Does education make you jaded?

[CMV]

Quote:

Me, too.

 

[DianeB]

My point wasn't that I am looking for a boyfriend or husband. Though, one would be nice. It is more that individuals in this Central Valley community do not even care to improve this area and in some cases themselves. We have the same incompentant major that runs term after term without challenge. Every few months or so their is another person in the city council, county board of supervisors and county CEO's office that is arrested or sued for corruption. Last Novemeber, a ballot measute that insured that only those that lived in the district could be elected to that city council position. (Currently, all the top ranking local officials in government and education live in an exclusive million dollar gated community. This is in a county were quite a few people fall below or at the poverty line.) People's apathy is both fusturating and discouraging.

They just don't care. They don't educate themselves about issues and try to change them. Heck, I fear that some may not even sign a petition.

It almost feels like I am back in a developing country. Except in most developing countries, there are more people that care and do try to change things.

Does anyone else feel this way about their community?

DB

 

[1stepcloser]

Yup. When I lived in Butte and Wasilla. (My apologies to anyone who lives in Butte or Wasilla.)

 

[Rosalind]

Quote:
I think you answered your own question right there.

Bear in mind though, college is the last time you will ever have time to do a lot of community organizing. Lots of folks, between working multiple jobs and minding their kids and just trying to get through life's usual problems, don't have any time left in the day to spend on politics. So they keep their heads down. Notice that a lot of the famous "community organizers" and society-changers have been religious ministers--who make their whole lives about talking to people and organizing them, in a sense.

Heh. If you haven't read much of the original diaries and journals of slave plantation owners, you might find that interesting in how it parallels with the modern work-life axiom, "Work expands to fill the time available to do it." Compare and contrast with our modern 12-14 hour workday lifestyle...

 

[DianeB]

I can't agree that no one trys to organize after college. There is several local organization that organize rallys, protests, charity drives, etc. that has limited turnout in greater metropolition area of almost half a million. The reason people do not attend has little to do with a complicated or busy life, they simply do not care. Those that do show up are generally middle aged mothers and fathers, husbands and wives that are busy. The young that have no such obligations are the ones absent.

There is a large homeless population in this city. Several articles have been written about their plight and the steady lack of funding for and the government apathy towards them. The comments made about such articles are horrific. Many really do believe that they deserve no compassion. Similiar articles or statements about are growing poor or high unemployment and forclosure rate draw similiar critisms. Even just statements in a conversation about helping the poor or the enviornment or any other such thing causes people to give you blank stares, harsh reprimands or some simply walk away.

Its sad, really! I know that they are really just hurting themselves in the end. Maybe they are just scared. Or perhaps they don't see the point of building up something that they feel is a 'pass through' area. Though most of them will stay here for the rest of their lives.

It is even more sad that I can have a conversation like this with people half the country away, yet not with someone next door.

DB

 

[scbatz33]

My Uncle used to say, "the more degrees a person gets the dumber they become". I don't know if he meant this as a whole or only in relationship to his two sisters (both have masters in education)......Of course, if you met my Aunts, you'd probably agree......man, I miss my Uncle!

 

[DianeB]

Quote:
That's pretty offensive.

 

[scbatz33]

Quote:
That's pretty offensive.

Exactly HOW is it offensive? I have a college education....so do alot of folks I know. What I have found is folks who spend a majority of time in academia get disconnected from reality. They see things in the world of text books and how things "ought" to be as opposed to how things are.

Why do you think all through school people would say "when you graduate and go out into the REAL world"? Or why folks who go to work instead of college are said to have "real world experience"? It's because college is NOT the real world. It's people sitting around thinking, discussing, pondering, waxing philosophical about how things are and how things should be.....

There is an old saying - "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
That's pretty offensive.

Actually that was supposed to be funny

DianeB, after reading through the thread I want to share my thoughts, which are pretty simple....

Ignorance is bliss, you can't help but be ignorant if you were born that way. Stupidity is an ignorant person who refuses to better their situation/education.

 

[DianeB]

I am sorry if I made you upset. I must have misinterpretated what you meant. You just made a statement that more college means less intelligence. It seemed like an attack on me and others in this forum. How was I not suppose to take such a statement?

I definately do not believe that you need a college degree to have an intelligent viewpoint. My point is not that people need education. The people I mention are going to local colleges or had attended some school.

School should not be the end all. Isn't the point of college to take your knowledge and experience to the world and improve it? The problem is not intelligence, experience or education. Its apathy and selfishness.

DB