Math can kiss my ass but chemistry can kiss my ass too

[JohnKleeb]

Anyone else think chem is a bunch of crap? Granted I am biased being a failure of that course but chem was just an awful experience for me and yes I confess, I fell asleep in the class but I had my history class the same time on my other block and you know what not only did I get an A average for that class but I got a perfect on my state's standarlized test and the history test is hard and the Virginia SOL's are among the hardest Standarlized tests in the county. So I feel smart :). But anyone else despise chemistry? I am ok with biology.

[sans qualia]

1. hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate

hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate it.

:nuke:

[JohnKleeb]

2. I know its terrible isnt it and welcome

Like I wonder why I fell asleep, oh yeah I dont give a fuck about electrons :D.

[theivoryqueen]

4. yeah but what about particle man????

you guys are lucky. In my backwater district they made us use SLIDERULES!!! pocket calculators were banned!!!! Really the saddest part was that I immediately lost the middle part of it - the slidey part - and so had to resort to begging classmates for borrowed sliderule minutes.

[DarkPhenyx]

3. Used to sleep through Biology.

Got "A"'s in it too. Chemistry I had to work at though.

[JohnKleeb]

6. I was a B student in bio

My teacher also seemed to be a good guy though he could be considered boring, he was a nice guy who respected his students I think.

[DarkPhenyx]

8. Woke up once in his class...

...with him looking into my face asking "sorry, am I keeping you awake?"

I answered "No, go right ahead," and closed my eyes again. Hw tuaght class, and I kept getting "A"'s

[JohnKleeb]

10. hah thats great man

I fell asleep in history often and I never study for tests and I always get 100's on my tests, well mostly.

[DarkPhenyx]

12. best score I ever got in Organic Chemistry...

...was the test which, the night before I blew off, and decided to get laid instead. GOt an "A" that sday. got "B"'s the rest of the time. Go figure.

[TiredTexan]

5. I was a straight A student in

college who dropped out the class to avoid flunking chemistry. It didn't make sense to me and I despised it. It's the only class I ever flunked. Ever.

[JohnKleeb]

7. Ive flunked quite a few classes

I got my strengths but I got a lot of weaknesses as well, its why I am not going to college directly out of HS but instead will go to Community College which is ok though I wish I had the brains and dedication of the other DUers my age, though they'll tell ya I am just as smart, which is hogwash because I aint.

[DerekG]

21. Community college *is* college, John...

There's no need to feel shame for attending one of the most democratic institutions left in this country. The reasons for enrolling in community college are legion--apprehension, finances and familial responsibilities are but three.

BTW, you have demonstrated a remarkable intelligence time and again on this site--a distaste for math and science does not counter this one bit. You should be proud.

[JohnKleeb]

23. Thanks

I just felt ashamed because I had a decent GPA at the end of freshman year, one that could get me in to say Mason, Chris Newport, Radford etc.
Thank you though, I realize that my shame isnt wrong at all and it could serve me good in the long run, as I could get in a better school later. Thanks for the comments, I just felt bad because I thought I let my folks down and I wanted to leave home, but thanks, I am glad you think I've shown inteligence, thanks again. I used to be a downer about this but Ive risen higher because for a while I was depressed about it.

[TlalocW]

9. I didn't hate it

But I found it boring because one of my degrees was in Physics, and I waited until my last year in college to take my chemistry requirements for the physics degree. I took it with a sophomore friend of mine who I had also gone to high school with. The first three weeks were excruciating because that's when you go over what "mili" means and what "kilo" means, etc. just so everyone could get used to the vocabulary, and for the first time ever, I fell asleep in class.

The nice thing was that I could always get my chem homework done in class while the teacher was talking about whatever it was the assignment was about, and then I would draw cartoons on the back sheet and address them to "Grader Boy" who was the unknown grad student who graded the papers. The one time I didn't have time to do the homework in class, I drew the Incredible Hulk out of a comic I had where he's flexing and screaming, and I had him yelling, "Give Hulk A, Grader Boy, or Hulk will smash!" When graduation time came around, I went to some function for graduating seniors, and some guy came up to me and said, "Are you James W? Well, I'm Grader Boy, and I want to thank you for making this semester interesting."

For the labs, I was stuck with a freshman who had never seen a test tube so I basically made him my gopher while we did the experiment, and I referred to him as Pretzel Boy because he came into lab once eating a bag of pretzels. He thought I was just one huge ego on legs.

I'm a goddamn people person.

TlalocW

[ChoralScholar]

11. I bought a CLEP book

and studied it for a few hours just to avoid taking Biology and Chem as an undergrad. It worked... I passed the Natural Sciences CLEP, and got a cool 8 hours added to my transcript.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

13. Chemisty's OK

I just never understood it. I still have problems with it

[JohnKleeb]

14. Well I didnt have the school's "cool" chemistry teacher either

Ive heard theres a cool chem teacher at my school but instead I got the teacher who was ivy league trained and had actually taught at university plus she was a bore too.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

16. Our teacher was well-meaning and good in what he did

It was just that he couldn't hold my attention

[JohnKleeb]

19. Well try someone who expected people to get everything quick

on top of that I have a learning disablity too.

[Rowdyboy]

15. I took the idiot's course in chemistry in college, the one sorority girls

take to pass, "Fundamental Chemistry" or "Chem Fun". Its the only time in my college career I ever stooped to cheating (my lab experiments were a disaster), and I'm still embarrassed that I did, but I couldn't have passed otherwise. I was a senior and it was a requirement.

I HATE chemistry with all my heart. Stupid psychobabble. Genetics is a science, biology and astronomy are sciences. Chemistry is bullshit.

[JohnKleeb]

18. ahh you poor bastad

Ive done some glancing, is that considered cheating? and Ive let people have answers, yeah I am awful.

[eridani]

58. Lots of opportunities in Green Chemistry these days

www.rsc.org/greenchem

Yes, I confess. I am a chemweenie.

[leftistagitator]

17. I love chemistry 1441.

So much so that I'm thinking of moving to Austin to become a chemical engineer. Transforming one substance to another with drastically different properties seems almost like magic to me, plus I figure it's a great way to get involved in enviromental clean up. Not to mention it's one of the most in-demand engineering disciplines which gets paid more than any other and is considered a fast track to management, at least according to my Professor. I can't believe you people find scientific alchemy to be boring.

[JohnKleeb]

20. Well I find it to be boring because I suck at it

I bet some of you science people cant handle History but I am the master at history :P.

[leftistagitator]

39. I love history too, but then I'm kind of wierd

I love philospophy, political science, history, science, and art, which is why I've enjoyed college so much. It's a shame I can't keep doing this forever. Most of my engineering brethern are rather focused on their respective disciplines, but I get into just about everything. Which is why it's going to take me 6 years to finish a 4 year degree plan...

[Endangered Specie]

43. History is the only humanity/social science I like

the rest are baloney in my book.

[WindRavenX]

22. Chemistry is fun

My problem (and the source for many a ramble on DU about how much I hate chemistry) with chemistry is that it is often presented in the most boring and dull manner possible. That, and my professor was a real douche- I mastered all the work and had an excellent understanding of the work, but did poorly on tests because he picked the most insane, most irrelevant questions possible. Oh, and he picked odd ass numbers.
It always annoyed me to study 20 + hours per test, get a C, and then see my friends not study AT ALL and get A's. Most annoying thing EVER. :mad:

[JohnKleeb]

24. science nerd!

hah hey you all arent so bad. Sorry about your experiences studying all the time and getting C's when your friends got A's, I dont mean to make you feel bad but I am like that in history, I never ever study and I am the one who got all the questions right on a history standarlized test. Chemistry sucks for me mostly because my teacher made my life hell, I flat out dont get it, and why would I need to write about electrons in my writing career I want?

[WindRavenX]

25. LOL, yes, I am a science nerd

But, this may suprise you, I am also an english major. Yes that's right- I'm a biology AND English double major :D Major geekage there!
And I speak from experience John when I say this: once you learn how the world works from the atomic level, I think you see the world in a more poetic manner; Chemistry has actaully improved my writing and poetry. It has expanded my mind.
I know. I'm weird. :P

[JohnKleeb]

26. damn

English and Chem mixed, you are weird. English has envolved from f-ing grammar for me to being a class I look forward to going to. Well youre not the only bio major here, I know. How did chemistry expand your writing and poetry btw, I have block scheduling so as soon as I left chem I would head for the wonderful world of psychology now that was fun.

[WindRavenX]

28. well...

I write (working on a novel and some short stories now in my free time), and I think by understand particles and quantum mechanics you realize how absolutely amazing and surreal reality is...specifically, with regards to love and death (woo!). It adds another UNIVERSE to use as allegories and metaphors. The problem is, it's another universe that most people don't really know to get the references :)
For example, the Strong Nuclear theory. This explains, IIRC, the force that is responsible for holding the atom w/ all it's sub-particles together. As you know, there are positive, negative, and neutral charged particles...the balance between the force of attraction between those positively and negatively charged is very delicate; with the strength of the bond between positive/negative charged particles is HUGE- PROVIDED that they are extremely close together (I think ~ 3.0 x 10E-9 m). If they move even a fraction of a nano-meter apart, that force is almost non-existent.
The relationship between my ex-boyfriend and I is an example of the strong nuclear force; when we were close, living together in Boston, we were inseparable. When I went home for the summer 3,000 miles away, it was as if the bond never existed.
Overall, I think it's amazing we're here in this world at all...given the complexities of quantum mechanics. It's just...mesmerizing to me.
/rant

[JohnKleeb]

30. I see

a novel eh, sounds interesting, I write mostly essays about heroes, pities, etc, and wonderances. I'll never truly understand some science,
but you know I do enjoy astronomy, I would be taking it if I hadnt failed Chem.

[WindRavenX]

31. Astronomy RAWKS!!

Especially bio-astronomy :D
You know what book I think you'd love John? Rare Earth. That book changed my life; it's what made me get into science. It's literally my bible. It explains why Earth-like planets are rare, what factors there needs to be for life, and a bunch of kewl things. I highly recommend it.
And it's easy to read- it's not written like a text-book!

[JohnKleeb]

33. Well I got a lot of reading to do

I'll give it a go though. My bible right now is the Alamanac of American Politics. Sounds neat. Ive been reading about Russian Gulags and a certain Lieutant who could be our next president.

[WindRavenX]

35. mmm...gulags

...yummu....:9

[Rhiannon12866]

27. Oh, John, I really do understand

The only reason that I passed chemistry at all, and I had to take the NY State chemistry regents, was because the husband of my French tutor was a chemistry professor at a local college and he gave me an evening's cramming session the night before the exam. Biology was my top subject, when it came to marks, but I was hopeless in chemistry, probably because of the math involved. I am mathematically challenged, though good at arithmetic. The only reason that I passed three out of four quarters of chemistry was because the teacher was my rifle team coach, and he needed me. As soon as the season was over, I received my first failing grade, ever, but I did manage to pass the regents, and am still alive, today. So there is hope for you, John. You can still be smart without acing chemistry.:shrug:

[JohnKleeb]

29. I passed the Virginia SOL which is our equiv of the regents

barely though, now in history thats another story, talk about W-O-W, I got a perfect on it. I think I failed because of the math involved too Rhi, I can do basic math very well though, you know like figuring out how old someone was when they died, I was a master at that. I dont need no stinkin chemistry heh, and btw how do you like my new avatar, its supposed to be me as a south park character.

[Rhiannon12866]

44. Congratulations! You are very intelligent, John

Don't ever doubt that. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. I will always remember my sophomore year in high school. I had to take three Regents and, fortunately, my Dad had a sense of humor. When he saw my report card, he said it looked like they had made a mistake. I got 93 in biology, 92 in World History, and in geometry, I got a 39. Oops! What a nightmare. I almost didn't go home.:scared:

I am also good in basic arithmetic, and have little use for geometry now, though it seemed so important, at the time. I can add up how much I have spent at grocery store, in my head. I have no need to worry about hypotenuses or Isosceles triangles.:shrug:

I can't see your new avatar, nor anybody else's. I don't know if it's my computer, or a glitch on DU, tonight.:shrug:

[JohnKleeb]

45. oh the avatars are acting funny rhi, I just asked about it

Yea I can do the adding up stuff like at grocery store but triangles heh. I got like a 62 on my geometry SOL which means I get to take Algebra II next year.http://groups.msn.com/JohnKleeb/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=18
thats supposed to be what I would look like on south park, its a pretty neat thing heh.

[Rhiannon12866]

52. It is pretty neat, but I think that all those characters look

kind of pissed off. You aren't a pissed off kind of guy.:mad:

I got a 68 on my algebra Regents. I took two more years of algebra, like it did me any good at all or I can remember it, today. But I am good in the grocery store, LOL!:D

I am assuming that the avatar malfunction is just some kind of minor glitch. I have seen yours, and everybody knows that I am really Jimmy Carter, so I'm not worried about it.:shrug:

[JohnKleeb]

54. avatars are working again yay

Ahh we're simliar in this regard, I took two years of Algebra also, a course called Algebra I part I as a freshman and Algebra I itself as a sophomore, now its served me good I think because I barely passed Algebra I as a sophomore, imagine how I'd would have done as a freshman so I think I made the right decision, I dont mind taking Algebra II as a Senior. Oh and as far as my avie goes, hes not pissed, thats the look I get on my face when I am either embarassed or shocked.

[Rhiannon12866]

57. I can finally see your new avatar, tonight, LOL!

I like it, though never so much as Dennis Kucinich, though I know that we all must be realistic. He will always remain a hero of mine. :shrug:

I took three years of algebra, myself, but was never good at it. I think that the powers that be should just admit defeat when it's staring them in the face, but what can we expect of schoolteachers, when our government is refusing to see the world as it actually is?:grr:

I didn't think you were pissed, John. I know that "South Park" characters just seem to look pissed off, LOL! Great avatar, though I did prefer Dennis!:D

[Endangered Specie]

32. Its no suprise to me...

That most social science/history people can't handle the real sciences (although, we tend to breeze through our humanities electives) :) ;). Chemistry is ok, somewhat interesting.

[JohnKleeb]

34. not true

I was a good bio student :D, I got an A on my leaf collecting project and I did great in a mini physics course as a sophomore.

[Endangered Specie]

36. "mini physics" - translation: noncalculus physics?

Biology is the mathless science, it doesnt count ;)

[JohnKleeb]

37. no it was called active physics

mathless science, bah theres math in biology, if there are 24 endangered animals in an africa area, and a ruthless poacher kills 6 of them, how many will be left, 18!, thats math isnt it, ok I am acting silly.

[Endangered Specie]

38. I meant calculus.

Biology is the least mathmatically involved science.

edit: did you pick on Endangered Species for a reason? ;)

[JohnKleeb]

40. which is why I passed right

irony is I was once considered pretty damn good at math and I can do basic math with the best. No I didnt pick on endangered species for any reason, when I think of biology, I think of animals and decided to be a wise ass. I could have used this for instance, if I sell 20mL of choryillfil and I had 85mL at the start, how much do I have now. Sorry.

[Endangered Specie]

41. Thank you, I dont like people messin with my name.

;)

[JohnKleeb]

42. hah

heres another elementary school math problem, If there are 100 poachers,
and I kick 26 of them in the nuts, and 8 of them go back to Australia, how many poachers remain?

[Donkeyboy75]

46. Damn, Kleeb, and I liked you at one point...

Ph.D. chem student here. Actually, I think the problem is that chemistry isn't taught properly. I've taught it during grad school, and I just think that it isn't taught simply enough to make sure it can be well understood.

I'm into a bunch of different subjects, though. Was an anthro minor in undergrad and finished one course shy of an double major in chemistry and anthropology.

[JohnKleeb]

47. Do you think that could be it?

Sorry if I upset ya but I had an awful teacher, and I hope youre right because if you fail a course here at HHS, you take it again with another instructor. Chem just doesnt interest me, all that math makes me sick.

[Donkeyboy75]

48. LOL...no, I'm not upset.

I really wonder sometimes if some chemistry teachers understand it well enough to teach it. I've seen it butchered by those who try to throw the math at their students without explaining the concepts. Math should be used to AUGMENT principles in chemistry. The math itself, IMHO, means nothing without the explanation of what these numbers mean.

This thread doesn't surprise me. My wife drags me to parties a lot, and when I meet people, and I tell them what I do, about half the time I get the response "Wow, I HATED chemistry," or some variation.

Good luck to ya!

[JohnKleeb]

49. That said, I had a problem with english until I got a goodteacher

Yeah, chemistry is just about the most unpopular class there is I think, though a lot dont like history either.

[Nlighten1]

50. Chemistry was my favorite subject in college.

I breezed through it.

[JohnKleeb]

51. lots of chem nerds here

Can I email y'all my chem homework for next year heh.

[JVS]

53. Math and chemistry are very important. Ignore them at your own peril

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

55. You know what's funny?

I hated math, but I LOVED chemistry, DESPITE the fact that I couldn't do it to save my life.

I thought chemistry was fascinating (I don't any longer, by the way, I'm much more fascinated by physics nowdays), but I could never balance an equation well.

And Mrs. Dingrando seemed to have a hate-on for me. She always called on the boys, what was that about?

[JohnKleeb]

56. talk about irony

Yeah balancing equations is hard for me too. Was Dingrando your chem teacher? my chem teacher seemed to hate me too, even though I was polite though not a great student, I tried though she wont believe that.

[hunter]

59. Chemistry is cool.

It was difficult for me at first, and I flunked an organic chemistry class once because I had a part time job where I could make a hundred dollars a day if I ditched class, nevertheless, once I had a pretty firm foundation in chemistry, subjects like environmental chemistry, which most people hated, were actually fun!

Mostly you need a chemistry teacher who can present both chemistry and math in an intuitive way. If you get a chemistry teacher who gets a big thrill out of fire and explosions, that's helpful too, especially if he or she invites you out to the desert to launch rockets or blow up charcoal grills.