/sci/ - Science & Math

I like everyone even if everyone's a little different and does things a little differently.
I don't understand what would lead someone to dislike people who do things differently unless they feel inadequate or doubtful about the way they do things themselves.
I find it very difficult to see how you could be successful in mathematics and still hold racist beliefs, because success in mathematics should be something that gives you self-confidence and self-worth so that you don't need to project your insecurities onto others by claiming the achievements of a bunch of people who have absolutely no relationship to you and just happen to look slightly like you.
Part of being able to make it in mathematics is learning how to focus on yourself and your own personal growth within your field of study rather on the growth, say, of another mathematician studying something else completely different. This sort of mentality just naturally leads one away from the groupthink us-versus-them mindset.
This is not exclusive to just political issues, but also to a wide variety of personal and pedagogical philosophies. I really appreciate mathematics for leading me to a state of being where I'm less interested in the flaws or privileges of others and focus on my own flaws and privileges. Obviously, plenty of people everywhere no matter what they think have problems with this. I have problems with it too, but math is helping me to improve.
Even if it's annoying when /mg/ gets derailed, it's nice to have a moment to stop and think about this and about how what I study is not just an academic pursuit but is also transformative to one's lifestyle.