Why do you read?

[Modest Proposal]

Are you about 12 years old or something? Does your mommy know you are using the computer? Oh, & genius 'your' is a genitive. You should have used the contractive 'you're'. The pronoun 'you' & the present indicative of the auxiliary verb 'to be'. College student my arse!

Red, I am a little shocked at this aside from you. So what if the poster is young, everyone is at some time. If they are young why would you mock them for it? If they aren't who are you to presume that they need to be taught something by you?

As to the issue of college, I think by this point the world has realized that college does not in any way connote success. Most of the beanbag sleeping droolers I know are IN college.

I'm most of the way through my English PhD and realize more everyday how little 'school' has affected my education. I read to understand things, write to understand myself and go to school to receive a piece of paper.

The SINGLE thing that school does is coerce you into things: reading, writing and discussing. All things that can be done alone and might be better done that way.

They are not the anomalies who succeed in spite of missing out on an education; they are a very real and definite group. Education is unfortunately in a constant--possibly losing--battle against homogenization. No matter how schools try they indoctrinate one way or another.

I find more and more that those who I respect in the field, recognize at all times the field’s limitations. School is NOT the “answer” it is a tool some find useful in the answering.

[Red-Headed]

Red, I am a little shocked at this aside from you. So what if the poster is young, everyone is at some time. If they are young why would you mock them for it? If they aren't who are you to presume that they need to be taught something by you?

As to the issue of college, I think by this point the world has realized that college does not in any way connote success. Most of the beanbag sleeping droolers I know are IN college.

I'm most of the way through my English PhD and realize more everyday how little 'school' has affected my education. I read to understand things, write to understand myself and go to school to receive a piece of paper.

The SINGLE thing that school does is coerce you into things: reading, writing and discussing. All things that can be done alone and might be better done that way.

They are not the anomalies who succeed in spite of missing out on an education; they are a very real and definite group. Education is unfortunately in a constant--possibly losing--battle against homogenization. No matter how schools try they indoctrinate one way or another.

I find more and more that those who I respect in the field, recognize at all times the field’s limitations. School is NOT the “answer” it is a tool some find useful in the answering.

I was attacked unfairly by someone who has actually now apologised for this. I have also apologised to the poster responsible for my reply. She admitted to being overtired & was wrong to attack me. I suppose I shouldn't have reacted the way I did, but it was half in jest anyway. I think people like you should mind your own business. I am beginning to wish I had never responded to this thread. I am now reporting you for
harassment.

You must still be an undergraduate. A hell of a lot of the reading I do is for pleasure. If I learn something, that is an added bonus.

I made this reply to a poster which was to suggest that I honestly read for pleasure these days as I normally don't have to do any for research purposes. It was an 'off the cuff' remark & didn't mean anything particularly.

I then get vociferously attacked by JuniperWoolf, who incidentally has apologised to me for the remarks she made & was probably because she was over-tired & a bit emotional.

I saw a lot of people drop out of education, predominantly for financial reasons & I value my education. It may just be pieces of paper to some, but many are denied the privilege. I considered myself lucky to get a second chance. It may be just pieces of paper to many, but I think that education should be available to all. If you wish to drop out fine, but remember there were probably fifty people who would have appreciated the place at university more but were denied the chance. If you think that university is such a waste of time, don't go & give the place to someone who really appreciates it.



I think to drag a pointless argument that wasn't even started by me back up is vindictive & meaningless.



This thread may as well be closed.

[Modest Proposal]

I was attacked unfairly by someone who has actually now apologised for this. I have also apologised to the poster responsible for my reply. She admitted to being overtired & was wrong to attack me. I suppose I shouldn't have reacted the way I did, but it was half in jest anyway. I think people like you should mind your own business. I am beginning to wish I had never responded to this thread. I am now reporting you for
harassment.

You must still be an undergraduate. A hell of a lot of the reading I do is for pleasure. If I learn something, that is an added bonus.

I made this reply to a poster which was to suggest that I honestly read for pleasure these days as I normally don't have to do any for research purposes. It was an 'off the cuff' remark & didn't mean anything particularly.

I then get vociferously attacked by JuniperWoolf, who incidentally has apologised to me for the remarks she made & was probably because she was over-tired & a bit emotional.

I saw a lot of people drop out of education, predominantly for financial reasons & I value my education. It may just be pieces of paper to some, but many are denied the privilege. I considered myself lucky to get a second chance. It may be just pieces of paper to many, but I think that education should be available to all. If you wish to drop out fine, but remember there were probably fifty people who would have appreciated the place at university more but were denied the chance. If you think that university is such a waste of time, don't go & give the place to someone who really appreciates it.



I think to drag a pointless argument that wasn't even started by me back up is vindictive & meaningless.



This thread may as well be closed.

Let me start off by saying the reason I even said something is because I've respected your input in other threads. That's why I said "I am surprised" and not "this proves my opinion of you." You can report me to whoever you wish for whatever you wish.

As to my own business, this is a literary forum. You said something about education that came across in my opinion as terribly arrogant and I suggested an alternative way of thinking. I did not say education was worthless I said it is for some. I am the one proposing an inclusive form of mass enlightenment, not you; I am the one allowing for multiple opinions to hold ground, not you.

Again, I am not saying this to be rude. I wish someone would have stood up for my sister when she chose to go into business with her husband and raise a family rather than going to school. She was attacked horribly. Now she has kids lives in a big house and is extremely successful. Oh, and she is the lead reporter for a newspaper and is working on a book.

See I'm not condemning you but rather trying to show others in this thread that the common 'truism' that college is a neccessity for all is not neccissarily true. It is especially not true in the way you represented those who do not attend.

Also, I was speaking out of respect for you. I think you are a better person than your post suggests. You sounded petty and I don't think you are. You essentially likened a degree to accomplishment also, which isn't true. Acomplishments are achieving something you think worth striving for, not what others can see quantify.

Please don't make this about you standing for universal education against opression; this is not what my post is about.

Looking back, I have no idea why you were mad. I read my post and all it says about you was that you shouldn't mock someone for being young.

The rest of my post was about education.

Edit. I reread the posts and I was completely wrong. You are petty. Juniper apologized because they were the bigger person. You bullied the poster, and sullied countless people with your generalizations. I came on and called you on being rude and you made yourself out as the victim.

I even gave you the benefit of the doubt until I reread it all.

YOU started the conflict by saying "you must be an undergrad". I don't have to tell you that this was insultingly put.

After insulting the poster and the poor-uneducated masses, you went on to act as Juniper so aptly put it, a "jerk".

Telling people to grow up and calling them "genius" is ridiculous. I cannot believe how much restraint the other poster showed.

[Red-Headed]

A/ If you read it carefully you will see that I was being sarcastic, maybe I shouldn't have been, but I was.

B/ I think Juniper was a bit upset about her boyfriend & projected some of this towards me. I have forgiven her. She apologised.

C/ You seem far more arrogant than me, this is merely a subjective perception, but I really do think that you should mind your own business.

D/ I have wealthy relatives who can barely read & had poor educations yet made a lot of money by working hard at their businesses. I am very happy for them. I wish everyone could be successful like that, unfortunately life isn't always that easy.

E/ I stand by what I said. Education is a privilege that is denied many. If you don't wish to pursue it, stop being such a bloody hypocrite & give your place to someone who really wants it.

F/ I would prefer it if you didn't respond to any of my posts on LitNet anymore. You can if you wish, but I will not respond to them again. I don't want to start putting people on ignore, but don't ever expect a reply from me again. Have a nice day. Happy Holidays.

Looking back, I have no idea why you were mad. I read my post and all it says about you was that you shouldn't mock someone for being young.

The rest of my post was about education.

Edit. I reread the posts and I was completely wrong. You are petty. Juniper apologized because they were the bigger person. You bullied the poster, and sullied countless people with your generalizations. I came on and called you on being rude and you made yourself out as the victim.

I even gave you the benefit of the doubt until I reread it all.

YOU started the conflict by saying "you must be an undergrad". I don't have to tell you that this was insultingly put.

After insulting the poster and the poor-uneducated masses, you went on to act as Juniper so aptly put it, a "jerk".

Telling people to grow up and calling them "genius" is ridiculous. I cannot believe how much restraint the other poster showed.

I think that you should get off your high horse.

[Scheherazade]

I think this thread has been hijacked enough.

I would like to thank everyone who showed a genuine interest in the discussion

and

apologise on the behalf of those who insist on pursuing their own agendas.