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Is a Hitachi EC25E compressor with NV45AB2S nailgun worth it? That would depend upon whether or not I intend to be a roofer. I was always suspicious of the ass

Is a Hitachi EC25E compressor with NV45AB2S nailgun worth it? That would depend upon whether or not I intend to be a roofer. I was always suspicious of the assumption that a college degree was a default requirement for success in the professional world. That is -- in part -- why I rejected the notion and decided to drop out of college after year one. A college degree is a means to an end, not an end in and of itself. Too many educators assume that if you are "smart", you must go to college. As if the degree you receive is some sort of product that stands alone. The fact is, you can't sell a degree on an open market, because the knowledge you gain isn't transferrable. Circle back to the old argument of whether $50k would be better spent on a 4-year degree or some form of traditional investment. The only factual answer is "it depends". When you go to college, you buy experience, knowledge, and a certificate that says, "I know how to see something through to the end." In my view, the significance of the latter has diminished significantly in recent years. When college becomes something you do by default, the effort is no longer superlative; it is average. This puts the emphasis more on the knowledge aspect, and sure enough, knowledge heavy degrees deliver more value. I once had dinner with a client where one of the VPs asked me where I went to college. When I replied that I had attended for one year, then decided my efforts were better spent elsewhere, she replied with, "Oh, you seemed smarter than that." It stung a little, but in the conversation that followed, the majority of the executives with which I was meeting came down in favor of my decision, rather than against it. This conversation taught me a valuable lesson. Doing what everyone tells you is the "right thing to do" isn't always the best answer. There are no one-size-fits-all answers to life. You have to evaluate each scenario objectively based on the circumstances at that moment, then reach your own conclusions.

spotter 16y ago
> asked me where I went to college Political protip: Answer his question. "I went to X University". Because... you did, didn't you? And if he asks you what you majored in: "I studied Y. But somehow I ended up in this job! hearty laugh". I have a degree but it amazes me that people who didn't go to college are never able to glide past this one. It seems like the only people who really ever bring up dropping out is the dropout. Only a very special kind of asshole will continue to press you about graduation dates etc. Having said that,... I have a sneaking suspicion that people who dropped out like bringing it up just to say that they dropped out. You like bringing it up and debating it and then having people "agree" with you eventually, because you seek validation for the decisions you made. It's called having a chip on your shoulder and the guy who said "oh you seemed smarter than that" was clearly fucking with you cause he's seen it a million times before.
- bradleyland 16y ago
  So I should have lied about it? And that makes me the one with the chip on my shoulder? I don't normally bring up the topic of my college decision in business settings, but it was relevant to the topic of the article. Also, in the scenario presented in the anecdote, I answered the college question very casually with, "I didn't finish college." I only argued the point when I was insulted.
  - spotter 16y ago
    > lie about it Nothing in those answers is a lie or not true. It's just an answer that conveniently avoids getting insulted at a table full of people higher than you in the social hierarchy. Maybe you just don't give a shit about walking into social boobytraps but to me learning how to speak to command respect is sort of an important part of my personal development.
    - bradleyland 16y ago
      Funny, I hear that explanation a lot from teenagers, and even they know it's a flawed argument. Maybe we just part ideological ways on this matter, but I don't have any problems gaining people's trust and respect through outright honesty. At the time of the scenario in my anecdote, I was in my early twenties. Since then, my approach has changed somewhat, but I'm never disingenuous with my answers to questions. I've found that the fallout from offering weaselly answers is often far worse than the results of an upfront disagreement. And even if you do agree to disagree, I'd rather have it happen early on so neither of us waste our time.
- pixelbath 16y ago
  I disagree. Why would you claim something falsely? It's possible they wouldn't press further, but it's also possible the person would say "Oh, X University! Was there Z when you went?" Now, you could go on and tell me about how it's just that easy to make up something else, like, "Hmm, I don't remember that," but I learned a long time ago that making up facts about yourself can easily bite you in the ass. As I've grown older, I generally try to steer away from doing this. Taking the high road and being honest doesn't mean you have a chip on your shoulder. The only "clearly fucking with" I got out of the grandparent post was the degreed person taking a jab at the non-degreed person, and it's not the first time I've seen a person with a lack of higher education insulted offhandedly that way. It's almost like people with degrees have a chip on their shoulder, or something... (I kid). Now, to agree slightly with your post, I do sometimes mention that I have no college education (nor did I finish high school). At the same time, I am paid more than many people who do have degrees, but I am limited from many jobs because I lack a degree of any sort. However, I don't try to debate whether my way is better, because I know that learning works differently for different people. As for validation? You may have a point there, but it's amazing to ME that so many people fail to realize that you can learn almost anything yourself. I don't think it's wrong to be proud that you gained the same (or better, being real-world experience) knowledge that another person had to pay $35,000 to learn. Please don't think I'm being dismissive of college education though. I miss out on a great many things simply because it doesn't fall into my area of interest (classic literature and ancient history being prime examples). By getting a degree, you ensure that you're at least passingly familiar with the same basics as everyone else. I do intend to go back to school eventually, but I have very little pressing need to earn a specific degree. If things keep going the way of MIT and free online courseware, I may skip the degree portion and gain personal enrichment without paying an institution for the privilege.
rubyrescue 16y ago
as an aside, for hackers who roof, that's a GREAT nail gun.

spotter 16y ago

> asked me where I went to college Political protip: Answer his question. "I went to X University". Because... you did, didn't you? And if he asks you what you majored in: "I studied Y. But somehow I ended up in this job! hearty laugh". I have a degree but it amazes me that people who didn't go to college are never able to glide past this one. It seems like the only people who really ever bring up dropping out is the dropout. Only a very special kind of asshole will continue to press you about graduation dates etc. Having said that,... I have a sneaking suspicion that people who dropped out like bringing it up just to say that they dropped out. You like bringing it up and debating it and then having people "agree" with you eventually, because you seek validation for the decisions you made. It's called having a chip on your shoulder and the guy who said "oh you seemed smarter than that" was clearly fucking with you cause he's seen it a million times before.

bradleyland 16y ago
So I should have lied about it? And that makes me the one with the chip on my shoulder? I don't normally bring up the topic of my college decision in business settings, but it was relevant to the topic of the article. Also, in the scenario presented in the anecdote, I answered the college question very casually with, "I didn't finish college." I only argued the point when I was insulted.
- spotter 16y ago
  > lie about it Nothing in those answers is a lie or not true. It's just an answer that conveniently avoids getting insulted at a table full of people higher than you in the social hierarchy. Maybe you just don't give a shit about walking into social boobytraps but to me learning how to speak to command respect is sort of an important part of my personal development.
  - bradleyland 16y ago
    Funny, I hear that explanation a lot from teenagers, and even they know it's a flawed argument. Maybe we just part ideological ways on this matter, but I don't have any problems gaining people's trust and respect through outright honesty. At the time of the scenario in my anecdote, I was in my early twenties. Since then, my approach has changed somewhat, but I'm never disingenuous with my answers to questions. I've found that the fallout from offering weaselly answers is often far worse than the results of an upfront disagreement. And even if you do agree to disagree, I'd rather have it happen early on so neither of us waste our time.
pixelbath 16y ago
I disagree. Why would you claim something falsely? It's possible they wouldn't press further, but it's also possible the person would say "Oh, X University! Was there Z when you went?" Now, you could go on and tell me about how it's just that easy to make up something else, like, "Hmm, I don't remember that," but I learned a long time ago that making up facts about yourself can easily bite you in the ass. As I've grown older, I generally try to steer away from doing this. Taking the high road and being honest doesn't mean you have a chip on your shoulder. The only "clearly fucking with" I got out of the grandparent post was the degreed person taking a jab at the non-degreed person, and it's not the first time I've seen a person with a lack of higher education insulted offhandedly that way. It's almost like people with degrees have a chip on their shoulder, or something... (I kid). Now, to agree slightly with your post, I do sometimes mention that I have no college education (nor did I finish high school). At the same time, I am paid more than many people who do have degrees, but I am limited from many jobs because I lack a degree of any sort. However, I don't try to debate whether my way is better, because I know that learning works differently for different people. As for validation? You may have a point there, but it's amazing to ME that so many people fail to realize that you can learn almost anything yourself. I don't think it's wrong to be proud that you gained the same (or better, being real-world experience) knowledge that another person had to pay $35,000 to learn. Please don't think I'm being dismissive of college education though. I miss out on a great many things simply because it doesn't fall into my area of interest (classic literature and ancient history being prime examples). By getting a degree, you ensure that you're at least passingly familiar with the same basics as everyone else. I do intend to go back to school eventually, but I have very little pressing need to earn a specific degree. If things keep going the way of MIT and free online courseware, I may skip the degree portion and gain personal enrichment without paying an institution for the privilege.

rubyrescue 16y ago

as an aside, for hackers who roof, that's a GREAT nail gun.