A most depressing encounter

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-09-21 02:58am

Dalton wrote:What kind of communications degree are you talking about? Speech comm? Because I have a communications degree, but it's in Video and Television.

Yeah, its a Human Communications degree. There were some management classes I could have taken but didn't end up using. If people in this thread would stop attacking Communications for no damned reason they would see its usefulness. Its great for media, media relations, PR, rhetoric, etc... People going into customer support would do better with this degree under their belts. Hell, my eventual plans for Law Enforcement are enhanced with this degree over a LA degree.

Post by **RogueIce** » 2003-09-21 03:00am

Dalton wrote:What kind of communications degree are you talking about? Speech comm? Because I have a communications degree, but it's in Video and Television.

"How to Overreact?"

Ok, I'm getting my ass flamed for that one, but I just couldn't resist it.

Anyway, slightly more on topic and less flameworthy...Why take Biology? Ugh, did you enjoy it? Me, I'd rather be in Physics about now. At least it'll keep me awake longer than this horrible Chemistry... *sigh*

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2003-09-21 03:02am

Erase the hate, people.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-09-21 03:02am

Alyeska wrote:After having taken some of the required classes for graduation, I would hazzard to guess they flunked a fair number of idiots.

Really? What ratio of first-year students are history by fourth year?

The MSU-Billings program does a fairly good job keeping the program online and preventing people from BSing their way through. Just comprehending the work and being able to write the essays takes reading the actual assignments and more to the point, it requires inteligence. If you just read the work, you aren't ensured a grade because you have to be able to figure out what it means. Some colleges might hand out degrees in communications or liberal arts, but not mine. Thats why it was a Bachelor SCIENCE degree.

MSU hands out a BSc in Communications? I've never heard of a BSc in Communications; are you actually required to understand anything about empirical, scientific methods in order to graduate? BTW, where is this BSc Communications program described? I tried http://comm.msu.edu/programs/bachelors.html and it says that MSU's Communications degree is a BA.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-09-21 03:03am

RogueIce wrote:
Dalton wrote:What kind of communications degree are you talking about? Speech comm? Because I have a communications degree, but it's in Video and Television.
"How to Overreact?"

Ok, I'm getting my ass flamed for that one, but I just couldn't resist it.

Anyway, slightly more on topic and less flameworthy...Why take Biology? Ugh, did you enjoy it? Me, I'd rather be in Physics about now. At least it'll keep me awake longer than this horrible Chemistry... *sigh*

I assume you meant to quote me.

Why take Biology? I had to take something and I got better Biology grades in highschool them Chemistry grades. Still didn't do so hot. I did excell in the Forensic Science class though.

Dennis Toy · Post by **Dennis Toy** » 2003-09-21 03:04am

Raven, let me guess--this computer repair place was Fry's Electronics right?

Astronomy is one of those subjects that people simply don't bother to learn anymore; heck, people that are knowledgable are singled out as "nerds". Jeez, do you have to be a nerd to try to understand that Earth is only a miniscule fraction of the known Universe? Aren't these shits just the least bit curious in what is beyond the McDonalds down the street?

This reminds me of a history class I'm taking right now. My teacher said the other day that during the Medieval period in Europe, peasants often didn't know what was beyond the next hill. In fact, stories of giant, man eating dragons helped to keep them in check. Now we have a new breed of idiots who get their knowledge of space from the movie Armageddon. Please God, deliver us from these jackasses.

Darth Garden Gnome Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2003 12:12 am Post subject:

It's the same way i try to explain why nuclear terrorism is so far fetched. I keep trying to tell people that Nuclear bombs are hard to made and i mean HARD. You have to have a high level of technology that al-qaeda can't get their hands on. Detonating one is hard to do also, you have to actually explode high explosive devices at the same precise time. It has to be timed to the nano-second or else it wont work. the uranium core must be precisely shaped or it wont work.

No these people watch some shit like "Sum of all fears" (The movie not the book) and think nuclear terrorism is easy. How far fetched is the fact that some Neo-Nazi group got their hands on a nuclear bomb.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-09-21 03:05am

Alyeska wrote:Yeah, its a Human Communications degree. There were some management classes I could have taken but didn't end up using. If people in this thread would stop attacking Communications for no damned reason they would see its usefulness. Its great for media, media relations, PR, rhetoric, etc... People going into customer support would do better with this degree under their belts. Hell, my eventual plans for Law Enforcement are enhanced with this degree over a LA degree.

I know it pisses you off to hear it, but you can't change the fact that Communications is just the formalized study of how to bullshit. Yes, it's potentially useful if you want to go into, say, marketing. But that doesn't mean it isn't an easy program.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-09-21 03:05am

Dennis Toy wrote:No these people watch some shit like "Sum of all fears" (The movie not the book) and think nuclear terrorism is easy. How far fetched is the fact that some Neo-Nazi group got their hands on a nuclear bomb.

Most people nowadays learn their science from movies. That's the scariest damned thing about it.

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2003-09-21 03:07am

DW wrote:I know it pisses you off to hear it, but you can't change the fact that Communications is just the formalized study of how to bullshit. Yes, it's potentially useful if you want to go into, say, marketing. But that doesn't mean it isn't an easy program.

Bullshitting is an art form. I wish I could bullshit like some people out there.

"For those about to bullshit, we salute you."

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-09-21 03:09am

Darth Wong wrote:Really? What ratio of first-year students are history by fourth year?

Good question, I need to look that up.

MSU hands out a BSc in Communications? I've never heard of a BSc in Communications; are you actually required to understand anything about empirical, scientific methods in order to graduate? BTW, where is this BSc Communications program described? I tried http://comm.msu.edu/programs/bachelors.html and it says that MSU's Communications degree is a BA.

Montana State University - Billings. There is MSU which is located in Bozeman, and there is MSU-B.

Only a few of the classes I took touched on scientific methods and those were primarily com-history classes or com theory classes. To get in the program you needed to have an AA or AS degree. Furthermore at least two of the required classes required the student to retain at least rudimentary understanding of the scientific method learned in any basic science class. As I said, the program wasn't designed to be easy for people. Some of the teachers were a little soft on the grading, but if you didn't know the work and tried bullshitting your way through, you were SOL.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-09-21 03:11am

If your communications program actually required some grasp of the scientific method, it is highly anomalous. Despite your obvious sensitivity about the subject, it doesn't change the fact that the average communications major across the country is a moron.

Post by **RogueIce** » 2003-09-21 03:11am

Alyeska wrote:I assume you meant to quote me.

Actually, since he posed the question, quoting him seemed like the thing to do at the time. But that's besides the point.

Alyseka wrote:Why take Biology? I had to take something and I got better Biology grades in highschool them Chemistry grades. Still didn't do so hot. I did excell in the Forensic Science class though.

Forensic Science makes sense, in light of your planned Law Enforcement career. But didn't they have two levels of it? That seems like one of those courses that gets higher levels.

But, at any rate, take Physics! Fun with math, and that might somehow work into LE, like, uh, calculating bullet penetration or something. At least it seems more useful to me than Biology. *shrug*

And what's LA? Seems like "Law Something" based on the context you gave, but I can't imagine the A.

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-09-21 03:12am

Darth Wong wrote:MSU hands out a BSc in Communications? I've never heard of a BSc in Communications; are you actually required to understand anything about empirical, scientific methods in order to graduate? BTW, where is this BSc Communications program described? I tried http://comm.msu.edu/programs/bachelors.html and it says that MSU's Communications degree is a BA.

I have a Bachelor's of Science in Video and Television; the only difference between my degree and the Bachelor of Arts degree was that I was required to take less language and other liberal arts courses and more technical ones, like a compsci course and a physics class. I also took a lot of the more technical-oriented classes like video editing.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-09-21 03:12am

Darth Wong wrote:
Alyeska wrote:Yeah, its a Human Communications degree. There were some management classes I could have taken but didn't end up using. If people in this thread would stop attacking Communications for no damned reason they would see its usefulness. Its great for media, media relations, PR, rhetoric, etc... People going into customer support would do better with this degree under their belts. Hell, my eventual plans for Law Enforcement are enhanced with this degree over a LA degree.
I know it pisses you off to hear it, but you can't change the fact that Communications is just the formalized study of how to bullshit. Yes, it's potentially useful if you want to go into, say, marketing. But that doesn't mean it isn't an easy program.

That is a little over simplified. It gives you an understanding of how people communicate and it has the added benefit of teaching you how to bullshit your way past an uneducated (in that subject) individual.

The real question here is am I actualy defending my degree with logic, or bullshit?

Mike, you can take advantage of any degree for use in simpler terms. That is always understood. In the very least you have to give this degree credit for not being a general ED like Liberal Arts. LA degrees encourage you to know as little as possible on as many subjects as possible.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-09-21 03:14am

BTW, sorry about assuming that MSU must mean "Michigan State University" rather than "Montana State University". But I was somewhat familiar with Michigan State University when I was living in that area, so I immediately assumed that upon seeing "MSU". Besides, their football team's name is much cooler: the Spartans.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-09-21 03:14am

Dalton wrote:
Darth Wong wrote:MSU hands out a BSc in Communications? I've never heard of a BSc in Communications; are you actually required to understand anything about empirical, scientific methods in order to graduate? BTW, where is this BSc Communications program described? I tried http://comm.msu.edu/programs/bachelors.html and it says that MSU's Communications degree is a BA.
I have a Bachelor's of Science in Video and Television; the only difference between my degree and the Bachelor of Arts degree was that I was required to take less language and other liberal arts courses and more scientific ones, like a compsci course and a physics class. I also took a lot of the more technical-oriented classes like video editing.

Thats basicaly how the program worked at my college too. They bypassed the bullshit classes like language and let you get more course specific and technical oriented. The real fun class in my program was dealing with communications and technology. You certainly couldn't bullshit that class and I ended up writing a joint 20 page report on satelites in that one.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-09-21 03:16am

Darth Wong wrote:BTW, sorry about assuming that MSU must mean "Michigan State University" rather than "Montana State University". But I was somewhat familiar with Michigan State University when I was living in that area, so I immediately assumed that upon seeing "MSU". Besides, their football team's name is much cooler: the Spartans.

Heh, no problem. I should have said what state I was in anyway.

Yeah, Spartans are better then Yellow Jackets. Hell, MSU-Bozeman are the Cats and thats cool. But UM is the best being the Grizzlies

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-09-21 03:17am

This seems a little off topic, but since we are talking about good and bad college educations... Its fair game for this thread.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-09-21 03:34am

RogueIce wrote:Anyway, slightly more on topic and less flameworthy...Why take Biology? Ugh, did you enjoy it? Me, I'd rather be in Physics about now. At least it'll keep me awake longer than this horrible Chemistry... *sigh*

Weak! I took biology, physics, general chemistry and am in organic chemsitry. I'm also taking an ecology course at the moment.

Post by **RogueIce** » 2003-09-21 03:38am

phongn wrote:Weak! I took biology, physics, general chemistry and am in organic chemsitry. I'm also taking an ecology course at the moment.

Well, you're just...wierd.

Actually, y'know what I found out? I'm in the wrong Chemistry for being a Mechanical Engineer! I'm wasting time in a class I hate that, it turns out, I technically shouldn't be in in the first place!

Oh well, I'm probably gonna switch majors anyway. Mechanical engineering just isn't what I want to study for the next four years. Time to find something that interests me. I hear PoliSci makes you take an International Terrorism class...that sounds like fun, and might prove somewhat useful in my military career.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-09-21 03:41am

RogueIce wrote:
phongn wrote:Weak! I took biology, physics, general chemistry and am in organic chemsitry. I'm also taking an ecology course at the moment.
Well, you're just...wierd.

Biology major.

Actually, y'know what I found out? I'm in the wrong Chemistry for being a Mechanical Engineer! I'm wasting time in a class I hate that, it turns out, I technically shouldn't be in in the first place!

You're not taking CHM 2045? That's just general chemistry and isn't too hard.

Oh well, I'm probably gonna switch majors anyway. Mechanical engineering just isn't what I want to study for the next four years. Time to find something that interests me. I hear PoliSci makes you take an International Terrorism class...that sounds like fun, and might prove somewhat useful in my military career.

Bah, suck it up and be an engineer!

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2003-09-21 03:46am

Yes, these articles are funny though showing American's great stupidity. I find myself reading a few books, and then whamo I possess more knowledge than most of the teenagers exempting a few in the are. Even though you might be somewhat of an outcast concerning prep retards I never really liked them. It's nice having a Semi God status even you don't really know as much as you think they do. But anyway I'll be damn glad once leave this Fundie cesspool for college.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-09-21 03:47am

Political Science is very well-suited for people who lack technical, mathematical, or logical skills but have an abundance of bullshit on hand.

PS. The bullshit starts early, with the name "Political Science".

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-09-21 03:56am

Darth Wong wrote:Political Science is very well-suited for people who lack technical, mathematical, or logical skills but have an abundance of bullshit on hand.

PS. The bullshit starts early, with the name "Political Science".

Funny thing is Political Science degrees can actualy be very practical. Teaches you how to fuck other people and make things work for you.

Post by **RogueIce** » 2003-09-21 04:01am

Darth Wong wrote:Political Science is very well-suited for people who lack technical, mathematical, or logical skills but have an abundance of bullshit on hand.

PS. The bullshit starts early, with the name "Political Science".

It's either that or History. Choose your poison.

But, really, those two (general) subjects just happen to interest me. Maybe I'll look into the other degree programs out there. And I'm well prepared for bullshit in there. The word I get from Those Who Have Been There is that USF's PoliSci is better known as Communist Indoc.

Oh, and I think it's International Studies that has the Terrorism class.

And hey, if you can convince me that mechanical engineering is interesting and might prove useful to someone who has no intention of being an engineer anyway, I'm all ears.

phongn wrote:Biology major.

And those do what, exactly?

I'm being perfectly serious. That's like the math majors to me. What do they do? All I've ever heard is that they teach math. I guess biology would go study biology and work in that or something. But what's left to study? Evolution stuff?

phongn wrote:You're not taking CHM 2045? That's just general chemistry and isn't too hard.

I am taking CHM 2045, but there's evidently a CHM 2045 "For Engineering Majors Only" out there that I'm supposed to take as a Mechanical Engineer. And you're right, it's not hard, but it is boring as all get out. At least the lecture is (all she does is read, directly and without elaborating anything off of the slides). Lab is kinda fun, when stuff actually happens (unlike that solubility one, where almost nothing dissolved...).

phongn wrote:Bah, suck it up and be an engineer!

So I can do what? Create web pages on Star Wars vs Star Trek?