Olive Branches, "Education" and Microagressions

[ZOA NOM]

Let me address these topics in reverse order, so as to finish hopefully on a high note...

I, and most of the members here, as I would guess, are among the Baby Boomer generation, and as such, I'm baffled these days by how sensitive our society has become. Everything pisses people off, and no one has any tolerance for heated debate. I think anyone who engages in a political discussion understands completely that it's a topic that can become contentious and sometimes personal. With that, it really seems that lately, the simple idea that it is a sensitive subject is used as a battering ram to squelch the discussion. We've seen the irony of the "protesters" at Trump rallies attempting to shut the rally down, oblivious to the sheer irony of the affect on the Trump supporters' First Amendment rights. Here, in a fairly safe online forum, the same sort of mentality comes forward, with what I consider to be the same motive; shut it down, because I do not agree with it. Obviously, I am not interested in creating a problem for RPM by alienating members, but what sort of world have we created if all points of view are not included?

"Education" is a touchy subject for some as well, and my point of view is that there is no such thing as an uneducated person. Anyone who calls another person uneducated is using themselves as a reference, and places their own level of learning, formal or informal, upon another's with no regard for that person's life experience. All of us are educated, and all of us experience our lives individually. Each of us decides to learn about the world around us in different ways and those subjects that interest us the most will naturally create the "education" we possess. The simple idea that there is only one path to become "educated" is an ignorant and disrespectful way of thinking. It is my belief that if the landslide Trump victory I have predicted materializes, it will be largely because of the condescension felt by the hard-working "uneducated" Americans who are sick and tired of the elites and academics who they believe have destroyed what values and norms this great country once revered.

The olive branch - I have, as I mentioned, no intent to create an environment where members avoid the forum, and thereby impact the business that is so vital to all of our riding pleasure. Therefore, it is my pledge to limit my discussions from this post onward to non-political topics, and refrain from what I have considered lively discussions. Hopefully, those of you with the thinnest of skin will not associate my views and commentary with our host. 

[pdxfj]

Interesting timing of you bringing this up.

Just last week at an off-site work function I overheard a few (of what I would consider) "high/higher up" people in the company discussing the current election.  All of them were very left leaning and all are "highly" educated (Masters degrees, etc).

They were discussing (in their words) just how stupid Trump is and one individual said "The poling demographics of his supporters show they are "uneducated" with an average salary of $70,000/yr".

When I heard that, I thought to myself that the tone of the comment reminded me of the Clinton vs. Trump thread here.

Funny thing is I fit their "demographic" to a T.  I often joke that my sister got the good looks and book smarts, and I got the Spock brain.  She has a masters and her husband a PhD.  I don't have a college education or even an associate degree.  I do have decades of experience in my field and numerous industry certifications.  It is/was my choice not to go after a full college education because I cannot stand sitting in a classroom.  Would much rather be working and learning on the job.  I was not at all offended by their comment, in fact I had to keep from laughing out loud.

On the flip side my sister, while incredibly "smart" does not have the ability to do anything technical.  Any type of computer problem, car problem, etc she calls me.

Numerous people where I work are "highly" educated.  Many of them have commented that they have no idea how I do what I do.  My response is that everyone has their gifts and it is best to make full use of them.  No way I could run a global company, sit and do accounting all day long, be an attorney, etc.

I'm not "highly" educated, but I do know my gifts, talents and work ethic are highly sought after in the industry.  I remember the last time I was looking for a job, every company that called me said I had the most impressive resume out of the hundreds they had received.  Most of them knew they couldn't meet my salary requirements just by looking at my resume, but had to call and see if something could be worked out. 

So for being "uneducated", I've done really damn well for myself.  No way I could be where I am in life by being stupid...

[FeralRdr]

Interesting timing of you bringing this up.

Just last week at an off-site work function I overheard a few (of what I would consider) "high/higher up" people in the company discussing the current election.  All of them were very left leaning and all are "highly" educated (Masters degrees, etc).

They were discussing (in their words) just how stupid Trump is and one individual said "The poling demographics of his supporters show they are "uneducated" with an average salary of $70,000/yr".

When I heard that, I thought to myself that the tone of the comment reminded me of the Clinton vs. Trump thread here.

Funny thing is I fit their "demographic" to a T.  I often joke that my sister got the good looks and book smarts, and I got the Spock brain.  She has a masters and her husband a PhD.  I don't have a college education or even an associate degree.  I do have decades of experience in my field and numerous industry certifications.  It is/was my choice not to go after a full college education because I cannot stand sitting in a classroom.  Would much rather be working and learning on the job.  I was not at all offended by their comment, in fact I had to keep from laughing out loud.

On the flip side my sister, while incredibly "smart" does not have the ability to do anything technical.  Any type of computer problem, car problem, etc she calls me.

Numerous people where I work are "highly" educated.  Many of them have commented that they have no idea how I do what I do.  My response is that everyone has their gifts and it is best to make full use of them.  No way I could run a global company, sit and do accounting all day long, be an attorney, etc.

I'm not "highly" educated, but I do know my gifts, talents and work ethic are highly sought after in the industry.  I remember the last time I was looking for a job, every company that called me said I had the most impressive resume out of the hundreds they had received.  Most of them knew they couldn't meet my salary requirements just by looking at my resume, but had to call and see if something could be worked out. 

So for being "uneducated", I've done really damn well for myself.  No way I could be where I am in life by being stupid...

Listen to Garth everyone.  He at least knows how to program a VCR. 

[FJmonkey]

I am with Garth and still think digital watches are a neat idea.

[AgPilot]

THEY MAKE DIGITAL WATCHES NOW??!!  Next thing you know they will put a man on the moon!!

[Earl Svorks]

     Could it be just a coincidence  that  right in the middle of one topical word, another word appears
                                     
                                   EDUCATION

[fj johnnie]

 I have followed the Political thread and found it to be entertaining. And predictable, in that someone would eventually be offended. It is interesting to me that once we disagree with another's opinion we tend to look for, or see , the differences between us and those we disagree with. So if, ( for example only ) a Trump supporter is not a college grad, and a Clinton supporter is, then we use it as our measure to differentiate from the two. That some of us are educated and some aren't is of no consequence whatsoever. It is of consequence when one feels inadequate because of their lack of education . Or if one uses their education to look down on others. There are plenty of dumb educated people and dumb uneducated people. Where your interest lies is where your learning will be.
When one runs out of ideas for intelligent discourse, resorting to insults regarding the other person is an indictment on the insulter, not the receiver.
 

[ribbert]

When one runs out of ideas for intelligent discourse, resorting to insults regarding the other person is an indictment on the insulter, not the receiver.
 

Spot on!! Resorting to "playing the man" as an alternative to an informed response pisses me off no end.

Noel

[ribbert]

     Could it be just a coincidence  that  right in the middle of one topical word, another word appears
                                     
                                   EDUCATION

No, it's a subliminal message telling you you need an education to get a good paying job so you can afford the service costs.

Noel

[Mike Ramos]

Food for thought:

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.

Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.

Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.

Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts.

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

Calvin Coolidge

[Flynt]

+1...  good pull Mike!

Frank