General Discussion

lumberjack_jeff

(33,224 posts)

97. "college is both"

Wed Jan 22, 2014, 01:24 AM

Jan 2014

I hear that argument a lot.
"Why should I go to college to get a degree when I can make just as much sans degree?'
... "Because college is about enriching yourself and teaching yourself how to think."
"Okay, I took your advice and now I have this crippling debt. Life is no fun because the job of adjunct professor doesn't pay any more than my car detailing job did."
... "We need debt cancellation! Jubilee! It's horrible that people can't afford to pay off their college debts!"

If college is a worthwhile investment in personal growth, then pay the bill, like you would any other. If it was a financial investment in an improved income, then stop disparaging trade schools and learn something which represents a skill that someone will pay for.

College isn't really "both"... it appears to be "either", depending on the argument to be made. It's a lifestyle choice that should be free, but should represent a good ROI, because animal rescue should pay more because you have a degree in the humanities.

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Ok. the message on DU is clear. Be glad with what you might get, serf! [View all] Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 OP

A college degree tazkcmo Jan 2014 #1

yep. that is an unspoken truth about one value of degrees in work place Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 #2

You are correct! tazkcmo Jan 2014 #4

4 years in a machine shop as an apprentice with a Good Reference from the boss.... bvar22 Jan 2014 #21

You might enjoy this then. zeemike Jan 2014 #24

Fascinating - Thank You For Sharing cantbeserious Jan 2014 #29

Excellent point. Bobbie Jo Jan 2014 #33

Everyone should have a Master's degree to haul away their own garbage. Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #3

car repair may have been less of an apt example for protection of skilled labor Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 #7

"The fact that SOME people ... does not mean we should all give up on our dreams" Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #10

no. people today are calling it some aphorism for the rich and luxurious Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 #17

I'm not sure who "the rest of us" is supposed to mean. Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #20

+1 n/t lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #50

Straight from the right wing capitalist playbook - TBF Jan 2014 #9

You conjure some fiction of a world that doesn't exist just to insult me? Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #11

lol - hit a nerve, huh. Not surprised. nt TBF Jan 2014 #12

Um, no; I'm stating the plainly obvious. The entire basis of your criticism is fictitious. Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #14

Profit, profit, profit - TBF Jan 2014 #42

You wrote -- Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #47

What we don't need is all the $$$ in the hands of a few - TBF Jan 2014 #48

When did I ever say wealth should be concentrated in the hands of a few? Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #49

When you propped up economic inequality by stating TBF Jan 2014 #51

"You are stating that some humans must be subjugated and degraded in order for others to benefit." Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #54

Dumb to demand equality for others? TBF Jan 2014 #55

Again, you are fabricating your outrage. Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #60

"Yet these are all necessary occupations. Some people take jobs because they need the money ..." TBF Jan 2014 #61

Which part of it is untrue? Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #62

The fact that you are NOT outraged by the economic inequality TBF Jan 2014 #63

Before you even joined this thread I had written to the OP -- Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #66

"pointless state of perpetual pissed-offedness" TBF Jan 2014 #75

wow Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #80

Yes, wow TBF Jan 2014 #81

I stand by each of those statements without apology. Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #83

I disagree with your entire premise TBF Jan 2014 #88

Not long ago I was reading Livy, the ancient Roman historian. Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #94

Wow! As an uninvolved bystander, I'd say .... oldhippie Jan 2014 #65

Thank-you but Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #67

Agree .... oldhippie Jan 2014 #68

I appreciate your kind words and salient observation. Thank-you again. n/t Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #72

How sad that we must look at discussions as winning or losing. Do you count the number of rhett o rick Jan 2014 #74

Yeah, because ..... oldhippie Jan 2014 #76

So you are saying that since other DU posters do it, you can do it? rhett o rick Jan 2014 #78

No, I didn't say that ... oldhippie Jan 2014 #79

Weren't we just discussing Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #85

If that "40% of the wealth" comment refers to the Walton family (and I'm betting it does) A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #73

I stand by my comments on economic inequality - TBF Jan 2014 #90

I don't argue your comments on economic inequality. A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #92

Of course - hyperbole was not intended TBF Jan 2014 #93

Fair enough. A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #95

ATMs? We used to have Bank Clerks to do all those transactions. Credit cards? We used to need sabrina 1 Jan 2014 #82

Don't tell TBF because you might be accused of wanting to subjugate humans or something. n/t Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #84

Is this really necessary? Seems low even for you. nt TBF Jan 2014 #87

What? You want machines to relive people of drudgery. Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2014 #89

Some degreed people start at the bottom of these jobs so they can move up knowledgeably and advance ancianita Jan 2014 #23

And the other message - Chris Christie is the worst person in the world EVER! truedelphi Jan 2014 #5

I sort of agree ... but Arugula Latte Jan 2014 #6

True, but then what we should be discussing TBF Jan 2014 #8

Yes, I agree, but Arugula Latte Jan 2014 #13

Because it benefits the powerful YoungDemCA Jan 2014 #15

Yes - their lackeys do. But there aren't so many TBF Jan 2014 #40

I think a lot of people still trust authority.. YoungDemCA Jan 2014 #69

Excellent point - TBF Jan 2014 #77

College should not be as expensive as it is. grntuscarora Jan 2014 #16

The "DWYL" OP was about how "DWYL" is used to blame the 99% for their problems. phantom power Jan 2014 #18

no. most people don't do what they want out of fear. Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 #19

There is a lot of fear when you are a paycheck or two from homelessness PowerToThePeople Jan 2014 #36

The point of employment is *selling* the hours of your life as profitably as possible. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #22

I've known young friends who did skilled labor work first, THEN afforded their college work after. ancianita Jan 2014 #25

no reason such things should be mutually exclusive fishwax Jan 2014 #96

"college is both" lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #97

disparaging trade schools is a rather different issue fishwax Jan 2014 #98

I'm a big fan of my local community college. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #99

I've recently discovered professional lawn care. obxhead Jan 2014 #26

I come from a family of Educators. davidthegnome Jan 2014 #27

Very profound and well-thought post. YoungDemCA Jan 2014 #28

"When profit comes first, everyone loses." Unfortunatley, not everybody. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #30

I respectfully disagree. davidthegnome Jan 2014 #32

I totally agree that the're not running the world in a way that benefits the human race. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #34

Their lives would be better, too. davidthegnome Jan 2014 #35

I think the problem is that unless the entire earth is blown to smithereens, the 1% will remain Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #38

Your gem is near the end - TBF Jan 2014 #41

You should make this an OP. Excellent post, thank you! sabrina 1 Jan 2014 #86

This message was self-deleted by its author jeff47 Jan 2014 #31

Interesting lib87 Jan 2014 #37

Is this the third time I have agreed with you? I'm getting really worried sabrina 1 Jan 2014 #39

Why yes..that was me. :) Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 #43

This is the first time I have agreed with PW. I am disappointed in you Vattel Jan 2014 #46

du rec. xchrom Jan 2014 #44

Anecdotally, I might advise someone not to go to college or to put it off at least... Hippo_Tron Jan 2014 #45

thank you! I can get behind that message. Public officials should be holding out higher education Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 #56

+1000 YoungDemCA Jan 2014 #71

I used to believe "college" educated a person which led to a better life. I no longer do. BrotherIvan Jan 2014 #52

when I have more time I will share my story. But suffice to say I disagree with some of your broad Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 #57

I never advocated online universities. They are nothing but degree mills BrotherIvan Jan 2014 #58

I know. I'm just sharing my personal limits on what is "relevant" higher education Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 #59

Agreed. Those are scams. BrotherIvan Jan 2014 #64

Education isn't a key to prosperity anymore. Or not nearly so much. Orsino Jan 2014 #53

OK, adding my two cents here... Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2014 #70

"Do what you love and love what you do" is elitist crap alarimer Jan 2014 #91

I have to agree with you on that one. redruddyred Jun 2014 #100