Idiots in college.

[Red Squirrel]

This makes me realize how I'm glad I'm done school. I used to hate essays... so pointless, especially when it was about some political issue in a Shakespeare book or something. Who cares what so and so thought of what so and so did. It's fiction, it's just a story!

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Apparently the Asian girl in our class wouldn't allow it. Something about respecting elders or some other kung fu bullshit. All the class had to do was pick anyone else in the boat - we didn't even have to explain our rationale in how we chose the person.

This proved too difficult.

I was so pissed I wanted to kill everyone in the boat, followed by everyone in the class.

Ah, that is where you went wrong. If the Blood God wanted blood, the classes blood in place of those on the boat...

 

[Imp]

This makes me realize how I'm glad I'm done school. I used to hate essays... so pointless, especially when it was about some political issue in a Shakespeare book or something. Who cares what so and so thought of what so and so did. It's fiction, it's just a story!

It's about developing your writing and analytical ability... Just wish they picked better topics than why Ophelia was such a c*nt.

And meh, I'm almost dead set on starting a BA majoring in a branch of anthropology, minor in aboriginal studies, and maybe minor in public policy. Already got my engineering degrees, so time + money to burn.

 

[dud]

Just an FYI for all those in HS and college ... ENJOY your life and freedom while you can. The OP is indeed describing a 1st world problem. These types of posts remind me of kindergartners nor being able to behave themselves in the sandbox.

There is life after "school" ... and yes, that life can be much tougher than your sheltered lives are right now.

Prepare yourselves ...

 

[Jeff7]

It's about developing your writing and analytical ability... Just wish they picked better topics than why Ophelia was such a c*nt.

And meh, I'm almost dead set on starting a BA majoring in a branch of anthropology, minor in aboriginal studies, and maybe minor in public policy. Already got my engineering degrees, so time + money to burn.

This.

Poetry.
Ok, I read the poem. The guy really really likes trees, and the color green. I get it.
But oh joyous day, I get to write an essay about the meaning behind this poem, one which could have been summed up in one or two succinct sentences.
That's right, I'm not an artistic sort of person.


But as far as honing writing skills is concerned, based on seeing Youtube comments, and from reading that the literacy rate in the US is 99%, I have come to question how "literacy" is defined.
"Must be able to convey ideas at a 2nd grade level. Punctuation and capitalization are optional."

 

[Platypus]

it's getting you used to the fact that the world is full of idiots that you'll have to deal with on a daily basis long after academia.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

This.

Poetry.
Ok, I read the poem. The guy really really likes trees, and the color green. I get it.
But oh joyous day, I get to write an essay about the meaning behind this poem, one which could have been summed up in one or two succinct sentences.
That's right, I'm not an artistic sort of person.


But as far as honing writing skills is concerned, based on seeing Youtube comments, and from reading that the literacy rate in the US is 99%, I have come to question how "literacy" is defined.
"Must be able to convey ideas at a 2nd grade level. Punctuation and capitalization are optional."

If the US is anything like the UK, then sure. I was working yesterday and one of the points that came up was the average reading age - it's something like 10 years old, or lower in deprived areas...

 

[theevilsharpie]

Going back to college at 30 sucks ass. Even worse when you realize everyone is much smarter than you and incredibly fuckin lazy.

I'm an older student as well. I'm not sure where you're going to school, but here, if I put A and B together and explain my reasoning in coherent sentences, everyone thinks I'm a genius.

I wouldn't necessarily call my classmates lazy (or smart, for that matter), but it's absolutely mindblowing how inexperienced they are. At everything.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

People are idiots. Plain and simple. I recall some class project in some international politics class. There's 10 people in a boat drifting around, and we, as a group, must unanimously decide which one to kill off. No other criteria. We just had to pick one.

And these fucking idiots spent an hour arguing with each other, completely unable to decide between the grandma and the 8 year old - notwithstanding my repeatedly telling everyone it didn't fucking matter. Flip a coin and be done with it.

Why did it not matter who you picked? Was this thing done entirely in class or did your group have to meet and argue about it outside of class?

 

[nickbits]

Just an FYI for all those in HS and college ... ENJOY your life and freedom while you can. The OP is indeed describing a 1st world problem. These types of posts remind me of kindergartners nor being able to behave themselves in the sandbox.

There is life after "school" ... and yes, that life can be much tougher than your sheltered lives are right now.

Prepare yourselves ...

Have to disagree there. Real life is much easier.

 

[Jeeebus]

Why did it not matter who you picked? Was this thing done entirely in class or did your group have to meet and argue about it outside of class?

Entirely in class. It was the first assignment on the first day of class (think it was some sort of United Nations class). My guess is he wanted to demonstrate how difficult it is to get 20 people to agree on anything, even where the outcome has no conceivable effect on you. If that was his goal, it was a resounding success.

 

[MarkXIX]

it's getting you used to the fact that the world is full of idiots that you'll have to deal with on a daily basis long after academia.

This is the universal lesson of group projects when you really think about it.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Entirely in class. It was the first assignment on the first day of class (think it was some sort of United Nations class). My guess is he wanted to demonstrate how difficult it is to get 20 people to agree on anything, even where the outcome has no conceivable effect on you. If that was his goal, it was a resounding success.

In that case I don't really see the problem. It's not consuming any time outside of class, and your solution to solving the problem was basically "It's just a worthless assignment, who gives a shit" which isn't really an answer to the question. I don't support all the calls for "well-rounded" students and such, and wouldn't be surprised if the class was a waste of time, but if you're going to enroll in a class you shouldn't be surprised when others give an honest effort.

 

[shortylickens]

Have to disagree there. Real life is much easier.

Not for me.
But I will say having a job is a lot more rewarding. The shit you learn is applied every day and you get a sense of belonging in society. What you do actually effects people and matters. They care if you do well or poorly. They care if you're part of the team and useful.

School is working hard for no reason and on top of that, you have to pay for it.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Not for me.
But I will say having a job is a lot more rewarding. The shit you learn is applied every day and you get a sense of belonging in society. What you do actually effects people and matters. They care if you do well or poorly. They care if you're part of the team and useful.

School is working hard for no reason and on top of that, you have to pay for it.

So in what way is college easier for you?

 

[MarkXIX]

Not for me.
But I will say having a job is a lot more rewarding. The shit you learn is applied every day and you get a sense of belonging in society. What you do actually effects people and matters. They care if you do well or poorly. They care if you're part of the team and useful.

School is working hard for no reason and on top of that, you have to pay for it.

shortylickens, just push through it like I did. I went back to school with my G.I. Bill at age 27, on campus, as a traditional student for the first year. It drove me nuts being around the entitled, worldly little bastards who think they'll conquer the world when they're done. More than once I wanted to punch a few people in the face for their flat out ignorance.

However, it was funny a few times when I went to group study sessions for college algebra and the students kept asking me for help thinking that I was a student aid or instructor. When they would ask for help on a problem I would just say "Yeah, I need help on that one too, any ideas?"

 

[MarkXIX]

College, the only business where you pay someone else large sums of money for them to give YOU work in return, and all they provide in the end is a $5 piece of embossed paper and a funny fucking hat and robe you'll never wear again. Good thing I skipped my graduation and had them send me that shit in the mail.

College makes a smart man feel like an idiot if you boil it down to the basics. Good thing the Army paid for my entire education or I'd be pissed off paying it back for years and years like most.

 

[zephyrprime]

It's about developing your writing and analytical ability... Just wish they picked better topics than why Ophelia was such a c*nt.

Ophelia was not a c*nt. She was a crazy chick, but not a c*nt. I've met real c*nts in real life so I know what I'm talking about.