Can I just warn any lurkers out there...........

Knickers? twisted?
This thread was obviously started by jo in a bit of a wicked stirring mood. Worked didn't it.

Thanks very much, absent! Well, at least I enjoyed my four years at St Andrews! And the varied career in education which my degree led to.
However, I take your point. My DS1 refused to do A levels and did catering which took him eventually into hospitality management and he is now doing well in a completely different career. DS2 got a first and a MBA and is also doing well, despite a redundancy a few months ago.

What is so special about a degree or at least a first degree? It's not much of an achievement and proves very little about intelligence or other qualities. Lots of surprisingly stupid people have a BA or BSc. Not worth the paper it is written on if you ask me (which, of course, you haven't).

Getting off the subject of degrees and moving onto the way upset arises. I think some people find it hard to simply say 'sorry' I put that badly, or similar. Instead they have to pepper their replies with defensive questions.

Some people simply lack emotional intelligence.

Like Ana I was wondering where the resentment was. Still can't find any despite the pleas for clarification of the comment. I should imagine that there are more GNetters who do NOT have a degree than those who do, it just seems that the relatively small number of people who post regularly mainly seem to have one. Maybe we can start a new thread, along the lines of Do you have a degree or not? Then ask everyone who reads it, including those who normally just lurk to say yes or no. Those who do, and wish to blow their own trumpets could even given give grades if they wanted and say which university they attended!

NfkDumpling I thought everyone on this thread was studiously avoiding oneupmanship and there you go, mentioning your 25 yard swimming certificate. Shame on you!

Why would anyone need to 'admit' to not having a degree? Or feel the need to list their alternative qualifications? And why would anyone imply that only graduates should be allowed to post? (O.K - that was jingle, so perhaps I should not have taken it seriously).
Why was the question of degrees introduced at all?
Is that enough answers, Ana - may I go now, please?

No sign of 'resentment' there either, I notice, Nellie! There are many reasons why people don't have degrees. What I do object to is assumptions that we who don't are somehow envious of or feel bitter about the achievements of those who do.

No degree here either I am afraid. Dyslexia probably put paid to that. 60 OU credits in sciency things though. Am I allowed to go on posting?

Or perhaps I should have said 'an answer to my request'?

I'd still like an answer to my question, Greatnan.

Not really - they end up tens of thousands of pounds in debt and find there are no jobs that actually need degrees. I feel really sorry for young graduates - unless you want to enter one of the professions such as medicine or teaching it is probably better to leave school and try to find some employment that provides training. A whole generation were encouraged to think a degree would be a passport to a good career.

I've got 2 O levels, 35wpm typing, 60wpm shorthand and a 25 yards swimming certificate. I can't say I've ever felt deprived not having a degree, but it may be different for kids starting out now.

I don't think either of the members who admitted to not having a degree sounded resentful at all, Greatnan! Perhaps you could point out the post/posts you perceive to be sending that message? I'm certainly not 'resentful' - why should I be?

What's all this nonsense about having a degree? If you think it is a good thing to have, take one with the OU, but if there is no subject that interests you sufficiently, don't sound resentful of people who have put in the work to get one.
One boring man told me had attended 'the university of life' to which the only possible reply is 'Did you pass?'.

No, I dont read them, generally I run my eye across them and move on to another thread. It was when I reached the third or fourth this afternoon that suddenly the worm turned and decided it was time to get disgruntled.

V for "very"?

V

Most of us did try to ignore them. It was fairly obvious that engaging them in chat was a bad idea!

But you read them all.

I'm just doing my daily visit to Gransnet and scrolling and reading threads on 'Last Day' and this is the third or fourth thread I have opened up and found it is all about the unmentionables that live under bridges.

I am with you the usual suspects are bores but the best thing to do is ignore them. All these threads chasing the same subject are also somewhat tedious, and spoiling my, and I am sure otheres, enjoyment of Gransnet.

Jeni I think common sense is very uncommon and a much under appreciated quality, don't you? I know someone who is very, very intelligent with no common sense at all!

A superior type?

A degree doesn't mean that you have common sense or are not successful. The richest man I know does not have one. Nor do the happiest couple I know!

Well done you Barrow fessing up! I bet you have achieved loads and would be a model for some of those who think they are failures. I was beginning to think that everyone on here was of a superior type!