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That's a logical rationale, and might even be accurate, but in this case I want hard evidence. Joel Send a noteboard - 13/01/2011 09:03:32 PM
We really can not prove why any creature evolved the way it did since we can't demonstrate evolution in the lab. I have seen speculation but like most things in this field it is nothing more then that and there is not reason why an expert’s speculation would be better then mine or maybe even yours.

There is no real difference in simple math and girls do as well if not better then boys at arithmetic and multiplication. They also do well in some complex math things like geometry proofs. It is the higher levels of math where the real differences show up and the higher you go the bigger those differences become.

The best theory I have seen is the only real difference comes in with spatial thinking. We know that men and women even seem to navigate differently with women using land marks and men more often relying on maps in their heads. In a hunter gather society where weak little humans were hunting things like mammoth and wooly rhinoceros there would have been enormous evolutionary pressure to be good at since being bad got you killed and your kids starve.

If you assume males were the primary hunters (and only screwball left sociology professors try to argue otherwise) then the ability to handle spatial issues would help the males much more then it help the females. The females were more likely to travel shorter distance and since they were aiming for stationary targets they would have been more likely to return by the same path. Land mark navigation.

Males on the other would have traveled much further to find animals then follow them looking for opportunities to pick off weaker straggles from a large herd. Once they started hunting they would have used multiple men driving the animal to a desired location to kill it. That requires spatial skills to both plan and execute, be in the wrong place and your trampled, let it get away and your status as a hunter drops. Once you attack spatial skills come into play with angles of attack and such.

Like I said that is all just a theory and unprovable since we don’t even know how they hunted but it does give a viable explanation.

That may seem odd coming from me, but it's precisely because I know determination and experience will enable most people to produce a plausible rationale for even the most absurd proposition. A friend of mine from HS used to talk about a fellow Plan II student at UT whose senior thesis was an Aristotelian DISproof of gravity; logically airtight, and completely ridiculous--and even the author knew it. We might not have observed speciation in the lab, but we have observed specialization, and that approach seems like it offers the possibility of evaluating whether there's a sexually based difference beween mathematical ability. Or it might not, but it seems worth exploring. Forming a theory is only part of the equation; testing that theory is just as vital.
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Looks like the feminist movement wasn't as successful as it appears - 11/01/2011 06:21:01 PM 2371 Views
I think you're extrapolating a bit too much - 11/01/2011 06:45:38 PM 1444 Views
I don't trust the figures. - 11/01/2011 06:50:24 PM 1438 Views
While I don't 100% agree with the article, some feminists annoy me no end. - 11/01/2011 06:47:03 PM 1499 Views
My wife told me just this weekend I need to stop pressuring her to have a career - 11/01/2011 06:52:11 PM 1443 Views
Re: My wife told me just this weekend I need to stop pressuring her to have a career - 12/01/2011 01:36:14 AM 1439 Views
Yeah, got one like that, too. - 12/01/2011 02:17:17 AM 1443 Views
yeah prett much anything gross that isn't in a diaper is my job - 12/01/2011 05:12:11 AM 1379 Views
It's not just that choice though. - 11/01/2011 07:12:48 PM 1518 Views
It feels more hypocritical coming from feminists than "traditionalists". *NM* - 11/01/2011 07:17:24 PM 790 Views
For you maybe. - 11/01/2011 07:27:52 PM 1439 Views
there is definitely some SAHM snobbery - 11/01/2011 08:43:21 PM 1419 Views
Well. - 11/01/2011 09:34:42 PM 1456 Views
I agree. I would also like to add, if I may... - 12/01/2011 01:27:59 AM 1445 Views
all 25 of them? - 12/01/2011 05:14:56 AM 1399 Views
Pffft, look it up a bit. You might find info on the national propaganda radio (NPR) site. - 12/01/2011 12:47:33 PM 1457 Views
It's a difficult dynamic even under the best of circumstances, when both partners have chosen it. - 12/01/2011 02:25:20 PM 1296 Views
I agree, it's very difficult. - 12/01/2011 03:14:59 PM 1336 Views
it is nuanced - 12/01/2011 03:06:39 PM 1375 Views
Re: it is nuanced - 12/01/2011 04:58:36 PM 1368 Views
You are spot on. As usual. About everything. *NM* - 12/01/2011 01:42:18 AM 840 Views
- 12/01/2011 02:25:59 PM 1353 Views
I have to admit that this bothers me. - 11/01/2011 07:33:09 PM 1490 Views
I don't expect people to understand my choice necessarily. - 11/01/2011 09:36:52 PM 1463 Views
In addition... - 12/01/2011 05:39:25 PM 1337 Views
I guess you think the same of me then. - 11/01/2011 09:48:31 PM 1315 Views
Another one? - 12/01/2011 06:01:43 AM 1351 Views
Re: Another one? - 12/01/2011 12:33:58 PM 1373 Views
~never mind~ *NM* *NM* - 12/01/2011 04:42:47 PM 898 Views
I'm going to answer you anyway. - 12/01/2011 04:54:18 PM 1447 Views
not to mention - 12/01/2011 05:11:42 PM 1403 Views
In addition - 12/01/2011 05:23:25 PM 1330 Views
you don't want kids? - 12/01/2011 05:46:25 PM 1338 Views
bleck - 12/01/2011 11:14:25 PM 1361 Views
again not the vibe I get from you - 12/01/2011 11:38:26 PM 1328 Views
Hehe. - 13/01/2011 12:15:06 AM 1369 Views
Not selfish. - 13/01/2011 02:45:43 AM 1365 Views
You don't have to be a doctor to contribute to the world - 12/01/2011 05:27:26 PM 1405 Views
Poor Aeryn - 12/01/2011 05:29:47 PM 1325 Views
I replied before she edited - 12/01/2011 05:41:53 PM 1283 Views
Am I at least absolved from having to respond? - 15/01/2011 06:11:27 AM 1397 Views
Certainly. *NM* - 15/01/2011 09:40:09 AM 835 Views
The primary issue... - 12/01/2011 05:52:42 PM 1324 Views
*NM* - 12/01/2011 05:54:29 PM 766 Views
What Rebekah said... - 15/01/2011 07:55:34 PM 1335 Views
Me too! - 11/01/2011 09:43:57 PM 1405 Views
Re: Me too! - 12/01/2011 01:23:39 AM 1416 Views
I have a fiancee like that. - 12/01/2011 02:14:53 AM 1325 Views
I feel so fortunate to be a stay at home mom. - 12/01/2011 11:32:37 PM 1317 Views
My commentary on the whys and wherefores of this stuff would be way too politically incorrect - 11/01/2011 07:56:24 PM 1489 Views
I think all of that makes sense - 11/01/2011 08:36:39 PM 1373 Views
In this particular case I don't disagree with you. - 11/01/2011 09:28:13 PM 1304 Views
I'm not sure why either sex should surpass the other in math. - 12/01/2011 02:34:09 AM 1285 Views
men have more physical strength period - 12/01/2011 05:30:14 AM 1319 Views
There's a lot more to running (especially marathons) then leg strength. - 12/01/2011 05:41:11 AM 1345 Views
When you talk about reasons men "should" be better at math - 12/01/2011 03:47:53 PM 1363 Views
Re: When you talk about reasons men "should" be better at math - 12/01/2011 04:32:38 PM 1252 Views
Re: When you talk about reasons men "should" be better at math - 12/01/2011 04:41:42 PM 1340 Views
Both, really; the latter is a consequence of the former. - 12/01/2011 05:21:28 PM 1242 Views
I'm trying to understand your position - 12/01/2011 05:28:43 PM 1326 Views
try string theory, it makes more sense than Joel logic - 12/01/2011 05:57:27 PM 1235 Views
Now you've got it. - 12/01/2011 06:40:50 PM 1405 Views
Okay, that's fair. *NM* - 12/01/2011 06:42:30 PM 729 Views
Glad we were able to reach an understanding. - 13/01/2011 10:02:47 PM 1289 Views
Re: I'm trying to understand your position - 13/01/2011 08:12:05 PM 1334 Views
we know the brain of women works differently then the brains of men - 12/01/2011 05:40:15 PM 1357 Views
What evidence I'm aware of seems inconclusive. - 12/01/2011 06:46:50 PM 1194 Views
There are theories but of course they are unprovable - 12/01/2011 10:50:08 PM 1307 Views
That's a logical rationale, and might even be accurate, but in this case I want hard evidence. - 13/01/2011 09:03:32 PM 1244 Views
I think if you look you find you believe all sorts of things that can't be proven - 13/01/2011 10:03:54 PM 1319 Views
I have, and have frequently argued everyone holds such beliefs. - 13/01/2011 10:33:01 PM 1188 Views
here is some evdience to argue that it is not society but biology - 13/01/2011 08:43:43 PM 1351 Views
I think you did like I always do and forgot to give us a way to click your link. - 13/01/2011 09:56:52 PM 1366 Views
oops - 13/01/2011 10:07:55 PM 1364 Views
Seems like that's an argument for both views, in a way. - 13/01/2011 11:14:11 PM 1256 Views
You can use anything to prove what you want if you are willing to spin it hard enough - 14/01/2011 02:57:29 PM 1532 Views
I used YOUR article to "prove" what it says outright. - 15/01/2011 05:35:27 PM 1454 Views
I would also like to say this: - 11/01/2011 09:33:23 PM 1324 Views
Of course - 12/01/2011 01:47:14 AM 1377 Views
Re: Of course - 12/01/2011 04:57:11 PM 1349 Views
"Night" is also almost invariably feminine, in my experience. - 12/01/2011 07:58:12 PM 1371 Views
Re: "Night" is also almost invariably feminine, in my experience. - 12/01/2011 08:15:59 PM 1358 Views
It's true for Arabic and hence, one suspects, Hebrew. - 13/01/2011 07:43:21 PM 1271 Views
I'm glad YOU think it's fun... - 13/01/2011 10:05:07 PM 1325 Views
Re: I would also like to say this: - 12/01/2011 09:15:28 AM 1376 Views
Re: I would also like to say this: - 12/01/2011 12:27:14 PM 1353 Views
No - 12/01/2011 12:28:48 PM 1247 Views
Re: No - 12/01/2011 12:35:56 PM 1213 Views
Re: No - 12/01/2011 12:37:33 PM 1332 Views
Re: No - 12/01/2011 12:43:36 PM 1328 Views
Re: No - 12/01/2011 12:47:56 PM 1371 Views
Since this has become too complicated - 12/01/2011 12:54:54 PM 1368 Views
Re: Since this has become too complicated - 12/01/2011 12:56:20 PM 1381 Views
Re: Since this has become too complicated - 12/01/2011 04:55:50 PM 1286 Views
The two are used as different psychological concepts. - 12/01/2011 02:24:58 PM 1309 Views
Again, used incorrectly. - 12/01/2011 03:34:22 PM 1297 Views
Re: Again, used incorrectly. - 12/01/2011 04:00:59 PM 1376 Views
Exactly. *NM* - 12/01/2011 04:53:03 PM 753 Views
It really doesn't surprise me - 12/01/2011 12:36:19 AM 1324 Views
Have you left a memo at the Feminist Movement's Office? - 12/01/2011 12:46:45 AM 1374 Views
Actually, the feminist movement was completely successful. - 12/01/2011 01:42:44 AM 1358 Views
Well put. *NM* - 12/01/2011 02:10:56 AM 735 Views
I was playing a bit but I agree that the feminist in the past accomplished a lot - 12/01/2011 05:34:04 AM 1375 Views
NOW is just a left-leaning PAC. - 12/01/2011 03:16:52 PM 1333 Views
Now if only others were so rational about it. - 17/01/2011 05:55:57 AM 2515 Views
Nevermind, Tom beat me to it. - 12/01/2011 01:54:07 AM 1292 Views
Mmm. I don't think you understand the feminist movement. You have been reading to many things - 12/01/2011 01:56:20 AM 1364 Views
I was refering to groups like NOW - 12/01/2011 05:40:46 AM 1305 Views
Gotcha. - 12/01/2011 11:53:29 PM 1280 Views
I was being a tad bit trollish with my title - 13/01/2011 01:47:30 AM 1263 Views
I'm not sure that follows, at all. - 12/01/2011 02:06:41 AM 1249 Views
they never mention their study methods - 12/01/2011 02:14:15 PM 1332 Views
Gosh, look what you started. - 12/01/2011 03:00:23 PM 1350 Views
somebody need to start something it is pretty dead around here *NM* - 12/01/2011 03:16:54 PM 776 Views
Seriously *NM* - 12/01/2011 09:56:56 PM 746 Views
I agree that it would be awesome to hang with my kid every day and not have to work. - 12/01/2011 11:33:25 PM 1383 Views
that part would be great - 12/01/2011 11:40:49 PM 1343 Views
I could do it every day. - 13/01/2011 12:52:56 AM 1277 Views
Me too... - 13/01/2011 02:45:49 PM 1386 Views
So here's the question. Why don't men have a "choice" to opt-out? - 15/01/2011 06:13:28 AM 1339 Views
They do. - 15/01/2011 09:42:29 AM 1278 Views
read further up the thread - 15/01/2011 10:49:08 AM 1400 Views
I really wish that were more socially acceptable. - 15/01/2011 07:58:57 PM 1400 Views
I feel I have that choice. - 16/01/2011 12:08:48 AM 1334 Views
They most certainly do. - 18/01/2011 04:39:09 PM 1435 Views
This sounds awful to me. - 13/01/2011 04:27:08 AM 1341 Views
Re: This sounds awful to me. - 14/01/2011 02:47:36 AM 1352 Views
Yikes. - 14/01/2011 11:13:39 PM 1330 Views

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