# College kids nowadays don't appreciate what they have. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 13, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594 "2005-01-13T20:14:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/41 "2005-01-14T02:48:40Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > Yes. > > The student who asked about the genitals was at the time in an Operating Systems class, and then followed up the response (‘That is a very inappropriate question for this class.’) with ‘Myself, I prefer the male genitalia because there’s so much more you can do with it.’ > > The pickle-cat guy was in C++ Programming at the time, supposedly coding a simple command line program that cauclated interest on a loan. Y’know, maybe kids these days need to also be advised yer supposed to drop acid before Lit class, so the stories can seem deep, Man… not Comp. Sci. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/42 "2005-01-14T02:57:41Z")
> [@LaurAnge](#): > > I must be especially irritable today, because, my lord, did this post ever piss me off. > > Maybe it’s that I’m your target demographic. I’m in my early 20s. I’ve never taken time off school to work. My parents pay my tuition and give me some money each month. But you know what? I work my fucking ass off. And I work hard enough that it deserves to get out of your fucking quotation marks. > > And I REALLY resent that you somehow seem to have insight on to how I should be living my life. > > I hate disrespectful students as much as the next girl. I don’t see a whole bunch of them. The only people who study in my discipline are there because they love it, because there’s no other reason to be there. > > Maybe I’m annoyed because I’m sitting here doing homework (okay, taking a break to eat dinner, but my point stands) while my friends are all out at a bar. My friends (who mostly work and don’t attend school) ALWAYS have more time than me. I turn down invitations all the time to work. In fact, I’m sitting in the same cafe in which I did my FIVE HOURS of assigned homework THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. > > So no, you don’t have the right to say anything at all about me. And that’s fair enough. But did you ever hear the saying “All generalizations are wrong, including this one”? I didn’t deal in generalizations. I was quite specific, to wit: > [@](#): > > Third, and most important (at least to me), is that if **the guy** doesn’t want to be there he can quit and go to work, whereupon he can find out how much it sucks to try to find a good job without a diploma. and > [@](#): > > In fact, I think that **most** people should work for a living for at least two years before they go to college so they can appreciate what a luxury it is to be able to go to school. It’s readily apparent that this doesn’t apply to you, and I in no way shape or form told you how you should live your life. Good for you, by the way. Better that you never have to learn the lessons that I have. I wish you the very best, and your hard work will pay off one day. However, I stand by what I said in my OP. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/43 "2005-01-14T02:59:07Z")
Most of the instructors that I really enjoyed _wanted_ questions to some degree. But my favorite said, "At times I will wait for you to ask a question, or I will try to provoke discussion. That’s all fine and well, but typically I will try to deal with questions quickly, and if you don’t understand them you can come to my office hours and I’ll explain them in full if it takes 2 hours for you to comprehend it. As for class discussions, those will continue as long as I feel they _should_ fully explore a point, arguing with me in class isn’t wrong, but don’t do it just to argue and don’t to it to attempt to waste our time, and even if you have valid arguments don’t be surprised if I shelved debate when I consider the matter fully explored. If you do not, come to my office hours. I’ll be perfectly happy to debate even tangenitally related issues during that time if you so wish." That was pretty much verbatim from the syllabus. The beauty of it was he pretty much said in writing that certain things were going to be quashed, and he did so at times. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/44 "2005-01-14T03:00:21Z")
> [@lel](#): > > Maybe this was out of character for this guy, although if it wasn’t, he probably will be going to college 10 years later wishing he had taken advantage of his first chance. I submit myself as Exhibit A, 10 years and all. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/45 "2005-01-14T03:01:07Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > However, I stand by what I said in my OP. I guess I go to a different kind of school than you, because I really don’t encounter this attitude enough to generalize about it. But that’s nitpicking. Thanks for explaining, and the only thing left that’s still ticking me off is the “work” in quotation marks comment. Again, that’s probably because I’m in a bad mood today. Sorry for blowing up at you. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/46 "2005-01-14T03:08:21Z")
> [@LaurAnge](#): > > I guess I go to a different kind of school than you, because I really don’t encounter this attitude enough to generalize about it. But that’s nitpicking. It’s not necessarily the institution. It’s more likely a matter of me being able to identify it better since I’ve been away from it for so long. It sticks out like a sore thumb, no matter how subtle. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/47 "2005-01-14T03:15:59Z")
I agree, kids need perspective, but unfortunately, they’re just like we were, and the only thing that will teach them anything is time and experience. If you’re getting it right the first time, **LaurAnge** and **NinjaChick** , you’re ahead of the curve, and doing better than I did. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/48 "2005-01-14T03:28:03Z")
This quarter, my husband is teaching four sections of 101 and 201 Sociology. For him, this is a big load because of his other job. However, he has nearly gone nuts so far because he has received criticism recently for using too many “big words” in class (by a SMALL minority, he receives a 4.6/5.0 rating from the students on average). At one point, he decided to give a speech to all of his classes about how college is about expanding your knowledge base and if they do not understand a word they can a) get a dictionary and look it up, or b) ask him in class(or after), because it is his job to help them. However, he told them it is their responsibility to broaden their vocabulary. Look things up, study vocab words each night if you are lacking. In other words, he challenged them to be better students on their own. This, apparently, did not go over well with some. Now, mind you, he does not use outlandish big words. Maybe he uses: conjunction, juxtaposition, ethnocentricism, assimilation etc… These are the words that they complain about, and when he made his speech, they complained that he was “treating them like they were stupid”. He did admit, however, that he has told quite a few students that they are just not college material. One of them admitted he could not read (the book, meaning too many big words) and the other wrote in a paper: “I know you told us this is not an opinion paper, but that is all I know how to write. I cannot analyze things as you put it, I can only give my opinions. I don’t think you should expect students to write well in college. It is not my major”. Then, this was followed by a paper about how affirmative action was bad because he thought so and that it did not seem right, and his father said that one time he lost a job to a black guy and that ain’t right and then I think blacks just want to get something for nothing and that is not America and America is about getting ahead on your own stuff, not someone else’s etc… He sometimes feels like he is Mr. Hand grading history papers and thinking that everyone must be on dope. Because, if it is not dope, then there are some really stupid people out there who actually believe college is for them. As a disclaimer, my husband is not an elitist when it comes to college students. For non-traditional students or other types who struggle, he will take extra time. However, he requires an EFFORT on their part. Too many students think that they are entitled to a degree just because they paid for it. One of his special memories is of a non-traditional student (40+ year old mother of 2). She was going back to school for a nursing degree after a divorce. She was struggling in her first quarter with him in 101 and she barely passed. Hubby spent a lot of time with her and she repeated his class to get a better grade, she only improved a little. Then, she took his 201 class and kept on working. After one assignment he read the best paper to the class (Hubby usually chooses to read the best essay or paper, but he grades by covering the name so he has no bias). He read the paper, and told the class that this was superior writing, analysis and effort and informed them that they should all emulate this. Then, he said the name and the woman who had struggled stood up. She was crying and she later told him that throughout her life, people have told her she was slow, stupid and unable to make it. To her, that was one of the greatest moments of her life. She eventually graduated and still stops by to to see him. I guess my point is that some students expect too much, some are brats, some are jerks, but a professor must seek out the diamond in the rough and enouraging students to ask questions is the first step. ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/49 "2005-01-14T03:36:42Z")
> [@treis](#): > > It simply boggles my mind at the number of classes some of the people I know skip. I know of one that keeps a tally and it was up over 30 for a semester and I just stared at her dumbfounded when she told me. Its not like I am perfect I have skipped a few classes so I understand the mentality. But skipping on average more than once every two weeks is bogus. Why, though? People always say, “You’re paying such-and-such amount for every hour you spend in class.” But when it comes down to it, you’re paying for the degree. The degree is largely what is going to get you hired. My friend is majoring in Aerospace Engineering. She goes to maybe 50% of her classes each week. She gets amazing grades, and is in the honors program. Going to class is wasting her time, so why should she go? She’s paying to get her degree, and there’s no question that she’s going to graduate with honors. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/50 "2005-01-14T03:36:52Z")
> [@Podkayne](#): > > **Miller** , I just have to tell this story from when I was an undergrad. There was this freakin’ CS major who was taking Quantum Mechanics. Why would a CS major take an upper level physics course as an elective? There are two options: maybe he just loved physics, but, since he didn’t actually _do_ a physics minor, just took Intro Physics (which is a lot of CS majors take anyway because it’s one of the few science courses that satisfy their requirements) and Intermediate Mechanics (the other prereq for QM), I’m pretty sure it’s because he was a swell-headed dork and he wanted to brag to people that he took quantum mechanics. He was well known to us already as a moderate but bearable pain-in-the-ass from the other courses, but QM was, apparently, his time to shine. I had a course with a guy who was the exact inverse of that. Except for the “annoying jerk” part, unfortunetly. The class was something like “Introduction to Literary Theory.” This guy was way, way past the “introduction to” part. He absolutely knew his shit, was very smart, asked (apparently) good, insightful questions, and dominated every class discussion. Except that he was always talking about shit that we weren’t learning in that class. Every day, the class ended up being a conversation between him and the professor, with the rest of us sitting there looking at our syllabus trying to figure out if we were going to get in trouble for never having heard of this Derrida guy. I don’t know if he was just extremely well read on his own, or had taken the advanced coruses somewhere else and was slumming or what. Whichever, it was very annoying. I didn’t get much out of that class because most of the discussions went right over my head. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/51 "2005-01-14T04:56:21Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Mazel tov. Wanna cookie? > > I go to the same university that Airman does, and my experiences largely parallel his. When I was taking general education courses, I had to deal with freshmen who couldn’t be arsed to answer a single question. A couple of them had the temerity to bitch about their grades because they refused to participate and turned in the bare minimum necessary. As far as they were concerned, “they” were footing the bill, so they were entitled to pass without effort on their part. > > That said, I know there are other plenty of students who take their educations seriously, regardless of whoever pays for it. These people are a joy to share a class with. They contribute to the discussion, they seem to enjoy the subject matter, they come to class prepared, and they’re happy to be an active member of the class. On the other hand, people who don’t do anything but bitch and moan and do nothing but weigh the class down. > > Robin Your last paragraph is sort of my point, in a way. There are lots of students who take their educations seriously. There are lots of students who also treat it as a four-year vacation on their parents’ tab, and spend their time drinking and generally being idiots. Some people grow out of that; many don’t. The same thing can be said about ‘20-somethings nowadays’, or ‘middle-aged folk nowadays,’ or any other age group. Some people take things seriously, some are content to be irritants and dick around. But you never hear that; it’s always those darn kids and their loud music and the fact that they’re causing society to crumble into hell\*. As I said before, we don’t judge older generations by the ‘bad apples’, and there are just as many. Do the same for us? \*Also, you guys are the ones who _raised_ us, so if you don’t like the way we act? Bite me. ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/52 "2005-01-14T12:12:18Z")
Little background on my experience…my paramedic class was taught at a university, not a local community college. The university offers a 4 year BS program. However, it is also possible to enter the paramedic program to simply get your paramedic license and these two groups of students attend the same class at the same time. Generally speaking the BS students were younger and “professional students” who went straight to college from HS and were used to being students. The students who were in the program just to become paramedics were generally older and had been out of school for quite some time. (There is a big difference between these two populations of students, but that’s a topic for some other time) The class was about 24 people in size, so discussion was encouraged. We had one or two people who followed the pervious discussed formula for annoying fellow students with stupid questions. Our lead instructor opened the second semester with this statement: “There are some students in this class who are asking many questions to aid in their understanding of our material. While I do not wish to discourage anyone doing so, I’d like each of you to take a look around the class and note the expressions of your fellow classmates when asking questions…” Damn–many of us damn near fell out of our seats…I’d like to think it discouraged some repetitive and redundant questions, but who knows. On a separate note, I became an EMT instructor at a very young age, so I was teaching students frequently older than myself. I told my students that there are always welcome to ask questions, but if after the second explanation I’d cut them off and ask them to talk after class. I was fortunate enough to have small classes (6-10 students) so I also gave them my e-mail address and my phone number, encouraging them to contact me any time they needed help. I was once told there are no stupid questions, only stupid people who ask questions 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/53 "2005-01-14T15:01:43Z")
Having just graduated from college, one of my biggest annoyances was the student who seemed to think he or she knew more than the professor. One guy stands out in particular. It was an intro to thermodynamics class. The professor said at the beginning, and pretty much every time we got a new equation, that it was simplified, thatreal heat transfewr equationms are much more complex, and that they would be used in more advanced classes. Yet, every time, this kid would chime in: Annoying Guy: Well, I see you simplified the derivitave of the heat loss of a spinning wheel in a bucket of ice water while being carried by a clown on a plane over the Pacific into a constant. Good Professor: Yes, as I said, it’s easier this way, and for the work you will be doing in this class, it is quite sufficient. AG: Oh, but I can still use the original equation if I want to, right? GP: Actually, not really. That equation is too complex, and since you would have to guess at some of the variables that are not given, you would most likely arrive at the wrong answer. AG: Well, I already did my homework that’s due next week using that equation, cause it’s the right way to do it. I don’t think you should simplify things. GP: Well, good for you, I will take that into consideration wen I see your final answer. Moving on, we can see that the second law of thermodynamics states blah blah blah… AG: Well, techniicalyl the econd law says that blah blah blah and blah blah GP: That is something we discuss in advanced thermodynamics. Aargh! OK, we get it, you read ahead/already know this. We are not impressed! If you already know it, we would prefer you not come to class so we can get more actual class time. Obviously, you don’t need to be there to learn the material. And no, you do not know more than the professor (at least in this field.) ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/54 "2005-01-14T15:12:59Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > Whee! Let’s take the actions of _one_ college student, and based on that, make a gross generalization about _all_ college students! > > I am so fucking _ **sick** _ of that. We don’t judge older generations by the actions of one or two of you; could either give us the same respect or shut the fuck up? > > As **treis** said, there are a lot of college students who work, a lot, for their educations. I have a deal with my parents: they will, for the first two years, pay what tuition doesn’t cover. I’m responsible for 50% of that starting junior year, and I repay all my loans without their help. So I worked full-time over the summer, work part-time during school, and work full time over breaks. I also work damn hard in my classes. > > So, yeah, thanks for the stereotype, man. I love that shit. Aww, aren’t you special. Want a cookie? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/55 "2005-01-14T15:41:44Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > \As I said before, we don’t judge older generations by the ‘bad apples’, and there are just as many. Do the same for us? > > \*Also, you guys are the ones who _raised_ us, so if you don’t like the way we act? Bite me. As stated before in this thread, this thread is a rant about _some_ students; **Airman Doors** was very careful to qualify his rant and not label _all_ young students. Is this a particular peeve of yours that you are having a hard time letting go of? ---
**Author:** ![Yamirskoonir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/c0e974/32.png) [@Yamirskoonir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yamirskoonir)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/56 "2005-01-14T17:04:46Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > It’s not necessarily the institution. It’s more likely a matter of me being able to identify it better since I’ve been away from it for so long. It sticks out like a sore thumb, no matter how subtle. I think institution does figure largely into this, **Doors**. Depending on the academic thrust of the school you attend, the demographic which it draws from, and the reputation that it carries, I think students’ attitudes towards their education can generally fall heavily on one side or the other of the scale. My campus, for example, has approximately 18,000 FTE and is the epitome of a “Commuter Campus” (we’re surrounded by cows and fields on all sides). Most of my fellow students work full time or at least part time (I think the last official statistic released was 80%), and many are parents. Everybody always has their own shit to deal with outside of class, so those I’ve been around seem to be pretty well on the ball to be living their regular lives _and_ taking the time to drive all the way down here and earn a degree. In fact, nothing fun ever happens around here because everyone goes straight home or to work after class, so there’s less distractions from studying. But take a look at a school that resides in a college town, or perhaps a private school where you can’t just get by on financial aid and your part time job at the video store. Yeah, I’m painting with a huuuge brush and talking about those schools whose population is mostly made up of students whose mommy and daddy are footing the bill. I’m also talking about “Party Schools” where the entire campus ethos is to fuck around all the time and pray you still pass. Students at those campuses are likely to have a different attitude towards work and responsibility (since they may not be responsible for their own livelihood), and those beliefs will most certainly carry over into the classroom. I wouldn’t call it apathy, but it’s certainly a different flavor than the guy who’s only able to attend class because he worked 80 hour weeks to pay for it. And while I’m painting with this huuuge brush, I think the same applies to different disciplines, and daytime vs. night time classes. Some disciplines necessarily require more work and study and vigor in their pursuit. And there’s some that don’t – I’m an English Lit major, and I think it’s _fun_, not _study_, to read different works of literature and then write papers discussing them! Also, has anyone here ever had predominately day classes, and then taken a few night classes? Anyone else notice the difference in attitudes between the two groups? Most of the night class people are there because they have full time jobs in the day, and again – they seem to take their education far more seriously, because rather than going home after work to relax with family or have decent dinner, they’re in class working hard towards a degree. (They also seem to include more of the “older” students who are eager to share their life experiences, but I enjoy hearing from these, as long as they’re not taking away from class). **NinjaChick** , I didn’t get that **Doors** was pitting people like you and me (I worked three part time jobs 80 hours/week and took 20 units a quarter my first few years, as I had no external help and have been largely supporting myself since I was 14). Like me, I believe that you are willing to do anything it takes to earn your degree and get the best possible experience out of your education that you are working so hard for. Therefore, I hardly believe that you could be one of those dickwad slackers that **Doors** is talking about, sitting in the back row and chatting/sleeping through the whole fucking class. ---
**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/57 "2005-01-14T17:06:45Z")
> [@Michael Ellis](#): > > Aww, aren’t you special. Want a cookie? Wow. [How original.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5716789&postcount=31) ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/58 "2005-01-14T17:11:14Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > In conclusion, again, I don’t know that I have the right to say this, but I really think that somebody has to, so I guess I’ll take the heat. Kids need perspective, if only to realize that what they have going for them is better than most people could ever imagine. College (well, university) kid here. Some people–like me, I certainly hope–have that perspective, or benefit from it. It’s good to listen to you, to hear what you’re saying, to know that I’m extremely lucky for what I have. Some take it all for granted and won’t listen no matter what. Not all kids, but some. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/59 "2005-01-14T17:37:09Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > In conclusion, again, I don’t know that I have the right to say this, but I really think that somebody has to, so I guess I’ll take the heat. Kids need perspective, if only to realize that what they have going for them is better than most people could ever imagine. No, they really don’t need perspective. There’s no reason that an 18 year-old living out of the house for the first time in his life needs perspective at all. He needs to be having a good time while he’s living in a self-contained, sheltered, kid-run world with 20,000 other kids. Perspective is exactly what he doesn’t need. They’re getting their bills paid, their rent paid, their bathroom cleaned, and a lot of them doing exactly what we’d all like to do in that situation. . .drink all the time and do as little work as possible. There’s plenty of time to get perspective when they get out of college. Sorry, if your 18-22 year old period didn’t include such luxury, but don’t go taking it out on the ones who are fortunate enough. Also, I know your OP was kind of picking on one kid specifically, but you’re now surrounded by a ton of kids just like him. He’s going to be in all your classes the whole time you’re there. I hope you’re just ranting to get it off your chest, because if you really let that crap bother you, you’re done for. > [@Doors](#): > > It’s uncanny how people presume idiocy or incompetence because of a lack of a degree, as if that is the ultimate proof of competency. Well, it’s not the ultimate proof of competency, but for now, it’s the only thing we have. Seriously. And some degrees (without naming names) don’t even really imply compentency, more like “this guy just showed up at college for four years.” ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594/60 "2005-01-14T20:58:42Z")
> [@Orbifold](#): > > Wow. [How original.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5716789&postcount=31) Wow, someone else posted what I did. Terrific. I hadn’t read the whole thread before I posted. Now shove off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-kids-nowadays-dont-appreciate-what-they-have/284594.md?page=4)