No, but many would say I work with similar type of people.

 

I'll drink to that. Even after retirement, I took some more writing classes, art classes, etc. I guess I'm just a perpetual student. I kind of like it. I've never stopped taking classes (except for a few brief interludes of childbirthing, etc. ). It keeps me from ever being bored.

 

These days it seems there is a requirement to have some letters behind your name, even if you are the mailroom person. From my experience and this is is only an experience.... I love you guys and girls. In a non sexual way

BUT.. people with fancy letters behind there names, especially in the accounting field do not have the capacity for common sense. Street smarts. I have survived 16 years with the provincial government. Worked my way up. Why? not because of the education, but because of my knowledge of the Ministry. I can do circles around these newbies who have the education.

The newbies don't treat the experienced people very well, and pretty much tell us uneducated, 3 letters that we do not know anything.

I am at the point I tell them not to ask me questions, or bother me, because I am not capable of helping them. That doesn't always go over well What do I have to lose... my 16 years or their 6 months.

I admit I am a crusty old government worker, who is not the typical government worker (I might add )

 

^
Street smarts, school of hard knocks and common sense, are not bad things to have on a resume.

I recall working at a job where they would promote from within even if you didn't have letters after your name. I watched people come and go at a job that required the degree, unless the promotion came from within. I was offered the job/promotion, but declined as I didn't want the responsibility and the extra hours the job required, as my son was small. Nothing personal to those with the hard earned letters after their name, but I recall some of those who came in with the sheepskin and the letters and they had no clue.

 

I went off to college at age 18. I came home two weeks later to visit my girlfriend. First, I wasn't very welcome so soon and, second, my bedroom was now a TV room. I got the message from that day on. Although I never performed a hippie act or looked like a hippie or even had a hippie thought, I now in my old age realize my boring seriousness as a shortcoming and gladly participate in that toast.

 

^^ I had a lot of hippie thoughts and wore bell bottom pants and platform shoes (and mini skirts) however I was too busy working and going to school and dealing with life and the need to provide for myself to do any other hippie-type things. I am however quite happy with life in general and just like Honda Gal said, I love you guys in a very nice way and am happy I've met many of you in person and the rest of you via the web. You're my friends and I respect your knowledge and enjoy the friendship.

 

Well I assure you, for several years here up until now, I haven't seen any letters after any of our names in Vintage. Americans and Canadians (and others) are parsimonious souls. Most of our names have only one or two syllables and only a few letters! We shorten Jeremiah to Jerry, Jerry to Jer and then Jer to J. So we wouldn't have time or space for letters after names. But who knows, tomorrow we may see, for example, Legal Bill B.A., M.A., Bachelor of Laws LLB, Master of Laws LLM, on Vintage posts!

 

B.S. with "funny little foreign words" in the corner of the diploma.

 

Same here except Uncle Sam gave me a 2 year all expenses paid tour of places I never want to go to again.

Gave me a great appreciation of what education can do for you.

 

Very interesting thread.

Some of the smartest people I know, including my dad, never attended college. But I agree that a degree does indicate the ability to set and achieve goals. I also think that achieving a Masters indicates this even more strongly.

Folks with a doctorate seem to fall into two catagories...those who feel they need the degree (and perhaps the relevant learning) to pursue specific career goals and those who simply love university life (or who just love learning).

I was also a bit surprised to see how much book-learnin' is represented in our little Vintage world.

-Mike
B.S. Accounting/Information Technology