this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2023
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Just quietly I think University is quite often a bit of a scam.
@wscholermann @bot001 well given the origins were for rich people (and the children of rich people) to do something with their spare time, it explains why quite a few degrees aren't much use. But they do help you understand why things are the way they are. Just tough titties if you don't have independent wealth to sustain you after you work this out.
Pretty sure universities were originally started by religious orders to be a place of learning. For them learning was a form of worship. This applies to both xian and Muslim universities.
@Seagoon_ there seems to be conflicting information online but most universities seem to exist separate to religious orders, despite historically being very heavily influenced by them at times.
the origin of universities per se, I'm talking 1000 years ago
But each university that exists today was founded for a unique reason
but to call universities places where rich people could do hobbies is insulting to both universities and to scholars and scientists.
For example, Darwin was a gentleman scientist. It wasn't just something he did in his spare time. It was his vocation.
@Seagoon_ yes, but he could only afford science to become a vocation because he was the son of a wealthy financier.
"The world's first university, The University of Al Qarawiynn, was founded in 895 CE by a woman named Fatima al-Fihri. She used her inheritance to form a large mosque with an associated school"
... so the world's first university apparently started by a woman of leisure who assumedly had a hefty inheritance if she could afford to start a University.
Even Siddhartha Gautama was a nobleman.
The luxury to spend time thinking and learning has traditionally been afforded to the wealthy, not the working class, and so when young folks now go to uni and feel like it was a scam, it's worth noting this history.
the sciences are probably the least scammy
and getting a job is not guaranteed
I wish I'd lived in the what are you talking about , University is free era. I would love to study some sort of science, maybe astro-physics or something...
One of Miss Seagoon's friends did a masters in Astro-Physics, her aim was to join the European space program. But she still couldn't get in so she did a teaching degree too. But she does not regret studying one bit. ( her degrees were free but she does live in Europe )
I. Am.Just.So.Jealous of all of that.
A regret I have is that I have right-of-abode in the UK. Prior to Brexit, that meant I qualified for subsidised university throughout Europe (as long as I could qualify)...I thought about looking into that at one point, and didn't.
I regret that, but if I'd done that I wouldn't have met MrsCalhoon and wouldn't have kidcalhoon1/2... So, you know, fair trade.
So, ~~she~~ they teach astro-physics?
Uni’s free for foreigners in Germany and some other EU counties I think..
She teaches physics at yr 12 level. ( I'm so proud of her, I've known her since she was 12. )
Right on. I loved year 12 physics.
Ironically less guaranteed in the sciences in Australia since Australia has a teeny tiny industry.
The whole system is a scam. Individuals and governments pay for education, and businesses use those people to make profits without contributing to the system that creates skilled people. But to not be so pessimistic, I personally enjoyed my time at uni, even though I don’t use any of it directly now. It expanded my horizons and was a foot in the door, that I otherwise wouldn’t have gotten. I am a better person for having gone.