To Learn About the Far Right, Start With the ‘Manosphere’

[laylalex 7,284]

3 minutes ago, ALFKAD said:

Critical thinking does not come from any particular degree, IMO.  That's something one either employs,  or chooses not to.

 

You're probably not gonna want to hear this, but unless your degree is being used to earn income, it's not worth more than your good feelings which come from "attending a top university".  Not that there is anything wrong with being proud of your alma mater,  but it doesn't amount to much if you just talk about it.  Doesn't pay theBill's, by any means.

 

I'm a fairly critical thinker, and learned SO MUCH more about history and geography by living and visiting various places in the world.  I also learned a lot about how Western Europe was responsible for ruining millions of lives thru their aggressive slave trade.   Deplorable. 

It's a very popular point of view that a degree's "worth" can be quantified only in terms of its return on investment in terms of wages or salary. It's not necessarily one that I share.  I think that I have become a more intelligent, more compassionate, more curious person as a result of the path I pursued. I do realize however that I have the privilege of saying these things because of my position in the class structure that very much does exist in this country -- I was raised by a doctor and a lawyer, educated in a great public school system (yes, they do exist in California), went to a great university (not saying this to rub it in, it just happens to be true) which has opened doors for me again and again, and married, as I was told yesterday, my way out of debt. I have certain luxuries when it comes to educational choices that others do not, which I think is a real pity.

[yuna628 9,676]

32 minutes ago, laylalex said:

Sorry, I have a BA in Art History and I would hardly call it worthless. It proved an excellent foundation for critical thinking in the fields I have worked in over the years. It's not simply a nice party trick of being able to browse through coffee table books and know whether a painting's by a student of Fra Filippo Lippi or Botticelli in a moment's glance. I gained an understanding of the greater history, geography, politics and economies of Western Europe. Arts degrees get a lot of flack for being "worthless" but they simply aren't. Of course, it really depends on where a student is going  to school -- I went to a top university, so my degree's worth is tied to where it came from, in addition to what field it was in.

I.. well don't want to sound insulting here, and I'm not intending to be. There's a value to art history degrees I suppose, perhaps for teaching purposes and working in a museum field - and if that is your passion then go for it. I *love* art, love it dearly. Love museums, history all of it, but it did not require a degree to study or immerse oneself in such thing - knowledge is out there, and I've been studying that since I was a kid on my own. I'm the one taking my husband to museums and teaching him about what he sees there. Don't get me wrong, like I said, I wanted to go for a MA of art actually, mostly in graphic design and photography - but I felt that these were more practical skills that had better job openings. A friend of mine went to top tier schools for architecture, now that is a crazy expensive degree but it paid off for them big time.

 

I had a weird education growing up.. but whenever I wanted to learn something I went out and inhaled whatever knowledge I could find on my own. Not sure such degrees can provide that - unless you have a really specific field in mind for employment.

 

2 minutes ago, laylalex said:

It's a very popular point of view that a degree's "worth" can be quantified only in terms of its return on investment in terms of wages or salary. It's not necessarily one that I share.  I think that I have become a more intelligent, more compassionate, more curious person as a result of the path I pursued. I do realize however that I have the privilege of saying these things because of my position in the class structure that very much does exist in this country -- I was raised by a doctor and a lawyer, educated in a great public school system (yes, they do exist in California), went to a great university (not saying this to rub it in, it just happens to be true) which has opened doors for me again and again, and married, as I was told yesterday, my way out of debt. I have certain luxuries when it comes to educational choices that others do not, which I think is a real pity.

I understand. But it's hard for.. let us say.. the average person not accustomed to wealth, to see a degree in terms of anything but getting a return on investment. We must use our money wisely. Those that don't have a lot of money to spend are unlikely to 'fulfill a passion' by blowing  40,60,100k a year + loans and interest for a degree like that. We'd consider them a fulfillment of a heart investment but not really an investment that we have the time or money to ever afford. Your status afforded you a good education and the option to choose to do that, with I assume little consequences to consider about that choice. So be proud of course, but understand that it's not a choice that many of us could ever make. Three generations of artists are in my veins, but it's not something my status could afford no matter how much I once dreamed of it.

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

Pretty sure nobody I know who was in the Military has ever been shot at.

 

Murphy’s Laws of Combat Operations

please read #36

https://www.itstactical.com/intellicom/mindset/murphys-laws-of-combat-operations/

 

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

23 minutes ago, laylalex said:

It's a very popular point of view that a degree's "worth" can be quantified only in terms of its return on investment in terms of wages or salary. It's not necessarily one that I share.  I think that I have become a more intelligent, more compassionate, more curious person as a result of the path I pursued. I do realize however that I have the privilege of saying these things because of my position in the class structure that very much does exist in this country -- I was raised by a doctor and a lawyer, educated in a great public school system (yes, they do exist in California), went to a great university (not saying this to rub it in, it just happens to be true) which has opened doors for me again and again, and married, as I was told yesterday, my way out of debt. I have certain luxuries when it comes to educational choices that others do not, which I think is a real pity.

If you TRULY wanted to use your liberal arts degree for good, you'd get a good-paying job, and donate half your after tax income to someone younger and less privileged who cannot afford college.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

Pretty sure nobody I know who was in the Military has ever been shot at.

Count yourself lucky. I've known many that not only were shot AT, but were actually shot.    And several who lost their lives during their military service.

[Boiler 45,516]

If we just look at the US then it has not been involved in a serious war since 1975.

 

UK and well Suez probably not, Korea? Falklands got a lot of press but even there the numbers killed was tiny,  that is the oddity of my life span, how few have died in the Military. I have not looked it up by I would not be surprised if far more have dies in recent years in training accidents.

[laylalex 7,284]

Just now, ALFKAD said:

If you TRULY wanted to use your liberal arts degree for good, you'd get a good-paying job, and donate half your after tax income to someone younger and less privileged who cannot afford college.

Why ALFKAD, you old socialist, you.  

 

I am working my way back up from being a housewife -- I left full-time work at my ex's request when I was in my 20s. I hadn't advanced very far in my career at that time, but I was on track to be a high earner at the company I was with had I not left the working world. Fast forward to where I am now, I'm just starting out in a new career where I'm lucky to be able to use my education. I was out of the work force for quite a while, so I'm starting from the bottom. My current job has me earning minimum wage, but I am earning more in terms of sheer experience of the type I will eventually be able to use for myself when I'm ready to branch out on my own in this field. When I do, I have the potential to make a very nice sum for myself. At the same time, I am lucky to have financial security in the form of spousal support that allows me to take the chances I am taking now on a new line of work. 

 

At one point, charity was my "thing" -- I didn't have much to do when I wasn't working, as I didn't (and don't) have kids. I gave generously to causes that were acceptable to my ex (including to a scholarship fund at my alma mater), and as I could from my own wealth to causes that weren't. I helped organize fundraisers and galas and silent auctions. I still volunteer as I am able, and give of myself in terms of time more than money these days as I am mindful that my spousal support will terminate when I remarry -- I am making greater economies now than I used to. It's not like my fiance is poor, I just don't want to drain his pockets when he has his own obligations. 

 

I like to think I do good in the world. Sometimes it's money, sometimes it's time. Sometimes it's both. It was the way I was raised to be -- if you come from a place of privilege, you owe the world an obligation to share the blessings of your circumstances and hard work.

[Randyandyuni 2,682]

Roughly 8k US deaths in the various Iraqi and Afghan conflicts

[beloved_dingo 1,979]

34 minutes ago, Boiler said:

If we just look at the US then it has not been involved in a serious war since 1975.

 

UK and well Suez probably not, Korea? Falklands got a lot of press but even there the numbers killed was tiny,  that is the oddity of my life span, how few have died in the Military. I have not looked it up by I would not be surprised if far more have dies in recent years in training accidents.

Note that this is ONLY referring to deaths and those wounded in action between March 19, 2003, and Aug. 31, 2010 but I'm pointing this out because I believe a lot of people around my age (in their 30's) know more than a few people who were deployed during this time, and were either injured, killed, or at the very least - saw real combat. 

 

More info and stats at the source here: https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Casualty-Status/

Edited August 15, 2019 by beloved_dingo

[Boiler 45,516]

18 minutes ago, beloved_dingo said:

Note that this is ONLY referring to deaths and those wounded in action between March 19, 2003, and Aug. 31, 2010 but I'm pointing this out because I believe a lot of people around my age (in their 30's) know more than a few people who were deployed during this time, and were either injured, killed, or at the very least - saw real combat. 

 

More info and stats at the source here: https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Casualty-Status/

Over 5 times as many died on one day in the ACW.

 

And the above was over 7 years, and the current population is about 10x what is was then.

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,370]

2 hours ago, laylalex said:

Sorry, I have a BA in Art History and I would hardly call it worthless. It proved an excellent foundation for critical thinking in the fields I have worked in over the years. It's not simply a nice party trick of being able to browse through coffee table books and know whether a painting's by a student of Fra Filippo Lippi or Botticelli in a moment's glance. I gained an understanding of the greater history, geography, politics and economies of Western Europe. Arts degrees get a lot of flack for being "worthless" but they simply aren't. Of course, it really depends on where a student is going  to school -- I went to a top university, so my degree's worth is tied to where it came from, in addition to what field it was in.

I am glad you have great critical thinking skills.

 

I once went to a party with a bunch of Psychology professors. One was moaning and peeing about how unfair it was construction workers made more than her with a PHD. I told her the construction feild was wide open, she ought to check it out.

 

Same chick told me she was a Thespian. I told her that was ok, in my thickest hick drawl, I supported same sex marriage.  she thought I was serious. 

 

Point being she had a PHD and was dumb as a rock

Edited August 15, 2019 by Nature Boy 2.0

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

2 hours ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

 

Same chick told me she was a Thespian. I told her that was ok, in my thickest hick drawl, I supported same sex marriage.  she thought I was serious. 

 

It's okay when chicks do it, but yucky when it's boys.

 

I learned that on VJ from Kip. 

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,370]

50 minutes ago, elmcitymaven said:

It's okay when chicks do it, but yucky when it's boys.

 

I learned that on VJ from Kip. 

Well duh. Of course it is. Kip was a VJ God.

 

Leeps getting in trouble in many fb groups also.

I think he just cant let go of his infatuation with a certain Mod

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

1 minute ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

Well duh. Of course it is. Kip was a VJ God.

 

Leeps getting in trouble in many fb groups also.

I think he just cant let go of his infatuation with a certain Mod

Yeah, I'll quibble you on his godlike status, but you know, I really miss the messed up camaraderie we all used to have on here. I was just re-reading some old posts where we all riffed off each other for 12 or more pages, gently taking the mick out of each other. It wasn't even a matter of left v. right, that was ALWAYS present. We just had more... fun. 

 

#sadness #mavenstears

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

4 hours ago, Boiler said:

Over 5 times as many died on one day in the ACW.

 

And the above was over 7 years, and the current population is about 10x what is was then.

I'd challenge you to stand in front of the wives, husbands, and children's of those that died in the time frame mentioned, and tell them what you just said.

 

In 2011-2012, 11.5 months, my Medevac unit in the desert carried over 3,100 patients.  I have no idea the ratio of deaths to wounded because to us, they were all patients, not casualties.  But I know many of the ones we carried went home missing limbs and will forever be tortured in their dreams.  Dying is not always the worst thing to happen.