a mild ADHD and Dyslexia together and you struggle through every class as you grow up. Why everybody including your parents think your just a lazy screwed up kid that won't amount to anything. By the time you get into high school, drinking and getting high sure help take the edge off.
