The Academic World Dehumanizes Us. - Comments

You purposely look down on people who are proud of things they've accomplished academically? That's not nice at all.

U.S. soldiers dehumanized innocent Vietnamese citizens when they massacred over four hundred people in My Lai, Vietnam on March 16th, 1968. The soldiers were trained to call these people awful names. Everyone different from them was the enemy. Some thought that because the Vietnamese didn't speak English, they weren't human. Therefore, killing them was all right. (I'm studying this in a class, so the example popped up in my head quickly.)

Choose your words carefully. The academic world does not dehumanize you.

Personally, I enjoy the academic world because I find pleasure in learning. One of the things I want most in life is to learn as much as I can about other cultures, other parts of the world, new developments in exploration, etc. I even enjoy math, because it exercises my brain and helps me continue to think sharply.

And I still have my flaws and my regrets. I think I also have a pretty good head on my shoulders, and I'm proud of that. I mean, my grades aren't PERFECT, though I kind of wish they were better, because I have a lot of other stresses to deal with and don't always have time to do homework. But yes, I do build my life, in part at least, around learning. Maybe not in the formal sense, but what point is there in this world if we don't let ourselves take time to figure things out and understand it?

Anything else I wanted to say, I think others have already said better than I could.

Everyone has a different lifestyle and different things they put their values in. None of them is better than another and there's really no reason for you to look down on me because I like academics, because essentially that means you look down on me for wanting to expand my horizons, and that just doesn't make sense to me.

Personally I think you're talking not about people who take pride in their academic success I think you're talking about the ordinary snobs and snarky know it alls that everyone hates. There's a lot of smart people who don that attitude in regards to grades but is it the majority like you are implying no very far from it. Very far.

For someone who claims to like learning about new things and having new experience you sure don't seem like it. Academics is just another form of life lessons and skills to develop and you don't learn the same thing each year unless you didn't absorb any of it.

Academics isn't my main pride in life but it is one thing I do pride myself on. Life is simply easier and better for most people when they are in good academic standing regardless of who they are.

What about Stephen Hawkings he could be described as one man who has devoted his life to academics. Does that mean he's a conservative asshole with no life or that he hasn't faced any demons? Cause it's quite apparent it's directly opposite of that.

Academics is a pride for most people because it's a stepping stone to their next great endeavor. I'm wanting to be a doctor in the future ie good grades are key even in subjects that aren't my favorite. When I get good grades do I pride myself in doing a good job on my life's journey? Yeah I accomplished something that not everyone can. Does that mean all doctors or anyone who has higher degree of education are these things you say?

Maybe it's just me being weird, but I've always liked academics. I like to challenge myself and I think academics is one way to do that. As to your question, school in and of itself doesn't make someone special. I go to school with 2,000 people and each one of them is unique and recognizable to me despite the fact I only see them at school. I guess it's just the way people behave.

I do have all A's because I see a reason behind it. I don't want to get 20 years down the line and realize that I screwed myself over by not putting in the work when I needed to. I would hate to spend 35 hours a week at school for the past ten years and have nothing to show for it. It's a waste of time to me. Then again, you may never come across that. Maybe your plans won't have anything to do with academics. Something that makes you happy, could make me miserable and vice versa.

As for being friendly, it's just basic courtesy. It doesn't make you (general you, not necessarily you personally) cooler, or tougher by going around being rude to people. If I'm in a good mood, I'm going to be nice to people and not act like I'm not happy. It would be really fake of me. If I'm in a bad mood, it's not other people's fault that I'm in a bad mood and it would be really childish of me to take it out on them.

What you don't realize is that maybe the friendly, straight A student organizing the bake sale doesn't want to go home, or doesn't have a home to go to. A lot of people get involved in school to get away from their home life. Just because that person doesn't deal with their problems in the way you would like, doesn't make it wrong. Maybe they don't want to talk about it with someone more "human." Maybe they realize that they can't change it and are making the best out of it. Everyone has problems, even those who seem like they dont.

I really think you're being a bit stereotypical here. You're grouping everyone who cares about their grades and gets involved in school activities as people who have no life and are ultra-conservative. I make all A's and I'm nice to people, but I'm not really that conservative (in a political or personal way) and I hardly ever pull out twelve letter words.

Honestly, I find it insulting that you imply that people who care about academics are not worth talking to because they are dull and have no stories to tell. You obviously have not tried to learn much about the academically-driven kids at your school. I bet they have just as many stories as the other people you meet but are less open to telling them.

I've been to some dark places. I've done things I will never find even the smallest bit if pride or forgiveness in. I can honestly say that I know what hell on earth is. I've seen the world through the eyes of someone who was ready to die. I once gave up on everything and everyone, even myself.

But now?

I have straight A's, am currently maintaining a 3.9 GPA, and am involved in several academic-based school clubs. And why may that be? Why the sudden change to invest in my education?

I'm playing the game. All we are are numbers. Yeah, that's something I hate more than anything. I absolutely loathe the system and the way academics are implemented these days.

But when it comes right down to it, I want to get somewhere in my life. If I want to change these things I don't agree with, I'm going to need to tailor myself to their ideas until I gain the power and knowledge I need to take the problems on. I can't beat them right now, so I've joined them until I can.

Does this make me a boring, sheltered person? F*ck no. Being smart in terms of the educational system doesn't really mean sh*t to who a person really is. You shouldn't judge based on someone's GPA. That's just ignorant.

I find this a little...hurtful on two levels.

I adore academics. It's what I'm doing and will do for the rest of my life. It certainly doesn't make me boring since I do have other interests outside of university. Simply because I enjoy it doesn't mean I'm dehumanised.

Additionally, whilst I do have demons that I doubt I will absolutely exorcise, I do not share these experiences lightly nor to pass it off as some enlightened experience. Life is shit but it's all we have. Academics helps me cope with everything else that has happened and will happen.

It does sound like you'd do great in Psychology...maybe as a counsellor because from what I'm getting...you do have a genuine interest and concern with people's dark sides and shit they are going through. Just avoid the genealisations.

Well, I made my academic work my pride, a) because I needed the grades to get into college
b) I needed to get into college so I could one day have a degree to get a good career
c) I know people that have flunked to have fun and then later seriously regretted it.

You may look down on me for that, but it got me where I am.

I go to a private prep school, our parents and teachers have basically brainwashed us to the point that if we don't have our grades, we have nothing.

I don't think people who have A's and are involved with people are really that conservative. I mean, that's a bit stereotypical. Don't you think? I know girls who get fantastic grades and are nice to everyone. They all have lives outside of college.

Maybe it's different in high school but no one (at least at my college) really looks down on anyone. I don't think people are trying to build their lives around school, I think it could just happen.

Some people just don't really like socializing so they focus on school. Some people have a strict goal for their career and in order to make it they end up revolving their world around school. There isn't anything wrong with that unless it stops them from communicating with people.

Others like socializing and can still get amazing grades... What's wrong with people being friendly again?... I missed it.

A person can still focus on school and on other people, caring about what they say the same amount.

And the academic world hardly "dehumanizes" us, it's more the real world that can.