4 ms·

I have always been a proponent of a more vocationally-oriented system like we have in Germany, it was outragous for me to see how much money people spend on "mo

I have always been a proponent of a more vocationally-oriented system like we have in Germany, it was outragous for me to see how much money people spend on "monterily worthless" degrees. Yet, I point out America's college system as the single best competitive advantage over the rest of the world. I so far couldn't find the words for it, but he put it soo greatly: "Plus, I was graduating with a degree in English and history, which, though valuable to me, is more or less monetarily worthless." "I have little patience for critics who don’t see the value in a liberal arts education. We don’t mock people who have children -- and there’s no practical value to having children."

fein 13y ago
Ah yes, but the end of that last quote leaves a bit more: "Why should we mock people who want to learn about their world and learn about themselves?" Because you don't need a damn Liberal Arts degree to do that. It didn't cost me 5 figures to learn about my ego and my id; It cost me 5 figures to get a CS degree while doing so. I also mock those with children, but only because I currently don't know a single person in my circles that should be having kids now, if ever. When I hear a friend is pregnant, I just get depressed about all the opportunities they'll never have.
- nchuhoai 13y ago
  I'm not disagreeing with you that at the margins, a liberal arts degree or the pursuit of knowledge at a college might not be "worth it". I just think, liberal arts people get a lot of shit for even wanting to do so. Ultimately, it's about the second part of your comments. You clearly think they are doing something wrong with their lives, or they are not choosing the optimal route for their life. While you are obviously entitled to your opinion, I do have some reservations about this kind of judgement. People have different views of what is a happy fulfilled life for them, so let it be. (I know how ironic my "stop judging people" judgement on your judgement must sounds like, it's a fallacy I haven't been able to solve yet)
  - fein 13y ago
    > I know how ironic my "stop judging people" judgement on your judgement must sounds like, it's a fallacy I haven't been able to solve yet Sounds fine to me as long as we judge people based on their decisions and the impact those decisions have on a non consenting 3rd party. I'm concerned with people choosing their preferred route for their own life, as long as its the preferred route with the minimal amount of negative consequences to the rest of society. I think the concept of "stop judging people" is hugely misrepresented. It should be "stop judging people based on things that do not and will not affect others", because really, telling someone to not judge a rapist for being a rapist is pretty bad.
- breadbox 13y ago
  And your pregnant friends are thinking the exact same thing about you.
  - fein 13y ago
    Which I'm really OK with. Any of the people I immediately know who are having children will be getting the benefit of my tax dollars to pay for their mistake, as they cannot do so themselves. So sure, they may think the same about myself, however I'm not costing the taxpayers money with my shitty decisions.

fein 13y ago

Ah yes, but the end of that last quote leaves a bit more: "Why should we mock people who want to learn about their world and learn about themselves?" Because you don't need a damn Liberal Arts degree to do that. It didn't cost me 5 figures to learn about my ego and my id; It cost me 5 figures to get a CS degree while doing so. I also mock those with children, but only because I currently don't know a single person in my circles that should be having kids now, if ever. When I hear a friend is pregnant, I just get depressed about all the opportunities they'll never have.

nchuhoai 13y ago
I'm not disagreeing with you that at the margins, a liberal arts degree or the pursuit of knowledge at a college might not be "worth it". I just think, liberal arts people get a lot of shit for even wanting to do so. Ultimately, it's about the second part of your comments. You clearly think they are doing something wrong with their lives, or they are not choosing the optimal route for their life. While you are obviously entitled to your opinion, I do have some reservations about this kind of judgement. People have different views of what is a happy fulfilled life for them, so let it be. (I know how ironic my "stop judging people" judgement on your judgement must sounds like, it's a fallacy I haven't been able to solve yet)
- fein 13y ago
  > I know how ironic my "stop judging people" judgement on your judgement must sounds like, it's a fallacy I haven't been able to solve yet Sounds fine to me as long as we judge people based on their decisions and the impact those decisions have on a non consenting 3rd party. I'm concerned with people choosing their preferred route for their own life, as long as its the preferred route with the minimal amount of negative consequences to the rest of society. I think the concept of "stop judging people" is hugely misrepresented. It should be "stop judging people based on things that do not and will not affect others", because really, telling someone to not judge a rapist for being a rapist is pretty bad.
breadbox 13y ago
And your pregnant friends are thinking the exact same thing about you.
- fein 13y ago
  Which I'm really OK with. Any of the people I immediately know who are having children will be getting the benefit of my tax dollars to pay for their mistake, as they cannot do so themselves. So sure, they may think the same about myself, however I'm not costing the taxpayers money with my shitty decisions.