The 2024 GQP Thread: Because Deutsche Gopher Fan ENDED the Last One

[ScoobyDoo]

Agree, but nobody said that.

In the discussion, there was no consideration of whether college was “for him” or whether he would enjoy it or whether he would “succeed” (he would). Their entire thought process was, “Even if he applies himself and enjoys it and gains deep understanding, he’s still likely to end up in a $150k white collar job instead of a $100k blue collar job, so I’ll do something else with my $500k that will make me more money.”

The math isn’t wrong; it’s the worldview.

Great parents. I gave everything to my kids. Still do. Both of them graduated college where I was a dropout until I went back and got my degree as a 30+ year old.

 

[rufus]

I mean, did they even ask him what he wanted to do?

 

[Kepler]

Even after getting my BA, had I gone to a trade school to do HVAC work and hired on to a union company, I’d be in a much better financial position than I am now.

My brother, who held the master’s cert., that his employer paid for so they were allowed to work in Minneapolis and a host of suburbs that stated each company needed at least one person with his credentials to work in their cities, he was by far outstripping me financially. That was pre-unionization at that company. After they went union, he really started rolling in the cash. While his direct pay dropped a bit, all the benefits and pension more than offset the diminished wages.

He later went on to start his own company with a friend, a union shop, too, and he retired a multimillionaire. He is the true rags-to-riches story, making less than $2/hour at Perkin’s in the 70s, driving an old Chevette, etc., he never really came to understand the world beyond its direct impact on his life, nor did he try.

His level of success will not be my story, BUT, I do believe that getting my economics degree has improved my understanding of the world beyond the purely theoretical and principled-based teachings. It is lead me to be more critical in my views and decisions.

I'm not talking about financial situation. I mean quality of life. They aren't the same.

Even allowing for entitlement and affluenza, the extent of genuine misery of college graduates in the world is breathtaking. Whatever we are doing is not working for people, and expected value calculations are not even wrong when trying to address it.

 

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

Agree, but nobody said that.

In the discussion, there was no consideration of whether college was “for him” or whether he would enjoy it or whether he would “succeed” (he would). Their entire thought process was, “Even if he applies himself and enjoys it and gains deep understanding, he’s still likely to end up in a $150k white collar job instead of a $100k blue collar job, so I’ll do something else with my $500k that will make me more money.”

The math isn’t wrong; it’s the worldview.

I agree the worldview is nuts but the way you worded it, without some of these details, was extremely classist. you basically said he'd have a life of hardship for doing trades.

the world needs more plumbers and a fuck ton less MBAs and PE scum

 

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

I mean, did they even ask him what he wanted to do?

well as you suggested in a different thread, it's no big deal to just change careers/jobs midlife. Just get a different job!

 

[walrus]

I have no idea what blue collar life is like, but I spent 9 hours yesterday with an HVAC guy and a plumber doing maintenance and improvement work on our house, and they both seemed really happy.

OTOH, every person I know with a degree who spends their days in a cubicle as a screen-babysitter wants to kill themselves.

Not sure what "blue collar" life is but Techs bitch and moan as much as anyone else. They just don't do it around customers if they want repeat business

 

[rufus]

well as you suggested in a different thread, it's no big deal to just change careers/jobs midlife. Just get a different job!

Wow, someone's sensitive.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Rufie, people don't just change careers overnight on a whim because the field they spent years prepping for is suddenly defunded by political forces. You were being a dickhead and still are.

 

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

Wow, someone's sensitive.

sensitive? sure, you're a piece of shit.

Some of you have no idea how bad things are out there, and i hope it hits ya right in the face

 

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

Rufie, people don't just change careers overnight on a whim because the field they spent years prepping for is suddenly defunded by political forces. You were being a dickhead and still are.

prepping? more like working in and having an advanced degree. Rufie is just like Rube - doesn't care unless its directly affecting his dumb ass