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randomgermanguy • today at 2:29 PM • 4 replies • view on HN

Very strange article.

I have indeed forgotten how to do long-division, or how to multiply 3-digits numbers in my head. I also forget things without writing them down in a calendar.

How are these bad things ? We have tools for a reason


Replies

bariumbitmap • today at 6:29 PM

The context of Jensen Huang's comments and Tante's commentary is in teaching children the multiplication table, long division, and square roots. As adults we might use a calculator to multiply or divide large numbers to high precision but we understand what we're doing because of practicing easier arithmetic by hand.

> How are these bad things ? We have tools for a reason

The bad thing is not bothering to learn basic arithmetic. If kids don't learn that they won't understand what the tools are doing.

titzer • today at 6:47 PM

I guess you'll be avoiding any thoughts that require you to do basic mental arithmetic from here on out. It actually won't be as blissful as you think. Trust me, no one envies your inner world.

strange_quark • today at 2:56 PM

I’m kind of sad I can’t do that sort of multiplication in my head anymore. But I think you are missing the point of the article. It’s not that it’s bad people can’t do mental math, it’s about why it is that all these supposed geniuses and titans of industry keep publicly admitting (bragging?) that they lack basic skills, such as knowing their own zip code.

well_ackshually • today at 2:59 PM

You are not a child whose basic brain biology is being formed and improved by learning how to do these. Neuroplasticity is gone for you and it's all downhill from there. Children _need_ to learn because it builds the basis of every single thing they're going to improve on later. They're already being given a world in a catastrophic state, if the only answer they have to things is "i input it in the funny chatgpt box", you might as well condemn them to die.

Jensen saying huehuehue i don't know how to do math in my head in indicative that 1/ He never has normal, day to day interactions where simple calculation needs to be made on the spot 2/ He also doesn't give a shit about making the world worse.

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