The Disadvantages of an Elite Education (2008)

> Witness the last two Democratic presidential nominees, Al Gore and John Kerry: one each from Harvard and Yale, both earnest, decent, intelligent men, both utterly incapable of communicating with the larger electorate.

This article: William Deresiewicz Complains That Getting Elected (i.e. Being a Good Leader) Is Ridiculously Hard and Not Taught In Schools Nor Achieved By Being Rich.

Re: The Disadvantages of an Elite Education (2008)

#6

Post by beardyw » Wed, May 06, 2026, 5:03 PM UTC

FrustratedMonky wrote: post #4

richard_chase wrote: post #3

This was gross.

how? It seems to be a popular subject lately. Dirty Jobs, leaving software jobs to become a trade. (Update: Electrician, Mechanic, Plumber, etc...) Lot of articles on this subject, and calls to bring back the old classes like home-econ, shop, etc...

If software isn't a trade what is it? Holy orders?

Re: The Disadvantages of an Elite Education (2008)

#7

Post by FrustratedMonky » Wed, May 06, 2026, 5:05 PM UTC

beardyw wrote: post #6

FrustratedMonky wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

how? It seems to be a popular subject lately. Dirty Jobs, leaving software jobs to become a trade. (Update: Electrician, Mechanic, Plumber, etc...) Lot of articles on this subject, and calls to bring back the old classes like home-econ, shop, etc...

If software isn't a trade what is it? Holy orders?

I get that sentiment. SE can feel like a trade some days.

But we do sit at a desk and type a lot. That isn't crouching in crap.

Maybe better description "smelly, dirty, uncofortable, jobs, that people generally don't want".

Re: The Disadvantages of an Elite Education (2008)

#8

Post by rootusrootus » Wed, May 06, 2026, 5:06 PM UTC

beardyw wrote: post #6

FrustratedMonky wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

how? It seems to be a popular subject lately. Dirty Jobs, leaving software jobs to become a trade. (Update: Electrician, Mechanic, Plumber, etc...) Lot of articles on this subject, and calls to bring back the old classes like home-econ, shop, etc...

If software isn't a trade what is it? Holy orders?

Knowledge work, of course, meaning it pays well but is less honest than real work.

But I agree with you. It’s a trade. Just more recent than plumbing.

Re: The Disadvantages of an Elite Education (2008)

#9

Post by justonceokay » Wed, May 06, 2026, 5:07 PM UTC

FrustratedMonky wrote: post #4

richard_chase wrote: post #3

This was gross.

how? It seems to be a popular subject lately. Dirty Jobs, leaving software jobs to become a trade. (Update: Electrician, Mechanic, Plumber, etc...) Lot of articles on this subject, and calls to bring back the old classes like home-econ, shop, etc...

This shift is supported by the current government. I am personally seeing lots of ads for fed sponsored HVAC training and things like that. Not that it’s an issue, but I’m always wary of what I’m being sold

Re: The Disadvantages of an Elite Education (2008)

#10

Post by JohnMakin » Wed, May 06, 2026, 5:07 PM UTC

Ah yes, the disadvantages of being elite. Just as I am similarly disadvantaged for being too intelligent and good looking. When will we realize as a society these things aren't really an advantage at all?