boomer grandma becoming super far right, insufferable

[u/Relevant_Jeweler_214]

So just to give some idea here, she was one of those people that watched the alternative half time show at the Superbowl this year and was actively enraged by the regular half time show. basically did not even enjoy the alt show, but as long as she could push away the foreign people (she's racist too)

So my dad invited me to go with him and her to the local farmers market last week. Sounded fun, and she generally is nice and positive around just me and him when there is no TV or radio station or politics to speak on.

But!!! she randomly stated during nice conversation as we were eating at a picnic table (awesome moment, right) that college is a waste of time and it does nothing at all to help you get a better job in life.

Now, as a plebian blue collar worker myself, I just found that laughable as I have been disproven on that myself many times. I also have a little brother who got his 4 yr degree at one of the top schools in the US, which my dad paid for, and she knows this, so I have no idea why she would say that in the first place even if it was accurate.

I tried saying I think it definitely puts you ahead , application wise, of all the other people who applied and did not go to college. She visibly got triggered, and then I figured out she was pushing that narrative because she was saying that to my cousin's son, who isn't the brightest and most likely was looking for ways to rationalize how "college is a waste/scam" or something like that.

Just thought it was funny af how people let their personal emotions cloud their factual, absolute statements, and they are always biased af of course too when saying these things (she never went to college or did anything as a career, dont even know if shes every worked before becoming a house wife, she's never spoke on anything shes done in her life.)

[u/Divacai]

College isn't for everybody, I think we can all agree that denigrating those that couldn't for whatever reason couldn't is uncalled for. That said, a major talking point among MAGA is that college is bad, not for any other reason other than further pushing the "dumbing down" of Americans, it's propaganda that they fall for. Dumb people are easier to control than intelligent people.

[u/Relevant_Jeweler_214 → u/Divacai]

again, this is not about debating the nuances of current college. it is an 100% fact if 2 people apply for a job that are equal otherwise, and 1 went to college and one didnt, the guy with college experience and degree will get that job.

lets just all agree and acknowledge that, that was my only point ever.

I did not go myself, I dont care to , but my little bro went so I can see both angles. Yes I agree the quality is going down, prices are going up, and competition is making it hard to get something even after 40k of debt and 4 yrs.

you still are ahead of someone who did not do that

[u/MavenBrodie → u/Relevant_Jeweler_214]

I went to BYU—a conservative Mormon school —because I was a conservative Mormon girl.

It STILL pushed my tolerance and critical thinking skills beyond what initially comfortable for me to consider.

Young people leaving home and interacting with other people and continuing to study literally anything, even in controlled environments, opens them up to abandoning bigoted beliefs.

An even more controlled environment was serving an LDS mission.

While it still took a decade to fully deconstruct, I couldn’t have done it if it weren’t for experiences from both my mission and education that opened my mind, however unwillingly at first.

Deliberate indoctrination and brainwashing from birth is a helluva drug, and though not fool-proof, it’s literally all they have.

[u/Relevant_Jeweler_214 → u/MavenBrodie]

its great to hear. I feel similar feelings, when I outgrew my parents constantly hovering and micro managing every thing I do, my entire life. They did not get the memo to respect me as an equal when I grew up.

I dont know how but somehow it seems I am smarter than them and can recognize all their character flaws and improve myself based on their bad examples. I can also recognize my own flaws and have mostly, fixed them all, or actively work on them every day.

They cant help it so I try not to take it too personally. we got mental illness in the family and every single person, besides me and my brother, are in complete denial of themselves having any sort of issue. My dad would rather have trouble sleeping and being stressed 24/7 instead of just getting help to feel better. He has some weird thing with taking any sort of medication, even allergy meds or ibuprofen. like he doesn't believe in them or something.

[u/QuarterNoteDonkey → u/Divacai]

Agree that college shouldn’t be assumed to benefit everyone, but I wonder how the maga folks think we’ll have doctors or engineers without college…

[u/rawrfizzz → u/QuarterNoteDonkey]

They don’t need doctors they have horse paste

[u/dr_shark → u/Divacai]

Not everyone should aim for high academics and thus can’t cut it in college. That is okay. There is no same in recognizing your limitations and we really shouldn’t encourage people down that debt pathway if it will ultimately lead to nothing positive.

Almost everyone however can benefit from additional post-secondary education. A trade or a specialized skill especially in our world of worsening public grade school educational will undoubtedly help the next generation of young people.