Unpopular opinions you hold

[Perry Winkle]

I'm torn on the degree issue. I think the more people that have the opportunity the better. Though I don't think anyone should feel obligated to get a degree.

I only went and completed school because "that's the good and proper thing to do." And now I want to go on for even more education.

I actually think having the market value of a degree fall is a good thing. It just means that the baseline educational level of our population is rising. The bad thing is that academic standards are also being lowered.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by grant

--snip--
I actually think having the market value of a degree fall is a good thing.

ahem. I guess i forgot to raise my sarcasm flag, grant. Degrees have a market value, I agree. But having more of them doesn't dilute their value. I don't include bogus degrees in this equation. Those are crimes of a different color.

Originally Posted by grant

It just means that the baseline educational level of our population is rsing. The bad thing is that academic standards are also being lowered.

These are two different things. They have no causal relationship. The "meaning" you mention--I'm not buying it if you're selling it as a package deal. More (valid) degrees means more educated people and more knowledge as a whole. This is completely good.

Academic standards aren't static inert objects. When they're lowered dramatically, or arbitrarily, or improperly, it is a bad thing. Just decouple those two thoughts, and we're right in synch.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by grant

I actually think having the market value of a degree fall is a good thing. It just means that the baseline educational level of our population is rising. The bad thing is that academic standards are also being lowered.

Depends on what your degree is in. The goal is to pick something that will be marketable for years after you finish.

[Perry Winkle]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

The goal is to pick something that will be marketable for years after you finish.

I don't believe that at all. I mean that's what most people think, but most people also think that going to Uni is supposed to teach you how to do something. Which is not true; if you want skill training go to a technical or professional school.

What students should pursue is something they're passionate about, not what will, in theory, make them the most bank. Unless the student doesn't mind doing something they might hate for the next 30-40 years.

A Bachelor's degree is just about enough time and effort for many people to figure out what they're passionate about, if they're lucky.

My unpopular opinion for this post: Law and Medicine are no worse or better fields than Plumbing; they all require technical qualifications.

[melidasaur]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Depends on what your degree is in. The goal is to pick something that will be marketable for years after you finish.

Unfortunately, people confuse marketable with profitable - and many students choose majors based on where they will make the most bucks. Nothing wrong with that, but you end up with professionals who have no passion for their profession but more passion for the bottom line. Hence why there are too many lawyers and doctors.

And I can gripe about too many lawyers... I am one and wish that there were less of them to deal with!

[Sheldonrs]

I have a degree in Elementary Education that I'll never use. Anyone want to buy it from me? It's at a good price and I can discount it further since it was obtained in New Jersey!

[jinx]

Evolution thru natural selection counts for human beings too.

Every decision that you've made up to this point, have led you to this point.

[Spexxvet]

The US should go to war as a truly last resort.

When the US must go to war, stick with what we do well. That means invade, take care of the reason for the invasion, and get the hell out. We don't have an obligation to rebuild. That only encourages countries to provoke us to invade, because they want new infrastructure. If the problem returns, or if another problem pops up, invade again - hell, we're good at it, aren't we? Then get the hell out before any military personnel get killed.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by jinx

Evolution thru natural selection counts for human beings too.

Every decision that you've made up to this point, have led you to this point.

There are plenty of times when you are subject to the decisions of others, where you have absolutely no control, that will lead you to this point.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

There are plenty of times when you are subject to the decisions of others, where you have absolutely no control, that will lead you to this point.

That's pretty rare, though I'll concede that sometimes you have very little control. Do you have an example?

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by jinx

Evolution thru natural selection counts for human beings too.

Every decision that you've made up to this point, have led you to this point.

No way! God made us what we are, and controls use completely - it says so in a musem in Kentuccky! [/sarcasm]

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by jinx

Every decision that you've made up to this point, have led you to this point.

Other than the example of being born, Jinx's point is valid. I chose the job, putting myself in a position to lose it when it was taken over. I chose to drive on that road, at that time. It's not that I controlled what happened, but my decisions put me there.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by melidasaur

Hence why there are too many lawyers and doctors.

Well there may very well be to many lawyers, but we need more docotors. There are not enough people going into medicine anymore because there are to many lawyers.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Well there may very well be to many lawyers, but we need more docotors. There are not enough people going into medicine anymore because there are to many lawyers.

It's far easier to become a lawyer.