>>11588930Sure, there are obviously counterexamples. I don't think those counterexamples are anywhere close to the norm, though. I think within certain cultural contexts, something like German nationalism or etcetera can overpower someone's devotion to mathematics. I find it hard to imagine that such a cultural context is present right now where you live.
I can't speak to your second point, I'm not sure what you enjoy or consider "a nice place to live" but as someone who lives right outside of Oakland, who has to be pretty aware of where I go and what I'm carrying, I guess I just don't think about it in the terms of "damn if only I could walk around carelessly at 1am" or something like that. I don't need to do anything that would currently endanger myself.
>>11588948I hear what you are saying, but I can honestly say with certainty that if things like parties keeping you awake or perceived slights during smalltalk are this frustrating to you then you are not very far when it comes to learning to focus solely on yourself. Those really aren't hard-hits at all, they're quite passe. In my university job these are things I deal with literally daily. Perhaps us americans are a bit more used to it.
I can't get into your mind of course, and I think even as little as 1-2 years back I was stuck in that mindset. But again my mathematics study has just gotten so difficult and all-consuming that I simply don't have the energy to think about instances of social faux-pas from others anymore. Perhaps others have more stamina than I have and can juggle such emotions while devoting themselves fully to mathematics.
