# Anti-achievement at its finest: Acceptance by 20 colleges called "obnoxious" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 13, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353 "2018-04-13T16:51:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/61 "2018-04-14T02:54:27Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Minor nitpick. This is a local Fox network affiliate, not the same as Fox News. Which would explain why one is not blonde. > [@Jackmannii](#): > > Of course it’s possible. We’re talking TV news anchors, who do not typically achieve their positions on the basis of knowledge and common sense. And if they went to college I assume, but don’t care enough to verify it, that they were Communications majors. > [@](#): > > speaking as someone who was only accepted into one college out of a half-dozen or so, but it worked out nicely, especially because I met Mrs. J. there. Dropdad was between gigs, dropmom was working at her first job in thirty years to pay for food, and I was getting $1.65/hr part time. My counsellor told me flat out that with my grades and class position (apex of the bell curve) I shouldn’t bother applying at U of Illinois. Applying at many schools cost $25 a pop back then limiting how many I could apply at. I tried a second-tier state school in Illinois and U of Michigan and got accepted at both, but Dad was incensed because in his eyes the only U of M was the Univ of Minnesota, so I went with NIU because DeKalb was (still is) closer than Ann Arbor. All for the best since I met Wife and Kathy Reichs there, but not Dan Castellaneta because he was a few years behind me, and Cindy Morgan (_TRON_) because she apparently avoided me. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/62 "2018-04-14T10:17:13Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Link to article: [D.C. Fox 5 anchors slam teen who received 20 full rides to college.](D.C. Fox 5 anchors slam teen who received 20 full rides to college.) Have they complained about a white or Asian student with similar success? I’ll take a completely wild guess and say they haven’t. New Fox story, new racist stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/63 "2018-04-14T11:03:13Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > You included one too many words in your first comment, which made it seem like you thought that his race was an important, if not the most important, factor in his selection. This ignores all of the other data points that show he was indeed a very qualified candidate. I’ll bold the word so you can find it. I’m confused. **Shodan** writes “this is another case where young black kids can’t win” and he’s taken to task for adding ‘black’? The sentence makes no sense without the qualification black because it isn’t another case where young kids in general can’t win. The adjective is necessary, the criticism is unjustified. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/64 "2018-04-14T11:44:02Z")
I read somewhere that application fees can be waived for certain conditions. Like being the first in your family to go to college. Kids nowadays can apply online to multiple schools at once using the same information. If you had fees waived, there would be no reason not to apply to as many schools as you wanted. It still might be some extra work if schools differ in essay questions etc., but hard work probably comes easy to a kid like Michael Brown. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/65 "2018-04-14T11:53:00Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > I’m confused. **Shodan** writes “this is another case where young black kids can’t win” and he’s taken to task for adding ‘black’? The sentence makes no sense without the qualification black because it isn’t another case where young kids in general can’t win. The adjective is necessary, the criticism is unjustified. I’m pretty sure I said the “another case” quote, not Shodan, and I criticized him for a different post. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/66 "2018-04-14T13:51:45Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Maybe I’m drunk but aren’t they all required to read from the same script? I think I’m just drunk. But at least in limited scope, isn’t that true? Or am I confusing things? [Fox network](https://www.fox.com/shows/) is a regular old television network which runs such shows as the Simpsons, Family guy, X-files, You think you can Dance and NFL football. Each local station will also run its own[local news](http://www.fox5dc.com/) show, that gives weather, sports, local crime, and human interest, but not a whole lot of national news or politics. The Fox Network doesn’t seem to be overtly right wing the way Fox News is, and in fact many of its shows such as the Simpsons probably skew slightly to the left. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/67 "2018-04-14T13:56:03Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Thanks for demonstrating yet another way in which young black folks can’t win – the myth that successful black people didn’t earn their position. Thanks for demonstrating, once again, a way in which young black folks can’t win— the myth that the existence of affirmative action does not necessitate the myth that successful black people didn’t earn their positions. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/68 "2018-04-14T13:57:40Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Thanks for demonstrating, once again, a way in which young black folks can’t win— the myth that the existence of affirmative action does not necessitate the myth that successful black people didn’t earn their positions. It very obviously doesn’t necessitate it, since many of us don’t promulgate that myth. If you don’t believe successful black people earned their position, then that’s _your problem,_ and _your mistake_, and _your bigotry_. It’s not the fault of liberals, or a policy, or anything outside of yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/69 "2018-04-14T14:04:52Z")
Yeah. If the mere existence of affirmative action policies causes someone to assume that successful black people didn’t really earn their achievements, that says a lot more about that person’s biases than about affirmative action as a policy. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/70 "2018-04-14T14:19:38Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Ingraham isn’t Doctor Laura, that’s what I meant. They’re both cunts, but only one is “Doctor” Laura. > > And holy shit, I hope this kid’s friends throw him the party of a life time. That is fucking amazing! I sometimes get my Lauras confused 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/71 "2018-04-14T14:21:35Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > I thinks the anchors know how it works, but they were thinking all they had to do was associate a black kid applying to a bunch of schools with him stealing spots from more deserving students and their audience would buy that. and they WILL buy it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/72 "2018-04-14T15:13:08Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Thanks for demonstrating, once again, a way in which young black folks can’t win— the myth that the existence of affirmative action does not necessitate the myth that successful black people didn’t earn their positions. Man, you “liberals are the REAL racists” folks are amusing. And annoying. Both. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/73 "2018-04-16T16:01:14Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I agree with **iiandyiiii**. **Shodan** ’s post definitely reads as if he thinks the kid being black is relevant. And **Shodan** has a history of posts attacking colleges for valuing diversity. His post definitely reads as if he thinks the reason the schools are trying to recruit him is because he is a smart _black_ student, not just a smart student. Don’t schools do that? I thought it was obvious that schools would value a smart, black student. As they should. Schools don’t care about diversity and such anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/74 "2018-04-16T16:45:01Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Man, you “liberals are the REAL racists” folks are amusing. And annoying. Both. Don’t forget ‘stupid as shit’. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/75 "2018-04-16T17:02:52Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Man, you “liberals are the REAL racists” folks are amusing. And annoying. Both. It all comes down to whether you think institutionalized racism is, or ever was in recent memory, a problem that needs/needed to be corrected with force of authority. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/76 "2018-04-16T17:40:37Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I hate to say it, but Ingraham is actually a classier act than Shlessinger, as Ingraham doesn’t actually use her title (as it’s kind of irrelevant to her career as a “journalist”), while Schlessinger, whose doctorate is in physiology, not psychology, and only holds a certificate and CA state license in family therapy, actually styles herself as “Doctor”. JD is a law degree. Most attorneys, except for those now rare schools who still issue an LLB, have one. Its not that impressive, and frankly, the use of it implies that you didn’t pass the bar, and can’t use Esq. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/77 "2018-04-16T18:24:08Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Don’t schools do that? I thought it was obvious that schools would value a smart, black student. As they should. Schools don’t care about diversity and such anymore? Yes, of course they do that. Here is an eminently well-qualified student. Plus, he’s black. He can write his own ticket. Face it - the number of students who score way high on the SATs is overwhelmingly Asian or white. > [@](#): > > In a perfectly equal distribution, the racial breakdown of scores at every point in the distribution would mirror the composition of test-takers as whole i.e. 51 percent white, 21 percent Latino, 14 percent black, and 14 percent Asian. But in fact, among top scorers—those scoring between a 750 and 800—60 percent are Asian and 33 percent are white, compared to 5 percent Latino and 2 percent black. Meanwhile, among those scoring between 300 and 350, 37 percent are Latino, 35 percent are black, 21 percent are white, and 6 percent are Asian [Cite](https://www.brookings.edu/research/race-gaps-in-sat-scores-highlight-inequality-and-hinder-upward-mobility/). If you want “diversity” in the sense of a student body which reflects the percentages of a given group in the population as a whole, there is going to be one heck of a lot of competition for the 2%. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/78 "2018-04-16T18:54:54Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Here is an eminently well-qualified student. Plus, he’s black. He can write his own ticket. Yeah, I thought this was common knowledge. Not an opinion to be criticised. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/79 "2018-04-16T19:30:47Z")
They’re trying to be offended. That’s how “this kid is very well-qualified and black” gets read as “So you are saying he didn’t earn his position.” Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353/80 "2018-04-16T19:32:19Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > They’re trying to be offended. That’s how “this kid is very well-qualified and black” gets read as “So you are saying he didn’t earn his position.” > > Regards, > Shodan Of course. People can’t honestly disagree; they must be dishonest and/or evil. Makes it much easier to mock and dismiss those who disagree. Not as much fun to mock and dismiss folks who you think are decent and honest folk just coming at things from a different point of view. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-achievement-at-its-finest-acceptance-by-20-colleges-called-obnoxious/812353.md?page=5)