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Just because you need to sacrifice your prime years in order to succeed, doesn't mean the system isn't meritorious. What isn't meritorious about needing to work

Just because you need to sacrifice your prime years in order to succeed, doesn't mean the system isn't meritorious. What isn't meritorious about needing to work hard even if you're talented? Nobody gets a free ride. If you mean that gifted people should have their livelihood subsidised by the state, then sure, I'm open to exploring merit based scholarships, and society investing more in the sciences and so on. But nobody gets a prize in science without actually putting in the work and achieving something. Though, admittedly we are seeing that less and less. Society in general is becoming less meritorious (participation awards, etc).

Ar-Curunir 6y ago
The problem is that, in a world where white folks have access to a better social safety net, on average they can afford to sacrifice their 20s and 30s in this pursuit, where others might not have that luxury. Anyway, I won't waste my time further debating what's obvious gaslighting.
- LudwigNagasena 6y ago
  This is simply not true. Most people can’t afford education but they still take loans and pursue it, even if they have no aptitude for science. It is indeed gaslighting to talk about “safety nets” when there is a student loan crisis in the country.
  - jjeaff 6y ago
    I believe they are referring to the safety net provided by relative white wealth. Median net worth for white families in America is 10x that of black families. Which means they are much more likely to be able to get support from home or even a home to move back to if things get tough. It's a lot easier to take the economic risk of a post-grad or post-doc program when you know there is a family with means to fall back on. Excessive student loans are not a serious issue relative to what many in poverty face. If you don't make enough money to pay your student loans, then you can defer them indefinitely. Or just not pay them. It might keep you from getting rich. But it's not going to keep you from eating.
    - Ar-Curunir 6y ago
      Yes that’s what I mean by safety net
- kortilla 6y ago
  > Anyway, I won't waste my time further debating what's obvious gaslighting. Calling someone’s argument “obvious gaslighting” is just an appeal to incredulity.

Ar-Curunir 6y ago

The problem is that, in a world where white folks have access to a better social safety net, on average they can afford to sacrifice their 20s and 30s in this pursuit, where others might not have that luxury. Anyway, I won't waste my time further debating what's obvious gaslighting.

LudwigNagasena 6y ago
This is simply not true. Most people can’t afford education but they still take loans and pursue it, even if they have no aptitude for science. It is indeed gaslighting to talk about “safety nets” when there is a student loan crisis in the country.
- jjeaff 6y ago
  I believe they are referring to the safety net provided by relative white wealth. Median net worth for white families in America is 10x that of black families. Which means they are much more likely to be able to get support from home or even a home to move back to if things get tough. It's a lot easier to take the economic risk of a post-grad or post-doc program when you know there is a family with means to fall back on. Excessive student loans are not a serious issue relative to what many in poverty face. If you don't make enough money to pay your student loans, then you can defer them indefinitely. Or just not pay them. It might keep you from getting rich. But it's not going to keep you from eating.
  - Ar-Curunir 6y ago
    Yes that’s what I mean by safety net
kortilla 6y ago
> Anyway, I won't waste my time further debating what's obvious gaslighting. Calling someone’s argument “obvious gaslighting” is just an appeal to incredulity.