How do I get my husband to stop answering math questions?

Question

My husband spends every evening and every weekend at the computer with his back to me answering math problems. How do I get him to stop? Does he need an intervention?

Answer 1

Be happy that his brain is getting used for something

Answer 2

First, be grateful it's only math problems that are stealing his attention from you.

Second, I think it's a big mistake to try and stop his "obsession". He will only resent you in the end.

Instead, I would invite him to spend the night watching movies with you, or take him out for a walk, or ask him for time to talk. If he's that obsessed with math problems, find a way to make you the greatest math problem he'll ever have to solve...it might be kind of fun. All other times, let him be. Or, he'll just end up resenting you for it.

Answer 3

He's addicted to feeling "smart". Some tips:

-Tell him to stop being the kid that did everyone else's homework to have friends. Many people asking questions are just lazy, so tell him not to answers questions for these people because it puts the other kids who do their homework honest in a disadvantage (ask him if he ever got other people to do his assignments, I'm sure he didn't).

-Tell him there's no pride on being one of the 50 people who can answer what's the distance between 2 points to a 15yr old. Tell him he can answer the really hard math questions (like the math major ones) as long as it's not doing some lazy guys homework.

-Tell him he can't solve the questions, that's spoiling a student, questions are meant to make people think about a problem. If he answers the questions for them he's harming their development. He can guide people to the answers and in rare cases give the solutions if the asker seems like he worked enough on his own.

-Tell him he could be helping you instead of some freeloading stranger who's not even going to say thanks and who will have another person who's hungry for praise to answer his questions.

Of course, be nice and say all this in a careful manner using your own words because you can't just say it like I wrote it, it may hurt him and that's not the point. Explain to him it's much better to help someone close in the important things than to be adding points on some profile.

Answer 4

You got a problem, i love math too, but I get enough at work. Find him a job where he can do math all day, if that doenst help he needs and intervention.

Answer 5

In most people passions run their course in a matter of time and he be on to the next passion. I do know how you feel and when I was where you are...all I could think was "at least he's home and not out in a bar"....good luck.

Answer 6

You know what kind of intervention he needs. Don't play dumb. Show him how 1 and 1 equals fireworks.

Answer 7

This is what he needs to do. You can not stop that.

However, he needs to start spending some time with you also and you need to tell him that you feel ignored all the time and that sometimes he needs to spend time with you away from the computer.

But understand, that this is his passion, as it is mine.

Answer 8

I suspect Yahoo! Answers to be somewhat addictive. Why not shunt the pleasure he gets when answering by making him addictive to the very positive comments you could make on his answers ?

Answer 9

Well be grateful that he is intelligent. At least he is not looking at porn hour after hour. But if you really want his attention, you should dress up like a schoolgirl and ask him for a lesson or two:)

Answer 10

You are so lucky. Your hubby must be a brainiac. He must find answering these questions enriching & fulfilling. I say let him be. Better than finding him surfing on X rated stuff rite.

Answer 11

Try asking him some math questions to get him to pay attention to you.