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Peter Thiel: I’m Really Not Crazy; I Just Want to Help Some Kids

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Re: Peter Thiel: I’m Really Not Crazy; I Just Want to Help Some Kids

#41

Post by hristov »

kevinpet wrote: post #37
hristov wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe they are angry because they see this as somebody bribing young kids to make what might be the biggest mistake in their lives.

If delaying college for a few years is the biggest mistake you make in your life, you have been far too cautious. This position is discussed and Thiel addresses why it is not a reasonable position in the article. If you want to advance this position again, protocol says you need to provide a new argument or new evidence that was not considered in the previous round. Didn't down vote you, but think I understand why so…

I read the article carefully and I do not see Thiel discussing that at all.

Note that Thiel does not target kids that are about to go to college but kids that are already going to college. So he intentionally wants to interrupt an ongoing college education, not merely delay it. People say you can always go back but that is often not the case. If you are in a very competitive school or program it is very doubtful they will take you back if you took a couple of years off. Actually it would be probably impossible. And believe you me he will choose kids from competitive programs in order to get maximum news exposure. I can imagine how this can be a huge mistake at least for some kids.

It is just a very perverse situation ... he says here is all this money but you have to give up something to get it. Usually when one does charity one tries to help the people one does charity to, and does not pose to them difficult and maybe even dangerous bargains.

If he thinks these kids are so valuable, why would he not give them the stipend before they go to college or after they finish. It is just a couple of years difference either way?

Re: Peter Thiel: I’m Really Not Crazy; I Just Want to Help Some Kids

#42

Post by maxawaytoolong »

hristov wrote: post #41
kevinpet wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If delaying college for a few years is the biggest mistake you make in your life, you have been far too cautious. This position is discussed and Thiel addresses why it is not a reasonable position in the article. If you want to advance this position again, protocol says you need to provide a new argument or new evidence that was not considered in the previous round. Didn't down vote you, but think I understand why so…

I read the article carefully and I do not see Thiel discussing that at all. Note that Thiel does not target kids that are about to go to college but kids that are already going to college. So he intentionally wants to interrupt an ongoing college education, not merely delay it. People say you can always go back but that is often not the case. If you are in a very competitive school or program it is very doubtful they…

It's usually pretty easy to get a leave of absence, maybe even moreso at competitive schools. Harvard, for example, lets you take a leave of absence for up to five years. And even after 5 years you can go back if your petition is approved. MIT has a similar policy. I went to a lesser school but I was allowed to finish up after an 8 year leave of absence.

Re: Peter Thiel: I’m Really Not Crazy; I Just Want to Help Some Kids

#43

Post by _delirium »

daeken wrote: post #40
hristov wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. I think this is really a libertarian attack on academia. If you read the atlantic and the economist you will notice that an attack on academia had been going on for a while now from libertarian circles. Which is kind of ironic because universities overloaded themselves with libertarian professors (some with very flimsy scholarly credentials) in the last ten years in order to suck up to the Bush administratio…

> Which is kind of ironic because universities overloaded themselves with libertarian professors (some w scholarly credentials) in the last ten years in order to suck up to the Bush administration and the right wing donors that are getting more and more important. Holy random statement, batman. Do you have a citation for this? The idea of libertarian professors being a plus to the Bush administration makes effectivel…

I'm guessing he's referring to the conservative/libertarian donors who've established Ayn-Rand-studies endowed chairs at a few universities. It's a pretty small number, though (I think three), not really a tidal wave.

Re: Peter Thiel: I’m Really Not Crazy; I Just Want to Help Some Kids

#44

Post by candre717 »

kevinpet wrote: post #38
candre717 wrote: post #18

I applaud Thiel for offering this alternative to ambitious students. What I don't applaud is this myth of the genius college dropout who changes the world. That just doesn't happen enough to make a rule out of it. I think it gives students the wrong idea - especially those whose never managed a business.

As opposed to all those students who leave their VP Sales jobs to go get an education? What Thiel and many others (this seems to be something of a theme in libertarian circles) are saying is that a college education is not relevant to certain kinds of activities. Sure, it may be beneficial, but not beneficial enough to forgo something more beneficial for four years.

Right - but I think what Thiel should do when explaining his fellowship is qualify it. "Drop out of college ...and, oh yeah, make sure your some superstar, prodigy, and/or really lucky because in the past those were the qualities that kick started the billionaire stars of today."

Sure, a college education is overpriced and, at times, overrated. But, I hope these young people come in fully aware that failure stings and when you're heading in that trajectory - even temporarily in any thing or venture - a lot of choices you made do not look too bright.

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