Embarrassment Over Equations: Is It Justified?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Vebjorn
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Reason
AI Thread Summary
Feeling embarrassed about not understanding 60% of the equations on a forum is common, especially for a 15-year-old. Many participants emphasize that this forum is a learning space where it's normal not to grasp everything, and understanding 40% at that age is commendable. The discussions range from high school to advanced university levels, indicating a diverse audience. Members encourage embracing the learning process and remind newcomers that grades do not solely define capability; improvement is always possible. The conversation also touches on the varying educational systems and the pressures associated with grades, suggesting that the focus should be on learning rather than solely on performance metrics. Overall, the community is supportive, fostering an environment where questions and learning are welcomed.
Vebjorn
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Hi! I'm new here by the way.

But I've been pondering on one question for quite a few weeks. Is there any reason to feel embarrased if i don't understand 60% of the equations on this forum? I feel embarrased, but are there any reason to? I'm 15 so I am not really sure wether this is on PHD level or college. I will try to figure them out eventually, but of course with some help!



A Norwegian boy! (Your new resource for meaningless topics!)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Vebjorn said:
Hi! I'm new here by the way.

But I've been pondering on one question for quite a few weeks. Is there any reason to feel embarrased if i don't understand 60% of the equations on this forum? I feel embarrased, but are there any reason to? I'm 15 so I am not really sure wether this is on PHD level or college. I will try to figure them out eventually, but of course with some help!



A Norwegian boy! (Your new resource for meaningless topics!)

Hi and welcome to PF,

You should not feel embarrased in the least, PF is a place to learn and lots of help from many people. Read the guidelines and get to know them, and you should do fine.

RonL
 
If you're only 15 and can understand 40% of the stuff here, you should be proud, not embarrassed! The discussions here run the gamut from high school homework type questions up through university and professional levels.

And, welcome to PF.
 
I'm starting a PhD program in physics in two months and I would be happy if I understood 60% of the stuff on this forum!

Welcome!
 
Don't worry 99.9% of the stuff I post on here I made up anyways.
 
Cyrus said:
Don't worry 99.9% of the stuff I post on here I made up anyways.

Don't mind him. He just made that up.
 
Well if you understood the majority of the stuff on this forum then it wouldn't be a very good place to learn things, now would it?
 
Thanks for the replys! :) You seem like a nice group of people.
 
replies*
 
  • #10
If I understood half the things said on this formum, I'd be eligble for twice my alloted psychiatric disability.

TheStatutoryApe said:
Don't mind him. He just made that up.

Don't mind StatutoryApe. He made it up. True, but made up, never the less.
 
  • #11
:) Have any of you seen "The Elegant Universe" by the way?
 
  • #12
Vebjorn said:
Thanks for the replys! :) You seem like a nice group of people.

You hear that mentors, I am a subset of that group of 'nice people'. Therefore, I should get negative warning points. Better yet, you can simply transfer them to the bird brain (penguino) [who is probably eating borritos as we speak].
 
  • #13
Cyrus said:
You hear that mentors, I am a subset of that group of 'nice people'. Therefore, I should get negative warning points. Better yet, you can simply transfer them to the bird brain (penguino) [who is probably eating borritos as we speak].

I was eating a hamburger.
 
  • #14
hey Vebjorn, welcom to PF:smile:


[don't mind them all, they just made that up]
 
  • #15
Vebjorn said:
Hi! I'm new here by the way.

But I've been pondering on one question for quite a few weeks. Is there any reason to feel embarrased if i don't understand 60% of the equations on this forum? I feel embarrased, but are there any reason to? I'm 15 so I am not really sure wether this is on PHD level or college. I will try to figure them out eventually, but of course with some help!



A Norwegian boy! (Your new resource for meaningless topics!)
I am 17 , (two years oler than you)
I have also similar problems like you(mostly language problem)
I know English but the accent of the members are completely different than me and I get no point while I read threads
Anyway welcome PF
 
  • #16
Thank's for the welcome! To all other's aswell.
 
  • #17
Du burde være stolt av 40% hvis du er femten :)
 
  • #18
Godt å høre at det er noen andre nordmenn her også! :D

Takk for oppmuntringen! Fikk faktisk bare 3 i matte (går ut av ungdomsskolen i morgen!) Men når jeg begynner med likninger som har med fysikk og gjøre da forstår jeg mer enn det jeg gjør i matte timen, eller har gjort i alle fall. Det kan jo ha noe med hvor giddalaus man er også ;)

Men takk som sagt!
 
  • #19
seems like aliencame to our world
 
  • #20
coverme said:
seems like aliencame to our world

Yeah, it often seems stranger to me than even languages in other alphabets like arabic or japanese.
 
  • #21
shhhhhh I'm trying to break the code here
 
  • #22
he didn't mention that he's Norwegian, did he? :biggrin:
 
  • #23
Take us to your leader.

All your base are belong to us.
 
  • #24
I am from the far away planet called Europia! We were talking about wether we should destroy Earth or not.
 
  • #25
He just said that i should be proud if i understood 40% of the equations at an age of 15.

And i simply thanked him ^^, A rather long thank you x) I also mentioned that i only got a C in math this year.
 
  • #26
Which of course is a VERY bad thing.
 
  • #27
Grades doesnot matter,grades only tells about what you have done, not about what you can do. You can always improve.And last of all exams are not the full and efficient indicators
 
  • #28
coverme said:
Grades doesnot matter,grades only tells about what you have done, not about what you can do. You can always improve.And last of all exams are not the full and efficient indicators

I'm sure universities doesn't agree.
 
  • #29
coverme said:
Grades doesnot matter,grades only tells about what you have done, not about what you can do. You can always improve.And last of all exams are not the full and efficient indicators

These truths are slightly counterbalanced by the fact that some bad grades are like a criminal record that will follow you for the rest of your life.

In the U.S. at least, the message of the educational system is clear: if there's any chance that you might not be very successful at something the first time, the wisest decision is not to attempt it at all.

There's no punishment for never having tried something new. All punishment is reserved for those who try something new and then have only average results.

This follows from the reason why university grades exists in the first place, which is to provide a service to employers so that they can decide which individuals should be permitted to feed their families at any time in the future.
 
  • #30
I wonder who made Grade system and examination , I want to kill him.
 
  • #31
mikelepore said:
In the U.S. at least, the message of the educational system is clear: if there's any chance that you might not be very successful at something the first time, the wisest decision is not to attempt it at all.

There's no punishment for never having tried something new. All punishment is reserved for those who try something new and then have only average results.

Totally agree.

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
 
  • #32
In Norway it is not near as severe, with the influx of "BS" in primary and high schools, universities have opened up for many courses which everyone can join but are harder to pass.

Vebjorn in particular is about to begin high school and I had myself quite bad grades at the point he is now.

Edit: Really needed a comma.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Need Help with Aerodynamics Equations?
Replies
4
Views
705
How to surround myself with other physicists/students outside of academia?
Replies
8
Views
2K
Intro Physics Starting fresh, but where to start?
Replies
5
Views
1K
Courses Is Engineering Physics 2 Worth Continuing Despite Challenges?
Replies
18
Views
2K
Welcome back, G01! How has PF changed since you last logged on?
Replies
12
Views
2K
Other How to become an amateur physicist
Replies
4
Views
3K
Studying How do you handle a toxic supervisor undermining your contributions?
Replies
25
Views
2K
I Is the equation 0!=1 based on flawed reasoning?
2
Replies
55
Views
5K
I Why is Photon Energy Quantized in Terms of Sine Wave Frequency?
2
Replies
78
Views
5K
How Do Adults Navigate Life with Social Dysfunction?
Replies
38
Views
30K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top