The Factory Floor

1:31 PM

I freely admit that I'll feel like an idiot when someone answers this. But, is there a name for someone who is numerically literate (someone as opposed to knowing nothing about math/numbers). I did think about 'numerologist', but that's just 'astrologist' with a different hat...

Green

a mathematician?

Also, single-sourced Madagascar dark chocolate for breakfast is an excellent way to start the day.

Pᴇᴛᴇ

A mathematician would be a profession though...? I just have a question in my head and want to formulate some words.

Basically, the ruling class of a settlement knows about maths, but the general population don't. Therefore the ruling class controls trading/divination/astronomy etc... Stuff that people without a concept of maths wouldn't be able to handle.

Green

1:50 PM

@Pᴇᴛᴇ It's absolutely a profession.

dot_Sp0T

Just invent a fancy word if you don't like those that exist

Green

I think that falls under the dichotomy of literate/illiterate. If you know math, you can also very likely read.

Scribe or clerk would be someone who can read (and maybe do math).

Pᴇᴛᴇ

I thought it might be one of those obvious words that you know you know, but you forget entirely until someone reminds you. Yes, I need a math version of literate or linguist.

I might have to suck it up and call them "Accountants"....

Green

@Pᴇᴛᴇ Well, if you want the common illiterate people to hate them (and your reader to hate them too), Accountants is a great name.

Pᴇᴛᴇ

Ok, so I have this thought of a Neolithic settlement (or group of settlements) who are ruled/governed by the Accountants. Normal people aren't taught math, so the Accountants govern trading and keep track of the seasons etc. So I'm trying to wrestle with the idea of rebelling against the accountants. How could someone trick the system without appearing to know math?

Green

2:01 PM

Said another way, "How could an illiterate commoner do trade?" I guess I'm not sure what you're trying to achieve.

Pᴇᴛᴇ

Me too, to be honest. I'm just trying to formulate some kind of conflict between the matheliterate and the non math.

Green

@Pᴇᴛᴇ I'm not sure much formulation is required. This is a classic Haves vs Have-Nots. Anyone who can trade can get rich. Anyone who can read a contract and understand what it means will have an advantage over those who can't.

A child born to literate parents will do better than a child born to illiterate parents.

There's also a strong in-group bias by those who can do math against those who can't.

It won't take much for there to be resentment between the two groups.

dot_Sp0T

2:23 PM

@Pᴇᴛᴇ Umbwanga no like cold weather, Umbwanga will be tribe boss and make weather always warm and good for crops?

Pᴇᴛᴇ

lol. Umbawanga good!

dot_Sp0T

Btw anybody on here versed in military history? E.g. stuff on NATO and such?

(I admit I have issues with the word neolithic)

Green

@dot_Sp0T Those are really broad topics but I've got some exposure. What's the question?

dot_Sp0T

@Green does the NATO have own forces? and if yes since when / how are they organized

Pᴇᴛᴇ

NATO isn't really a force in itself. It's a collection of member states all having armed forces. It's not like the United Nations.

I'm pretty sure that's the case.

dot_Sp0T

2:40 PM

So how does it work then?

Pᴇᴛᴇ

Basically, it's an alliance of member states. So for any military actions, the governing body has access to the collective armed forces and all the logistics that goes with it. An analogy is World War II, and what we call "The Allies", which was made up of several countries, but collaborated its actions as one.

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