Do you think less of somone who does not have a degree?

[BurnItDwn]

In general, no and no.
That said, certain degrees in certain fields go influence my opinion.

For instance, I will usually make assumptions that people with PhDs in Physics are not stupid.

 

[will889]

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
In general, no and no.
That said, certain degrees in certain fields go influence my opinion.

For instance, I will usually make assumptions that people with PhDs in Physics are not stupid.

...about physics. They may have zero ability to run a high volume business like a street savvy business person with no degree. Both have valuable places in society. Both are smart in their own way.

 

[zerocool84]

It just seems that people who have degrees think they're smarter than people who don't. I've seen it here on this board and in real life.

 

[Red Squirrel]

No.

In fact when I see someone with like 20 degrees that I have no clue what they even mean, I find the person is just over educated and too afraid to face the real world so the person stays in school for countless years. Some fields require this mind you, such as medicine. I do admire people who are able to achieve this high though, but in the end I would not say they are better then someone doing the same job for multiple years as experience comes before everything.

 

[bleeb]

The answer to this question depends on a lot of factors...

 

[Miramonti]

I probably do, atleast more than I would of them if they didn't have one.

 

[will889]

Originally posted by: bleeb
The answer to this question depends on a lot of factors...

...and the main one is..the simple desire to do well in the face of all or any odds. No matter what. The person that can have that attitude can do well ... no matter what.

 

[iGas]

Degrees isn't a measure of intelligent, personality, nor mannerism.

George Washington

1st President of the United States
(April 30, 1789 to March 3, 1797)

Education: No formal education


George Walker Bush

43rd President of the United States
(January 20, 2001 to January 20, 2009)

Education: Graduated from Yale University (1968); Graduated from Harvard Business School (1975)

 

[jinduy]

i think less of someone who doesn't have a high school diploma and contributes nothing to society (i.e. unemployed)

not so much for a college degree. i know a lot of successful people who did not need a degree.

 

[TheVrolok]

As a general rule I'd have to say that no, I don't. Really, though, the question is too vague to answer appropriately. Which school? Which degree? What is the non-degree person doing? What kind of experience? etc. etc. etc.

 

[eplebnista]

No and No

 

[rocadelpunk]

I don't think less of someone if they don't have a degree - might be a hairstylist or work in a trade

I think an online degree is completely worthless. Other than that I judge by what you got your degree in. If you're passionate about what you study then that will come through and I wouldn't look down upon your degree, but if you just went to college to goof around and be lazy and get a degree in whatever was easiest - yah I'd look down on you, think you were a loser and unintelligent.

 

[CycloWizard]

No and no. Having spent nine years in college myself, I have friends with all levels of education, from high school to MD/PhD. I have learned a great deal from doctors of various disciplines, but some of the most important lessons I have learned were from people with high school (or lower) educations. Some people understand the way the world works from a human factors perspective (i.e. people who are street smart), while some people understand how the world works on a physical/chemical basis. People can often grasp some of both, but no one I've met can comprehend all of both worlds because the latter is governed by immutable rules, while the former is governed by intuition and other factors which can't be written down. My oldest brother is a marine and my second youngest is getting a PhD at Stanford. Which do I think more of? I honestly can't say. They're both very different but amazing people.

 

[Kirby]

Some of the best people I know have no degree and are generally uneducated. But they wouldn't hesitate for a second to help anyone in need. Some people are perfectly content living a basic, simple life. There is no shame being a farmer or working in a mill. A piece of paper has no bearing on the quality of life or the worth of a person.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Bill Gates is laughing at you elitists that answered yes

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky
Bill Gates is laughing at you elitists that answered yes

If someone gets a degree, I respect that that person followed thru and completed the task, which often can be very difficult.

That's not to say that someone without a degree isn't capable or worthy of respect, just that if I know nothing about 2 different people, 1 with a degree and 1 without, the person with a degree gets a slight nod over the other based on that alone. And without a ged, its fair to say I'm not qualified to be a scholarly elitist.

I don't think people are being completely honest. Getting a degree is a very positive thing imo.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky
Bill Gates is laughing at you elitists that answered yes

If someone gets a degree, I respect that that person followed thru and completed the task, which often can be very difficult.

That's not to say that someone without a degree isn't capable or worthy of respect, just that if I know nothing about 2 different people, 1 with a degree and 1 without, the person with a degree gets a slight nod over the other based on that alone. And without a ged, its fair to say I'm not qualified to be a scholarly elitist.

I don't think people are being completely honest. Getting a degree is a very positive thing imo.

Getting a degree CAN be a very positive thing but, I've met too many wastes of space with degrees to give respect based only on a degree.

 

[Aimster]

Those who answer should state if they have a degree

 

[lxskllr]

I've met too many "papered" idiots to put any value in a degree. Anything short of a PhD just proves you have the ability to parrot what you've been taught; It's no proof of intelligence.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky
Bill Gates is laughing at you elitists that answered yes

If someone gets a degree, I respect that that person followed thru and completed the task, which often can be very difficult.

That's not to say that someone without a degree isn't capable or worthy of respect, just that if I know nothing about 2 different people, 1 with a degree and 1 without, the person with a degree gets a slight nod over the other based on that alone. And without a ged, its fair to say I'm not qualified to be a scholarly elitist.

I don't think people are being completely honest. Getting a degree is a very positive thing imo.

Getting a degree CAN be a very positive thing but, I've met too many wastes of space with degrees to give respect based only on a degree.

The degree didn't make them wastes of space (nor does a lack of one), so given that particular person, I think most people would think more of that 'waste of space' with a degree than the same 'waste of space' person not getting it.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: will889

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
In general, no and no.
That said, certain degrees in certain fields go influence my opinion.

For instance, I will usually make assumptions that people with PhDs in Physics are not stupid.

...about physics. They may have zero ability to run a high volume business like a street savvy business person with no degree. Both have valuable places in society. Both are smart in their own way.

This sounds like something people say to themselves to help them sleep better at night. A high school graduate with "street" smarts is not likely to be more intelligent in most areas when compared to an accomplished scientist with several post graduate degrees. It's a big misnomer that people with academic smarts lack "street" smarts. After all, it mostly comes down to experience and being able to efficiently teach yourself new things. This is the biggest reason college grads are given priority in most jobs because they are much more likely to self-educate efficiently. Obviously some people just learn things quickly, but a person who has to work harder at it and has been through college has been exposed to a variety of different ways to think and learn, which allows them to then do it on their own. Anyone who took college even somewhat serious has several advantages over people who didn't or didn't go. It doesn't mean they'll be more successful, but they certainly have a better chance.

With that said, I answered no and no. Having or not having a degree is not what I use to "value" someone's contributions to society.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky
Bill Gates is laughing at you elitists that answered yes

If someone gets a degree, I respect that that person followed thru and completed the task, which often can be very difficult.

That's not to say that someone without a degree isn't capable or worthy of respect, just that if I know nothing about 2 different people, 1 with a degree and 1 without, the person with a degree gets a slight nod over the other based on that alone. And without a ged, its fair to say I'm not qualified to be a scholarly elitist.

I don't think people are being completely honest. Getting a degree is a very positive thing imo.

Getting a degree CAN be a very positive thing but, I've met too many wastes of space with degrees to give respect based only on a degree.

The degree didn't make them wastes of space (nor does a lack of one), so given that particular person, I think most people would think more of that 'waste of space' with a degree than the same 'waste of space' person not getting it.

Say what? You're right, a person can be a waste of space with or without a degree but, how is that a recommendation for a degree? I think my generation has done a tremendous disservice to the 'youts' of today by continuing the mythos handed down to us from our parents that, "you either go to college or, you dig ditches the rest of your life."

 

[will889]

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan

Originally posted by: will889

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
In general, no and no.
That said, certain degrees in certain fields go influence my opinion.

For instance, I will usually make assumptions that people with PhDs in Physics are not stupid.

...about physics. They may have zero ability to run a high volume business like a street savvy business person with no degree. Both have valuable places in society. Both are smart in their own way.

This sounds like something people say to themselves to help them sleep better at night. A high school graduate with "street" smarts is not likely to be more intelligent in most areas when compared to an accomplished scientist with several post graduate degrees. It's a big misnomer that people with academic smarts lack "street" smarts. After all, it mostly comes down to experience and being able to efficiently teach yourself new things. This is the biggest reason college grads are given priority in most jobs because they are much more likely to self-educate efficiently. Obviously some people just learn things quickly, but a person who has to work harder at it and has been through college has been exposed to a variety of different ways to think and learn, which allows them to then do it on their own. Anyone who took college even somewhat serious has several advantages over people who didn't or didn't go. It doesn't mean they'll be more successful, but they certainly have a better chance.

With that said, I answered no and no. Having or not having a degree is not what I use to "value" someone's contributions to society.

Without you even knowing it, apparently you agree with me.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan

This sounds like something people say to themselves to help them sleep better at night. A high school graduate with "street" smarts is not likely to be more intelligent in most areas when compared to an accomplished scientist with several post graduate degrees. It's a big misnomer that people with academic smarts lack "street" smarts. After all, it mostly comes down to experience and being able to efficiently teach yourself new things. This is the biggest reason college grads are given priority in most jobs because they are much more likely to self-educate efficiently. Obviously some people just learn things quickly, but a person who has to work harder at it and has been through college has been exposed to a variety of different ways to think and learn, which allows them to then do it on their own. Anyone who took college even somewhat serious has several advantages over people who didn't or didn't go. It doesn't mean they'll be more successful, but they certainly have a better chance.

With that said, I answered no and no. Having or not having a degree is not what I use to "value" someone's contributions to society.

I'd say your argument is logical but just as specious as any other. I once had the Dean of the English department at the University of Arizona tell me in response to my complaint regarding his poor communication and misspelling in emails that he was "Too busy to bother with spell check."

Unfortunately, a good many PHD's have concentrated so heavily on that 'one blade of grass,' that they have lost sight of the lawn.

 

[compuwiz1]

A degree does not necessarily earn my respect. I've known quite a few educated idiots who worked at 7-11, Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Wal*Mart, you name it.

Conversely, the lack of a degree does not mean that a person is not worthy. It is your B and C students who will someday dedicate a building.

A degree does not guarantee success and the lack of a degree does not guarantee failure.