Do we cut college kids a break?

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-04-30 11:06pm

I have the idea that society treats young people in college differently than their working peers of the same age. It seems to me that a 21 year old college student is still considered a kid, but if you are in the military or working full time, there is not the same distinction.

I bring this up, because Ive noticed that if some college kids get drunk and do something stupid like steal a STOP sign, society seems to say "Well their just kids!" But if you are the same age and not in college its a different matter.

Anyone else experience this, or am I wrong?

Trytostaydead · Post by **Trytostaydead** » 2003-04-30 11:15pm

Yeah, college is the time when a student is expected to run life to its fullest before having to accept the mantle of adulthood.

Cops are usually forgiving on just about everything but murder and parking tickets.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-04-30 11:18pm

Trytostaydead wrote:Yeah, college is the time when a student is expected to run life to its fullest before having to accept the mantle of adulthood.

Cops are usually forgiving on just about everything but murder and parking tickets.

In my own personal experience college was a place I could do some more maturing before entering the non-retail work force. Age is a bit arbitrary, I myself was a bit behind in the maturity curve.

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2003-04-30 11:19pm

Trytostaydead wrote:Yeah, college is the time when a student is expected to run life to its fullest before having to accept the mantle of adulthood.

Cops are usually forgiving on just about everything but murder and parking tickets.

Tell me about it. On Easter Sunday there was a big pot smokers rally over at Farrand Field, complete with press coverage. That much weed, and they look the other way, but God help you if you park for a minute longer than your meter allows.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-04-30 11:28pm

When they're in college it's supposed to be like they aren't in the real, big bad, world. So they're still like kids and haven't experienced like it's really like out there.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-04-30 11:41pm

neoolong wrote:When they're in college it's supposed to be like they aren't in the real, big bad, world. So they're still like kids and haven't experienced like it's really like out there.

Well in a sense that is true. Once you get done, its it weird not to frame your life by semesters.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-04-30 11:46pm

Wait, you mean I won't get summer break?

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-04-30 11:59pm

neoolong wrote:Wait, you mean I won't get summer break?

If you become a teacher you do.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-05-01 12:14am

I have the idea that society treats young people in college differently than their working peers of the same age. It seems to me that a 21 year old college student is still considered a kid, but if you are in the military or working full time, there is not the same distinction.

I bring this up, because Ive noticed that if some college kids get drunk and do something stupid like steal a STOP sign, society seems to say "Well their just kids!" But if you are the same age and not in college its a different matter.

Anyone else experience this, or am I wrong?

People who have CHOSEN to leave academia and venture out into the real world are treated as if they're ... in the real world. I don't see this as unfair.

BlkbrryTheGreat · Post by **BlkbrryTheGreat** » 2003-05-01 12:25am

Darth Wong wrote:
I have the idea that society treats young people in college differently than their working peers of the same age. It seems to me that a 21 year old college student is still considered a kid, but if you are in the military or working full time, there is not the same distinction.

I bring this up, because Ive noticed that if some college kids get drunk and do something stupid like steal a STOP sign, society seems to say "Well their just kids!" But if you are the same age and not in college its a different matter.

Anyone else experience this, or am I wrong?
People who have CHOSEN to leave academia and venture out into the real world are treated as if they're ... in the real world. I don't see this as unfair.

I don't see what possible justification you can use to say that college kids should be given more slack then people in the "real" world. They're legally adults and should be treated as such, the amount of slack they're given amounts to an absurd double standard.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-05-01 12:31am

BlkbrryTheGreat wrote:I don't see what possible justification you can use to say that college kids should be given more slack then people in the "real" world. They're legally adults and should be treated as such, the amount of slack they're given amounts to an absurd double standard.

Why? People who chose not to stay in school get treated as if they're not still in school. If you drop out of high school in grade 10 and get a job, do you expect to get treated as if you're still a high school student? No, you dropped out, you got a job, and now you're an EMPLOYEE. Deal with it. If you don't like it, you should have stayed in school. We cut people slack if they choose to learn rather than work; this is a policy that starts in childhood and continues until they leave school. If some choose to leave school earlier than necessary, they shouldn't complain about the inevitable results.

Baron Mordo · Post by **Baron Mordo** » 2003-05-01 01:36am

Darth Wong wrote:We cut people slack if they choose to learn rather than work; this is a policy that starts in childhood and continues until they leave school.

I'm banking on that.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-05-01 01:38am

Ultimately, it's your choice. I wouldn't complain about it.

InnerBrat · Post by **InnerBrat** » 2003-05-01 04:55am

My Rob never went to uni, and he's still got a road sign/traffic cone collection that would put any student to same.

What gets me, is this assumption that univeristy doesn't count as the Real World, as if someone who spends their life in academia is somehow leading a 'pretend life'

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2003-05-01 09:47am

innerbrat wrote:My Rob never went to uni, and he's still got a road sign/traffic cone collection that would put any student to same.

What gets me, is this assumption that univeristy doesn't count as the Real World, as if someone who spends their life in academia is somehow leading a 'pretend life'

Tscha, whatever

That assumption falls apart when you consider that many, if not most college students take jobs (and often, it's full time) on top of full time school hours

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-05-01 09:51am

innerbrat wrote:My Rob never went to uni, and he's still got a road sign/traffic cone collection that would put any student to same.

What gets me, is this assumption that univeristy doesn't count as the Real World, as if someone who spends their life in academia is somehow leading a 'pretend life'

And you feel that they aren't? Everyone who leaves university for the real world notices the rather stark difference in the kinds of expectations placed upon you.

Darth Gojira · Post by **Darth Gojira** » 2003-05-01 10:15am

Can't........wait...........till.........college...........

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2003-05-01 12:49pm

If you drop out of high school in grade 10 and get a job, do you expect to get treated as if you're still a high school student? No, you dropped out, you got a job, and now you're an EMPLOYEE

You're still considered a legal minor and you still have to go through the juvenile justice system (with exceptions for serious crimes) until you turn 18. You can petition a court for legal adult status, but it's not something that's automatically given to you when you drop out of high school.

We cut people slack if they choose to learn rather than work; this is a policy that starts in childhood and continues until they leave school.

Now justify why this is necessary.

To me, it's a double standard. If a 19 year old does a crime, he or she should face the same penalty regardless of their academic status.

IMHO, the double standard exists for 2 reasons.

One of which is that historically college students have come from families that are more well off than the general populace. This gave birth to a perception that these are merely 'good kids just blowing off steam' when they get caught doing certain acts. Whereas the 20 year old fry cook who gets caught is merely a hooligan that needs the book thrown at him.

The other is that for many college towns, the college is an important source of jobs, tax revenue, and customers for local business. Let's just cut them a little slack.

InnerBrat · Post by **InnerBrat** » 2003-05-01 12:51pm

Darth Wong wrote:
innerbrat wrote:My Rob never went to uni, and he's still got a road sign/traffic cone collection that would put any student to same.

What gets me, is this assumption that univeristy doesn't count as the Real World, as if someone who spends their life in academia is somehow leading a 'pretend life'
And you feel that they aren't? Everyone who leaves university for the real world notices the rather stark difference in the kinds of expectations placed upon you.

Give me a for instance that has nothing to do with age or familial status.

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2003-05-01 12:54pm

Give me a for instance that has nothing to do with age or familial status.

Tenure doesn't exist for the most part outside of academia.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-05-01 12:59pm

23 days and I'm out of this shit hole known as college. Real world and real pay check here I come!

Larz · Post by **Larz** » 2003-05-01 04:48pm

I believe this status exists due to the societal belief that drop outs are failures that don't deserve special treatment while students are the succesful people that warrant such breaks. People who seek higher education are thought of as being prestigous and better people then the people who drop out (much like a movie star gets away with a lot of things while the average working person dare not tempt a lot of the things movie stars do... unless they like wearing the color orange and making license plates...)

Luke Starkiller · Post by **Luke Starkiller** » 2003-05-01 05:03pm

It runs both ways though. If you are trying to rent a house the landlord cannot base their decision on your race, creed, religion, age or gender or else it is discrimination. It is not descrimination to refuse to rent out to somebody solely on the basis that they are a student. Some people also seem to think that university is nothing but an 8 month beer-drenched holiday from working.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-05-01 07:48pm

Speaking from a technology perspective, scientific advancements almost invariably come from people who are either university researchers or at the very least, have university educations. They are given special privileges because the more you learn, the more likely it is that you will accomplish something which will move civilization forward.

Of course, that rationale falls down when you talk about someone who's majoring in, say, greek literature. But my opinion of degrees without real-world applicability is well-known already.

Trytostaydead · Post by **Trytostaydead** » 2003-05-02 01:08am

Darth Wong wrote:
Of course, that rationale falls down when you talk about someone who's majoring in, say, greek literature. But my opinion of degrees without real-world applicability is well-known already.

Now now Mr. Wong, let's not bash the humanities again. I mean, where else would we get lawyers from and how else would have George W. Bush gotten an education?