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The death of universities cannot happen soon enough. If only to force them to genuinely re-evaluate all of their stupid decisions over the last 50 years so that

The death of universities cannot happen soon enough. If only to force them to genuinely re-evaluate all of their stupid decisions over the last 50 years so that future generations can avoid the same fate.

woodruffw 4y ago
What "stupid decisions" are you identifying with the last 50 years? I can't think of a unifying theme in that timespan. Whether or not the thing we call "universities" continues to exist into the indefinite future is not of particular concern to me. The primary thing I'm concerning myself with in this conversation is the recurrent and myopic belief among the HN commentariat that everything, especially anything that isn't STEM, needs to fit into the bottom line of some profit structure to be worth any of society's time and effort.
- i_am_toaster 4y ago
  A college degree is a financial decision that has a benefit which should outweigh its cost. If it does not outweigh its cost (both in time and money spent), then you should be doing something else. All college degrees are not equal, whether or not they cost the same. Their cost being the same is the only reason you think these degrees have some level of equality; it seems hypocritical to judge others for their analysis of things based on dollar value when you ascribe value based on price.
- ren_engineer 4y ago
  >profit structure we are talking way more fundamental things here. If all of society suddenly had a ton of humanity major knowledge but no farming knowledge, society dies. The government is only able to subsidize a luxury like humanities majors because all the other basic needs are taken care of by the miracles of technology created by engineers and physicists. Otherwise, everybody would still be doing subsistence farming to survive and wouldn't have time for the humanities anyway. You can't fake productivity and economic output, it all comes down to technology
- moduspol 4y ago
  > What "stupid decisions" are you identifying with the last 50 years? I can't think of a unifying theme in that timespan. How about a severe and widening disconnect between the people paying for the loans, the people guaranteeing the loans, and the measurable value received by the recipient?

woodruffw 4y ago

What "stupid decisions" are you identifying with the last 50 years? I can't think of a unifying theme in that timespan. Whether or not the thing we call "universities" continues to exist into the indefinite future is not of particular concern to me. The primary thing I'm concerning myself with in this conversation is the recurrent and myopic belief among the HN commentariat that everything, especially anything that isn't STEM, needs to fit into the bottom line of some profit structure to be worth any of society's time and effort.

i_am_toaster 4y ago
A college degree is a financial decision that has a benefit which should outweigh its cost. If it does not outweigh its cost (both in time and money spent), then you should be doing something else. All college degrees are not equal, whether or not they cost the same. Their cost being the same is the only reason you think these degrees have some level of equality; it seems hypocritical to judge others for their analysis of things based on dollar value when you ascribe value based on price.
ren_engineer 4y ago
>profit structure we are talking way more fundamental things here. If all of society suddenly had a ton of humanity major knowledge but no farming knowledge, society dies. The government is only able to subsidize a luxury like humanities majors because all the other basic needs are taken care of by the miracles of technology created by engineers and physicists. Otherwise, everybody would still be doing subsistence farming to survive and wouldn't have time for the humanities anyway. You can't fake productivity and economic output, it all comes down to technology
moduspol 4y ago
> What "stupid decisions" are you identifying with the last 50 years? I can't think of a unifying theme in that timespan. How about a severe and widening disconnect between the people paying for the loans, the people guaranteeing the loans, and the measurable value received by the recipient?