4 ms·

My own anecdata: the (also two) ex-McKinsey people I've known seemed reasonably decent people at heart, but both possessed a toxic combination of: (1) being ab

by sho 2y ago

My own anecdata: the (also two) ex-McKinsey people I've known seemed reasonably decent people at heart, but both possessed a toxic combination of: (1) being absolutely intoxicated by their own old-money-fueled prestige academic/career path, which gave them a (2) vastly overrated sense of their own knowledge, ability, wisdom, capability, importance, and general superiority to anyone not in possession of these stellar academic/prestige institutional credentials which was (3) completely unfounded in every way. I'm no longer impressed by Ivy League or any of these prestige institutional credentials.

Schroedingers2c 2y ago
I worked hard and got into one of these prestigious universities for my Masters, but grew up lower-middle class, on the countryside, in a not very healthy environment. Having seen it first-hand, I can only agree. There's so much privilege at these institutions, it's almost sickening sometimes. I don't want to throw everyone in one pot, there's certainly genuine, decent people there. But there is so much self-importance and arrogance floating around, and just this casual and unquestioned attitude of superiority. What I do want to say is that pretty much everyone I met there had a base-level above average smartness and/or work ethic. But I also mostly hung out with STEM people. Didn't get to know many managerial or related types.
neilv 2y ago
Sorta like tech companies these days.
reindeergmz 2y ago
There’s some agreement among historians that education above a bachelors was started as a payola scheme between the church and landed gentry to buy their kids “advanced” credentials so they could be middle managers still not worker class. We do love to keep our historical memes alive despite the economy having nothing to do with them. Physical statistics are what keep enough TP and food on shelves so the people do not riot. Not an endorsement for Mentava, but there’s an indictment of our education system when their program is resulting in kids being fluent in AP math by 5th grade (or so they claim): http://mentava.com http://mentava.com
- ummonk 2y ago
  Where are they claiming AP math by 5th grade? I seem them saying algebra by 5th grade, which is a far cry from, say, AP Precalculus let alone AP Calculus AB or AP Statistics.

by sho 2y ago

Schroedingers2c 2y ago

I worked hard and got into one of these prestigious universities for my Masters, but grew up lower-middle class, on the countryside, in a not very healthy environment. Having seen it first-hand, I can only agree. There's so much privilege at these institutions, it's almost sickening sometimes. I don't want to throw everyone in one pot, there's certainly genuine, decent people there. But there is so much self-importance and arrogance floating around, and just this casual and unquestioned attitude of superiority. What I do want to say is that pretty much everyone I met there had a base-level above average smartness and/or work ethic. But I also mostly hung out with STEM people. Didn't get to know many managerial or related types.

neilv 2y ago

Sorta like tech companies these days.

reindeergmz 2y ago

There’s some agreement among historians that education above a bachelors was started as a payola scheme between the church and landed gentry to buy their kids “advanced” credentials so they could be middle managers still not worker class. We do love to keep our historical memes alive despite the economy having nothing to do with them. Physical statistics are what keep enough TP and food on shelves so the people do not riot. Not an endorsement for Mentava, but there’s an indictment of our education system when their program is resulting in kids being fluent in AP math by 5th grade (or so they claim): http://mentava.com http://mentava.com

ummonk 2y ago
Where are they claiming AP math by 5th grade? I seem them saying algebra by 5th grade, which is a far cry from, say, AP Precalculus let alone AP Calculus AB or AP Statistics.