Social Class: What exactly does "educated" mean?

[Mistermobile]

Originally Posted by BigCityDreamer

I have a bachelor of science degree from my state’s flagship university and I certainly consider myself to be “educated.”

Sometimes life is exactly like a movie. The scarecrow, tin man, and the lion got something else trivial instead.



Here'a a poster with a diploma "proving" he is educated. WOW!

[ddm2k]

Originally Posted by fatsquirrel

I keep hearing people throw around the word "educated" to describe people who are rich in some capacity or who are gentrifiers in my area, as opposed to the salt of the earth common people in society.

Does this simply mean one who has a college degree, or does it mean someone who has a college degree from an elite school? I don't consider myself "educated" but I have a degree due to living in a state that has a low cost 4 year college program (not every state has cheap "city" colleges).

Not even worried about it. I'm doing fine with my high school diploma and $0 in student debt.

[WankelThis]

I do not think being "educated" is restricted to what formal education you have obtained (i.e., having your ticket punched education-wise). I think there are lots and lots of folks who are educated who never went to college, and are articulate, considerate, thoughtful, well read, etc.


I like this definition from an article in Forbes magazine:


"... a demonstrated ability to listen carefully, to think critically, to evaluate facts rigorously, to reason analytically, to imagine creatively, to articulate interesting questions, to explore alternative viewpoints, to maintain intellectual curiosity and to speak and write persuasively ..."

[M3Guy]

Originally Posted by heart84

Educated means being "woke" and a social justice warrior obtaining numerous advanced degrees in gender studies and angry white male studies while paying $200K+ for your "education."

So true, but we can't actually SAY it. We have to play like this is not the case I start talking like this in other forums and man do I get a beating lol!

Anyway, "educated" these days means something different. A while ago, it used to be more about critical thinking, developmental skills, etc, that you didn't necessarily have to go to college for. Now days, based on a lot of social media crap, it is about obtaining a degree in something you are not interested in, and how many countries you have visited (I really don't understand the latter).

[KathrynAragon]

I don't waste any time wondering about whether or not people consider me to be "educated." I mean it, not one iota of my brain space is devoted to wondering about this. I know I am well read, well traveled and well informed, and I constantly want to learn more, read more, explore more. I consider education to be a lifetime choice and a lifestyle as well.

My dad had a bachelor's degree but over time it became basically useless and even obsolete. But what impressed me the most about his intellect and intelligence and yes, his education, was that it never stopped - he never reached a stage in his life where he was no longer interested in learning more. When he passed away unexpectedly from a stroke, he was still reading and studying books that I found in his office, at his desk, on a variety of subjects. Go, Dad! He also loved travel and kept traveling, domestically and internationally, till he was literally physically unable to do so. That is how I want to live my life, and so far so good!

[KathrynAragon]

Originally Posted by M3Guy

So true, but we can't actually SAY it. We have to play like this is not the case I start talking like this in other forums and man do I get a beating lol!

Anyway, "educated" these days means something different. A while ago, it used to be more about critical thinking, developmental skills, etc, that you didn't necessarily have to go to college for. Now days, based on a lot of social media crap, it is about obtaining a degree in something you are not interested in, and how many countries you have visited (I really don't understand the latter).

I agree with some of this but I also find that international travel has really broadened my interest in and understanding of society in general. To put it very simplistically, I realized via international travel that there is more than one right way to do something in many cases. And there are also very entrenched reasons, developed over centuries, as to why people from different societies behave and believe uniquely. I would not personally have fully grasped that without experiencing different cultures first hand.