It's amazing how much you girls communicate by what you do NOT say and do. And equally amazing how often guys misread the cues. 
LOL! So true. I'm afraid, Mr. McPhallus, that the female species is a most complicated one (of our own doing), and at times most unbecoming to the male species...and to other members of the female tribe. Which explains why almost all of my closest friends are of the male persuasion. I have found that, with men, for the most part, you know where you stand on almost all issues. With women? Ah, now, there's the quintessential paradox!
Thanks, JohnnieB -- a part of me feels like a snob when I make these claims, but the truth is, everyone suffers if we graduate people who don't know anything or lack the initiative to get their lives going, especially since public college students are so generously subsidized by tax dollars. Colleges and universities have always had slackers and remedials, but the numbers now are outrageous, especially in community colleges, where we let you in as long as you can fog a mirror. I teach at one because I believe everyone should have an opportunity to prove themselves -- the problem is we keep too many who can't, mostly because they kick and scream if you tell them the truth about their abilities. It's gotten really bad, too -- I read of a study recently that said an "A" is the most common grade awarded in higher education.
About the loan situation -- for-profit colleges, mostly online, are the most guilty of pushing loans, but we also get students who take out huge loans and then never show up again for class, earning a failing grade -- basically they want the money and don't care if they default because they figure they really don't have anything to repossess and it is easier to get a student loan than other consumer loans.
Your friend's observation is absolutely accurate, Johnnie. The honors students are the only ones able to approximate anything approaching literacy, but even they strike me for the most part much like what the "typical" college student was, say, 40 years ago when it comes to articulation of ideas.
What's worse, I did a lot of training of new teachers (grad student TA's) and found myself constantly appalled by how little they knew about the subject matter they were to be imparting to their young charges. Their comments on student papers would entirely miss fundamentals like failure to establish a focused thesis--or would reveal their own ignorance with statements like, "You have a lot of punctuation problems but I can't think of any except use a comma before the word 'and.'"
Now here's a topic I can really sink my fangs...er...teeth into.
Gassy Man and
Lovely Bones, I agree with you both 100%, as I do with
JohnnieB's take on the current college/student dilemma. I will spare you all my musing on this subject, as it's pretty much aligned with each one of yours. Suffice to say during my university years I found myself amidst classmates who truly made me question why I and my parents invested so much in my post-secondary education. Immaturity (for the most part) pretty much sums up my then campus environment. I couldn't be a prof in a college or university today...I'd pretty much suffer from lecture hall rage during my first day!
Aaaargh. We are a nation of illiterates who are unable to think.
And perhaps this is the root of George Noory's apparent popularity. The majority can relate to him. We are the odd men (and women) out.
True. I truly believe the latest figures re illiteracy in this country do not reflect the true numbers.
I also think Lovely Bones hit the nail on the head re odd ones out. Aside from my family, fiance, and small group of close friends, I've personally always felt like the odd ball (square peg) throughout the course of my life. That said, after looking around and assessing the majority, I'm damn proud and lucky to be amongst the elite odd ones out.
Lovely Bones, I heard that, too. You know (and as many of us do know), one significant element about one's character in terms of assessing them is how he or she relates to animals and their overall thoughts about them. And to me, nothing sends out a more dark and adverse message about one's character than their sick obsession with animals being harmed in any way whatsoever. As an avid dog lover, George's sociopathic and demented persona speaks volumes when he reads these horrific animal stories on-air. I know I've said this before, but allow me to reiterate - Noory is one sick and twisted human being.
I couldn't have put it better myself,
Wild Card Guy. I and my beloved, sweet, and loyal pal border collie,
Oliver Dickens, thank you.
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