Disagree with other posts: I do respect expertise, degrees and education,

[Mike03]

as well as autodicactism, sheer tenacity, curiosity, nerve, wit or persistence of learning, research and obsession.

Since when did DU become a haven to ridicule intelligence and, rather, amplify supersition and idiocy? Isn't this what we are all against?

ON EDIT: Just to explain, I am tired of seeing individuals here disparaged or disdained for having experience, degrees and knowledge of particular areas of such matters as literature, science, medicine, etc... It is far too easy to obviate people, but it is important, IMO, to respect the effort that it does take to learn a discipline. It is not all that easy; and it is frequently costly and ungrateful.

Despite the idiotic and negative attacks of some posters here against study, intelligence, degrees and credentials, I am totally fascinated by what DUer's have studied, or become experienced or experts in. Not only that, but I actually admire and respect you/them for it.

Education and study do matter. Learning does matter. Knowledge is important. Since when did ignorance or "guessing" become something to admire over years and years of study????

Perseverence and study, whether you are training to be, or are, a physician or a lawyer or theoretical physicist, is something to respect.

Flame away.

[TomInTib]

1. Marketing

Marketing, in the Gift and Casual Living industries.

I have won many National Awards and have been interviewed countless times in both Industry Trades and National Publications.

But, alas, I never attended college. I was just born that way.

[blondeatlast]

2. Lived 40 years with a chronic medical condition, got a

Bachelors late in life after being laid off of 2 jobs in he Reagan eera, am raising a smart, rambunctious 11 year old boy, had to declare bankruptcy over medical expenses.

Language and political wonk.

[Raven]

3. Well, BA in english, MA in urban planning and JD in law. But no

advanced degrees in life or politics!

[mudesi]

4. I have a masters degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, and a BA in Psychology

I also have a BSc in Quantum Physics and a Masters in Pure Mathematics. I minored in English.

And I'm a lawyer.

Not the point of my thread, though.

[hobbit709]

5. I've managed to stay alive for 57+ years

despite some of the things I've done.

[monmouth]

6. I am a very, very fast typist (95 wpm) tested with NO mistakes about

two years ago and steno, both machine and Gregg at 3-4 voice at 200 wpm. I've truly had bosses almost cry when I was leaving them. Good on me! Now they won't hire me because I'm over 60...sigh..

[InkAddict]

35. LOL, I've got a 200 and a 220 certificate in Gregg

in my school days "remembrance box". With the advent of portable tape recorders and digital dictation, nobody cared. Unfortunately, my fingers are not quite as nimble, though I do earn my slave wages (PT was all I could find) as one of the last surviving in-house AMERICAN medical transcriptionists.

[monmouth]

38. I was certified on the Roberts-Walsh theory. Ahh, great memories,

doing tapes in the afternoon before kids got home from school. Medical was okay, I used to take deps on car accidents in the law offices, would love to do it part-time from home. I'll have to check that out. Nice to meet another steno...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. BS, MEd in Education

I've taught people from age 2 to age 82 and just about every age in between. Mentally and physically challenged folks and folks considered "normal".

[Happyhippychick]

8. I'm a therapist

[The Straight Story]

9. Technology and data centers

a lot of good it is doing me now....

Not to mention chess, math (mainly number theory and compression theory), and several other areas.

I just love to learn.

[Heddi]

10. RN - registered nurse

:D

[n2doc]

11. Problem is, no way to verify claims

FWIW, I am an Oceanographer. And a pretty good one, I think......


You are right, although there are many types of "education".

[annabanana]

17. If my mind was of a scientific bent, and Oceanographer is what

I would have wanted to be.

[ourbluenation]

12. I have a boatload of info in my noggin about how to make soap from scratch. ask me anything.

+

[bluethruandthru]

15. I've always wanted to do that!

Do you give lessons? :)

[ourbluenation]

25. you bet!

:hi:

[Zoigal]

19. Used to help my grandmother make soap

Interesting process. z

[Captain Angry]

13. BS in Finance (in May)

My previous career was all tech all the time. Linux/Windows training, etc.

[Wiley50]

14. Floorcovering: 25 yrs installing carpet, sheet vinyl (linoleum), Vinyl tile, wood, ceramic tile

Proof: my spinal MRI's

[annabanana]

18. a damn handy bunch of stuff to know!. . . n/t

[Wiley50]

34. I'm available (providing you provide the grunt work, rent tools, transportation, room and board) n/

[distantearlywarning]

16. Kicked and recommended.

Thank you!

[DiverDave]

20. I drive a truck

Pretty well too, no tickets or accidents...ever. (Not in a car or truck. since '73 for car and '94 for truck)

I'm the guy that slows down to let you merge...cant help it, I just think of the wife and kids trying to get on the freeway.

Oh, and I can answer all the questions on "are you smarter then a 5th grader" my kids love that show.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

21. If you're a physician, lawyer, or theoretical physicist...

you'd probably be familiar with the term argumentum ad verecundium and therefore wouldn't be spouting off your credentials in the first place, or getting upset when nobody gave a shit in second place.

[Truth2Tell]

22. I once did a keg stand

for 3 minutes 42 seconds.

My friends call me McLovin.

[Chovexani]

26. That takes talent

:rofl: :yourock:

[Kali]

23. 5th generation rancher in cochise county, 4th on this place

some college - started out in zoology ASU, did a year of ecology and evolutionary biology U of A, didn't finish - wanted to run away and be a cowboy

have done some continuing ed in range science, and alternative work (Allan Savory) and have 22 years direct experience here on the ranch. I love natural history and animal behavior (sociobiology - had John Alcock for a class at ASU)

[Greyskye]

24. Physical Design Engineer, 24+ years in the semiconductor industry

And the most important part, reading 1-3 books a week, every week, for the past 35+ years.

But I've got to admit, when I see someone with the lamest, most half-assed, illogical position in the world, and all they have to back it up is "I have n degrees, neener neener, neener", it really gets my goat.

[A HERETIC I AM]

29. Hey! I'll have you know....

That goat is MY goat. I know her personally. We have a....um....."understanding"..yeah..that's it. An understanding.

She understands that she is a goat, and I understand that she will taste WONDERFUL with some lemon, dill and mint slathered over her with olive oil and lemon.

That's MY goat ya got there.

[Greyskye]

31. no wonder that goat never turns his back on me!

(BTW, 'your' goat is a he. Just thought you might like to know...)

:hide:

[A HERETIC I AM]

39. LOL...I actually typed all that out with a male subject....

and then I thought it might be funnier the other way.

Ah well.

My brother and his wife have several Nubians. They're like big dogs with hooves. No Billy's, though.

[Chovexani]

27. I have a GED

And I am tired of people treating me like I'm an idiot because various conditions (not limited to but including severe depression and anxiety disorder) prevented me from going back to school. I am not some lazy "dropout", I left high school rather than suffer continued bullying from so-called Christians about my religion and sexual orientation.

I was in gifted programs my entire school career and got a higher score on the SATs in 6th grade than many high school seniors. I attended the Center for Talented Youth program at Johns Hopkins. I am not stupid. I am also aware there are people far smarter than me that never had those opportunities.

Learning is important, the acquisition of knowledge for its own sake is extremely important, but degrees are nothing more than very expensive pieces of paper. I am not denigrating people's hard work, but pieces of paper do not automatically make someone a smarter or better person. I am very suspicious of anyone who feels the need to beat people upside the head with their credentials; I think it's a sign of deep insecurities.

[Swamp Rat]

32. "I think it's a sign of deep insecurities."

yep.

:hi:

[Turbineguy]

28. I have a friend

who invented a meatloaf recipe generator that covers something like 4 billion ways to make meatloaf.

Wow, what a smart guy he is.

[InkAddict]

30. I was once certified as an

A.R.T. but the certifying group, AHIMA, was always bickering. They have long since discontinued that certificate in favor of even more specific ones for which I'd need to refresh and take another pricey exam. I can't add on to my Associates credits in this area without starting all over from scratch and, this time, I'd have to go into debt, if I could even get loans/scholarships at this ripening age since I'd probably be on SS before I'd graduate. Four-year schools won't recognize my academic credits because it was a technical allied health degree.

If I had a second life to do it all over, I would pick something else doing the core credits in community college and then maybe public health administration. Library science has also intrigued me, but one now needs an MS. People would always ask me, InkAddict, how do you know all this stuff. Well, my nose was either in a book or pouring over pages and databases on-line. Oh well. I tried to learn HTML too. I'm an INTJ and they say I enjoy the forest but can't understand trees.

Not that education is ever wasted, but I felt scammed that I paid my way while others got a free ride through welfare reform programs to learn what I did (when these programs were actually funded in this state) but then employers got perks for hiring those that got the free ride. Those folks lived somewhere and ate too, and I perceived it unfair as I did not think I had any special advantage they did not.

I know a bit about growing roses.

[PDJane]

33. Professional Dilettante.

English major, Computer programmer and systems developer, document production specialist, data base manager, now disabled and very much in need of mental stimulation. Am extremely grateful for the internet, which has allowed me to research just about whatever might catch my fancy!

Have read at least one book a week for fifty years, usually more. Grew up on a farm, know what to do with a tractor and an old-fashioned kitchen, can can and bake and sew, love embroidery and needlework of all kinds, can paint, am anal about some things and remarkably disorganized about others....a standard human being, in other words, with the usual mix of talents and interests.

[NRaleighLiberal]

36. BA biology, PhD Organic Chemistry. You are right - education is very important,

knowledge is what sets liberals apart from the flat earth conservatives. The ability to reason, think, research - all critical.

[dawniedarling]

37. waitress

I'd be an angry waitress without the
free-hand crawling I did to get through a LITTLE school.

I LOVE what I know!!!!
Thank yoU!