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The problem with School
Topic Started: Jul 20 2006, 03:23 PM (1,183 Views)
Tech Junkie
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Styx Ferryman
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I know bottled water is a rather large scam up there with charging $7 for a bottle of compressed air, but for some bizarre reason, some people think it's better for them than tap water. I prefer tap myself. Fine, refrigerated tapwater it is (boiled first, just because).

I still figure sodas should be available. One unhealthy item in an otherwise healthy meal doesn't result in the negation of said healthy meal. That's like saying listening to heavy metal is a one way ticket to hell no matter what else you do*.

Damn. . . figured everyone would forget fountains. . . ok, fountains it is. Cheaper than vending machines anyway.

Well, at least we agree on who has the biggest problem with a well-educated populace. Imagine if the average American (for example) were well educated and not indoctrinated with this or that ideology from square one. To paraphrase my mother and likely speak the opinion of numerous other nations people/leaders: "If they [Americans] only had a brain, they'd be dangerous."**

On shy versus outgoing: I have 2 friends of roughly equal education. One is outgoing, funny, etc. The other is more quiet and reserved. Both went to college and never finished their degrees. One works at McDonalds part time making $7/hr. The other works full time at Briggs & Stratton making nearly $11/hr, despite having worked there less than half as long as my part-timer friend worked at Mickey D's. Briggs employee gets full medical and dental for himself and his family (Wife and 2 kids), manages to live relatively comfortably (save a lack of sleep) in a house he rents. McFriend, despite being the same age and education as BriggsFriend, gets decidedly fewer benefits, still lives with his mother, and is basically not going anywhere.

BriggsFriend, the one with the life, family, and better job: reserved and quiet, not particularly popular in high school, having spent more time with geeks than his fellow atheletes (he was a wrestler, and a good one).

McFriend, the one that lives with his mom, is single with no prospects, and has a job he hates: Outgoing and very funny, relatively popular in high school despite the handicaps of being neither handsome nor atheletic.

Being able to climb the HS social ladder doesn't make you any better prepared to climb the one out there in the real world. High School bears little to no resemblance to the life that follows it.

Anyway

Anyone object to keeping a student in the system till thay can legitimately pass? No matter how 'cool' you are, being in your early-mid 20s and still in High School tends to negate that effect (I point no further than the 4-5 morons that I graduated with that had been in high school ranging from 6-9 years. It was clear to everyone that no matter how close to 'cool' they seemed, these people were losers).

Nice Article, by the way. Gives me even more reason to keep those electives in the schedule :)




*If you believe that, you're even more messed up than I [the heavy metal thing]. If you happen to be a christian, doesn't it say something to the effect of judge not lest ye be judged? Help people like our savior did, don't go around telling them how sinful they are with your noses in the air. Not trying to convert anyone here (except possibly to Gadgetism), just trying to get those giving the faith a bad name to cut it out.

**Best I could do for humor on such short notice. Sorry.
May the blessing of Our Lady of the Workshop be upon you.
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Tom Joad
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Quote:
 
Fine, refrigerated tapwater it is (boiled first, just because).


Don't boil it first. When you boil water all the dissolved gases escape and then your water is flat. We want oxygen in our water.
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piercehawkeye45
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Franklin Pierce
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Yes it doesn't happen everytime but I was saying in general on that one area of personality. Hard work and other stuff goes into climbing the ladder out of school which isn't needed in the high school social ladder. Sometimes it depends on the job as well. An accountant needs different social skills then a game designer. There isn't a clear cut on how people will do in life but good social skills help a lot.
Dropped the atomic bomb let them know that it's real
Speak soft with a big stick do what I say or be killed
I'm America!

I have found the enemy and he is us.
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Tech Junkie
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Styx Ferryman
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Ammendment: Good social skills may help. Outside of making one's life a bit more interesting:

They don't help would-be Lawyers pass the Bar
They don't help would-be Doctors pass the MCAT or help them through med school
They don't help unskilled laborers
They're often of little use to skilled laborers
They don't help you through traffic
They don't pay the bills
They don't help you through Basic Training
They don't help you program
They don't affect your creativity


On the other hand:

They do help in job interviews . . . if you're qualified.
They can help in a corporate environment . . . unless someone just dislikes you or you're incompetant
They help you make friends
They may get you out of traffic tickets
They definitely help salesmen
They help politicians out of just about anything


The quality of one's social skills can improve one's lot . . . but not all that much. Too many other factors go into success. Unless, of course, the person in question defines success by popularity.

After all, there's no 1 definition of success.

(Oh, totally off-topic sidenote: I've officially been accepted to UT at San Antonio! I start back in Spring. Gives me a few months to get some work in and build up some savings on top of what I have now [not much, but enough to get me to the area and acquire me a job]. BBA Management degree (and ungodly student loans), here I come!)
May the blessing of Our Lady of the Workshop be upon you.
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piercehawkeye45
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Franklin Pierce
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I did point out most of the things you said. Social skills won't make a person but it will help them a lot more than you think.

First the highest you can get on the work ladder is management. A successful manager has to have very good social skills to get there and to run the business well.

Yes social skills won't help you pass the bar or the MCAT but they will help you in the job interview (very important). Another thing, both those professions need very good social skills and someone won’t be very successful in that field without them.

Going back to what I said before. If two people with the same qualifications, same job, same everything, but one has good social skills and one is lacking. There is room for one person to be promoted to a higher position. The person with social skills will get it most of the time.

To sum it up, social skills won't get you far by itself but it can make you stand out once you’re there.

*Congratulations on getting into UT of San Antonio and the best of luck for you there.
Dropped the atomic bomb let them know that it's real
Speak soft with a big stick do what I say or be killed
I'm America!

I have found the enemy and he is us.
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Tech Junkie
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Styx Ferryman
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You forget: Management promotions are often determined by having good hair :P (Thank you, Scott Adams)

Seriously, you do have a point. . . sort of. It seems your point is that all other things being equal, social skills push one ahead. True . . . but it's rare that all other things are equal.

And thank you. I'll do my best. Even considering trying to graduate with honors :)
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Tom Joad
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I'll say it too. I'm a firm believer in the power of social skils. I really don't know how you can measure it, and it is different for different jobs. Oh well, it's time for Bjork now.
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