Spelling and grammer

[Dave Lobster]

The university education system also has a habit of instilling a uniformity of thought on students thereby reducing the initiative of mainstream entrants.

ie, they can tell you exactly what the volume of a jar is. But not how to fucking open it.

[James Deuce]

My point was that having a degree doesn't make someone bright. More that the more stupid amongst us that do have degrees feel that the degree makes them more clever than they are - to which your (reposted) link alludes.

My link doesn't allude to that at all. It says that ignorant people over rate their personal abilities and knowledge and that less ignorant people do the opposite.

Generally.

Generally speaking from my personal experience the more qualified and knowledgeable a person is the more generous of their time and experience they are, and the more humble they are. Provided the audience is listening. They will not give an inch when they know their subject matter however, and this can make less knowledgeable people anxious and defensive. Especially in NZ where a university education is sure fire way to make sure that people will respect you less than a wife beating professional sports person.

I don't agree with your basic premise at all. There's still a general prejudice in NZ against any form of higher education and it is often expressed by pointing at some wet behind the ears graduate and holding them up as representative of all degreed people. A lack of experience is just that. Experience successfully combined with a bit of knowledge can be a liberating and powerful thing.

The OP shows evidence of this bias by insisting that people who can write are all superior wankers who shouldn't be sharing their knowledge and experience because it makes people feel "bad".

[Slyer]

Agreed.

Anti-intellectualism
Unlike many European countries, but in common with other 'Anglo' countries such as Britain, the United States and Australia,[citation needed] New Zealanders do not have a particularly high regard for intellectual activity, particularly if it is more theoretical than practical. This is linked with the idea of 'kiwi ingenuity' (see above), which supposes that all problems are better solved by seeing what works than by applying a theory.[19] This distrust of theory manifested itself in social policy of the early and mid twentieth century, which historian Michael Bassett described as 'socialism without doctrines': although the policies of the first Labour and other governments pursued traditionally socialist goals, they were not based on any coherent theory.[20] A major break with this tradition came in the 1980s when the fourth Labour and fourth National governments enacted a series of reforms based on free market ideology. This reinforced many New Zealanders' distrust of intellectual theory, as many consider that the reforms increased poverty and inequality in New Zealand. Despite the prevailing mood of anti-intellectualism, New Zealand has reasonably high rates of participation in tertiary education and has produced a number of internationally renowned scholars and scientists, including Ernest Rutherford, J.G.A. Pocock and Alan MacDiarmid. It should be noted that both Rutherford and Pocock spent most of their professional lives in Britain. For many years this was a common occurrence, and a consequence both of New Zealanders' attitudes and the low population which made it hard to support major research.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture...ntellectualism

[wbks]

Agreed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture...ntellectualism

Makes us sound like a bunch of hicks screaming "evil" at science...

[scissorhands]

I have sometimes been bullied by my mates when I have expounded some knowledgable rant on a pet topic I have researched.

And called a kitchen bitch when I have prepared delicious food.

After a frustrating meeting of minds, the phrase 'bunch of hicks', could sit quite well with me.

[Dave Lobster]

Makes us sound like a bunch of hicks screaming "evil" at science...

King Tamaki has nine thousand of them.. I'm quite sure the catholic church has even more.

[wbks]

King Tamaki has nine thousand of them.. I'm quite sure the catholic church has even more.

The Catholics were always fucked...
That wiki page seems about right, though

[MikeL]

ie, they can tell you exactly what the volume of a jar is. But not how to fucking open it.

Although it would clearly be disadvantageous to live in a society where the majority of people could calculate the volume of a jar but be unable to open it, nevertheless it is important that society have some members who know the formula for the volume of a cylinder and other apparently useless knowledge.
The anti-intellectualism noticeable in Australia and New Zealand mystifies Europeans, who manage to have respect for both practical skills and higher learning.
The irony is that in the past, when a university education was a rarity and trades were considered respectable, even "professional" people usually had practical skills (gardening, basic car maintenance, DIY...), while nowadays young people have been conned into believing that working with your hands is only for losers, so they rush off to university and emerge three years later with a BCom and a huge millstone round their neck, thinking the world owes them a living. But can they plant a garden, change a tap washer, build a cabinet?
Perhaps they can at least open a jar. But even with their university degree they probably can't tell you the formula for the volume of a cylinder, either.

[Edbear]

Although it would clearly be disadvantageous to live in a society where the majority of people could calculate the volume of a jar but be unable to open it, nevertheless it is important that society have some members who know the formula for the volume of a cylinder and other apparently useless knowledge.
The anti-intellectualism noticeable in Australia and New Zealand mystifies Europeans, who manage to have respect for both practical skills and higher learning.
The irony is that in the past, when a university education was a rarity and trades were considered respectable, even "professional" people usually had practical skills (gardening, basic car maintenance, DIY...), while nowadays young people have been conned into believing that working with your hands is only for losers, so they rush off to university and emerge three years later with a BCom and a huge millstone round their neck, thinking the world owes them a living. But can they plant a garden, change a tap washer, build a cabinet?
Perhaps they can at least open a jar. But even with their university degree they probably can't tell you the formula for the volume of a cylinder, either.

Interesting point. By the way, I agree with your sig.

[Ixion]

Although it would clearly be disadvantageous to live in a society where the majority of people could calculate the volume of a jar but be unable to open it, nevertheless it is important that society have some members who know the formula for the volume of a cylinder and other apparently useless knowledge.
The anti-intellectualism noticeable in Australia and New Zealand mystifies Europeans, who manage to have respect for both practical skills and higher learning.
The irony is that in the past, when a university education was a rarity and trades were considered respectable, even "professional" people usually had practical skills (gardening, basic car maintenance, DIY...), while nowadays young people have been conned into believing that working with your hands is only for losers, so they rush off to university and emerge three years later with a BCom and a huge millst one round their neck, thinking the world owes them a living. But can they plant a garden, change a tap washer, build a cabinet?
Perhaps they can at least open a jar. But even with their university degree they probably can't tell you the formula for the volume of a cylinder, either.

But, paradoxically, those same people who are devoid of practical capability are also devoid of erudition. They are turned out of the universities with a good deal of learning, but little education.

A truly educated person understands tap washers AND sonnets AND trigonometry. Or, at the least understands why he should want to understand all of them.

The Elizabethans said that a gentleman should have as many facets , and as variously directed, as a well cut diamond.

[Edbear]

But, paradoxically, those same people who are devoid of practical capability are also devoid of erudition. They are turned out of the universities with a good deal of learning, but little education.

A truly educated person understands tap washers AND sonnets AND trigonometry. Or, at the least understands why he should want to understand all of them.

The Elizabethans said that a gentleman should have as many facets , and as variously directed, as a well cut diamond.

Ah, you mean like a jack of all trades...

[Subike]

You can aquire all the knowlage the world has to offer you,
Be taught in the best schools or universities that money can buy.
Be elequent in poetry, music and have read all the classics,
But unless you have the wisdom to use all of this,
you are worth no more,
than the begger on the street corner

[Gen]

Fantastic then your one of the achievers I am impressed!

I work with dyslexic children every day... I know how hard it is for them.. and we have the best book this planet can offer to teach them, one of my students is doing fantastically thanks to the efforts in encouragement and positivity from myself and his teachers, and this book. I understand you completely... I just think laziness is not always the thing... plus typing is not a nack... I type way too fast.

I dated a dyslexic guy.he had trouble giving directions eg: differentiating between right and left etc.Facinating people to talk with but very frustrating at times as they can think and process differently.Most people can improve if they really want to.And if they can't, I accept it and move on.

[Pussy]

And if you don't try hard at school, you could end up becoming an ag pilot.
DAMHIK

[Hitcher]

I dated a dyslexic guy.he had trouble giving directions eg: differentiating between right and left etc.Facinating people to talk with but very frustrating at times as they can think and process differently.Most people can improve if they really want to.And if they can't, I accept it and move on.

That left and right thing is a complete mystery to me. Mirrors don't help with that at all. Coping with it requires some concentration. And it's not about "improvement" it's about adapting.