Thank you for your insightful and considered response. My intention is not to present a binary view of mathematical ability — quite the opposite! I believe all people have the capacity to excel as mathematicians; the point of this article is to show that those who consider themselves ‘bad’ should not consign themselves to that label just because of their schooling experiences. The power of these mental representations is that they help prople to see rich patterns and structures that were previously hidden to them. Your piece is advocating for a more fluid understanding of mathematical ability; perhaps even a growth mindset. My writing is based on the same beliefs and understanding of how we interact with mathematics.