...you are going to take the experience seriously.
I think a lot of people have given good reasons to go to college, including opportunity to continue exploring options and gain "a piece of paper" that adds mobility. I agree with them.
That said however, don't go to college for the piece of paper and don't go at all if you are going to a school that doesn't challenge or interest you. Yes, the piece of paper will help, and college can be an incredible experience. Yet I think the value of the college experience can be drastically overrated as well. I think learning how to do something useful is the most important thing of all, and that requires a few years of study inside or outside of school. A nonsense college degree that was easy to get won't help you that much.
Also, taking a year or two off from school can be a fabulous experience. Many schools recommend it (Harvard for instance). You could work for a few years and see if the life suits you, and then decide to pursue a college degree.
A caveat: pursuing college studies more than a year or two late is certainly possible, but a very different experience. Also, if someone (such as your parents) are willing to pay for college now, they might not be willing to much later.
When I was younger, Ender's Game was one of my favorite books. Yet even then I doubted that the book could be turned into a good movie. Although now that sci-fi effects have really improved (yes, we could have weightless battle scenes) I still dobut that a movie would capture what I liked about Ender's Game. And the thought of Anakin playing Ender is even worse. He was one of the major reasons I didn't like Star Wars---he couldn't act, but then, how many little kids can? How many 6-10 year-olds can play a serious (i.e. not adorable) role? The problem with making Ender's Game a movie is, frankly, having a little play the part. Having a little kid play it will only alienate the core audience--adult/teenaage sci-fi buffs like us
It seems to me that there is a distinction between what the general (popular) definition of "nerd" or "geek" is and what self-called geeks and nerds mean. All of my non technological friends seem confused when I refer to myself as a nerd/geek--they envison a socially inept slob with computer skills--someone wearing a dirty t-shirt, and runny nose, typing alone somewhere in a dark room.
As for the definiton I've seen here (and hacker FAQ sites), I mostly fit the sterotype. I'm an atheist female with interests in computers, eastern philosophy, music, anti-authoritarianism and the like. I differ from some definitions however; I am anti-gun and pro-socalism (I think northern europe (the Netherlands or Sweden, for example) would be a very nice place to live).
Seems to me that the reason households with the internet watch less television has more to do with affluency and education of the household's members, rather than the fact that they have the internet. People with higher education and high incomes tend to watch less television than the rest of the public--and are also more likely to have access to the internet at home.
I am a high school student, and I border on the "geek" defintion.
We spent much of the day in school today discussing the Littleton massacre--the Principal came on the intercom, we observed a moment of silence--and I tried to tell my classmates that although I don't condone the actions of those two boys, I can understand it. I tried to tell them that isolation and humiliation leads to anger and sucidial, destructive actions. I tried to tell them that High School is a horrible environment for many people, that it is very difficult, very isolating. And boring. Most of my classmates looked at me with blank stares. Most of my classmates actually like school, something I don't understand. I've told them before that I hate high school, and they tell me I'm insane. "High school," they tell me, "is the best years of your life! What about the prom? What about your senior year?"
I guess I'm luckier than a lot of kids. My parents are wonderful and let me take college classes at night to keep me from going insane with boredom. I keep quiet in class, and have found that when I shut up about computers, sci-fi, and politics I can have a few friends. I'm the only geek at my school so I have to conform while there to survive. I tried not conforming last year, to be myself, and discovered that there was no one else. Very depressing.
Censorship in public schools is nothing new. My own public high school offers the internet to those students (and teachers) willing to sign an elaborate 3 paged form which basically takes away any and all rights. You can't visit political sights (including federal sights, and slashdot), e-mail political activists....the list goes on and on and on. You are required to give them a list of all the sights you visit, and let them read your e-mail and any programs or files you might use. Unsurprisingly, however, everyone I know has signed their rights away without so much as blinking. Mandatory education is teaches more than ABCs...it teaches obedience.
Slashdot Mirror
...you are going to take the experience seriously.
I think a lot of people have given good reasons to go to college, including opportunity to continue exploring options and gain "a piece of paper" that adds mobility. I agree with them.
That said however, don't go to college for the piece of paper and don't go at all if you are going to a school that doesn't challenge or interest you. Yes, the piece of paper will help, and college can be an incredible experience. Yet I think the value of the college experience can be drastically overrated as well. I think learning how to do something useful is the most important thing of all, and that requires a few years of study inside or outside of school. A nonsense college degree that was easy to get won't help you that much.
Also, taking a year or two off from school can be a fabulous experience. Many schools recommend it (Harvard for instance). You could work for a few years and see if the life suits you, and then decide to pursue a college degree.
A caveat: pursuing college studies more than a year or two late is certainly possible, but a very different experience. Also, if someone (such as your parents) are willing to pay for college now, they might not be willing to much later.
When I was younger, Ender's Game was one of my favorite books. Yet even then I doubted that the book could be turned into a good movie. Although now that sci-fi effects have really improved (yes, we could have weightless battle scenes) I still dobut that a movie would capture what I liked about Ender's Game. And the thought of Anakin playing Ender is even worse. He was one of the major reasons I didn't like Star Wars---he couldn't act, but then, how many little kids can? How many 6-10 year-olds can play a serious (i.e. not adorable) role? The problem with making Ender's Game a movie is, frankly, having a little play the part. Having a little kid play it will only alienate the core audience--adult/teenaage sci-fi buffs like us
It seems to me that there is a distinction between what the general (popular) definition of "nerd" or "geek" is and what self-called geeks and nerds mean. All of my non technological friends seem confused when I refer to myself as a nerd/geek--they envison a socially inept slob with computer skills--someone wearing a dirty t-shirt, and runny nose, typing alone somewhere in a dark room.
As for the definiton I've seen here (and hacker FAQ sites), I mostly fit the sterotype. I'm an atheist female with interests in computers, eastern philosophy, music, anti-authoritarianism and the like. I differ from some definitions however; I am anti-gun and pro-socalism (I think northern europe (the Netherlands or Sweden, for example) would be a very nice place to live).
Seems to me that the reason households with the internet watch less television has more to do with affluency and education of the household's members, rather than the fact that they have the internet. People with higher education and high incomes tend to watch less television than the rest of the public--and are also more likely to have access to the internet at home.
Jalen
I am a high school student, and I border on the "geek" defintion.
We spent much of the day in school today discussing the Littleton massacre--the Principal came on the intercom, we observed a moment of silence--and I tried to tell my classmates that although I don't condone the actions of those two boys, I can understand it. I tried to tell them that isolation and humiliation leads to anger and sucidial, destructive actions. I tried to tell them that High School is a horrible environment for many people, that it is very difficult, very isolating. And boring. Most of my classmates looked at me with blank stares. Most of my classmates actually like school, something I don't understand. I've told them before that I hate high school, and they tell me I'm insane. "High school," they tell me, "is the best years of your life! What about the prom? What about your senior year?"
I guess I'm luckier than a lot of kids. My parents are wonderful and let me take college classes at night to keep me from going insane with boredom. I keep quiet in class, and have found that when I shut up about computers, sci-fi, and politics I can have a few friends. I'm the only geek at my school so I have to conform while there to survive. I tried not conforming last year, to be myself, and discovered that there was no one else. Very depressing.
--jalen
"Even a single lamp dispels the darkness"
--Gandhi
Censorship in public schools is nothing new. My own public high school offers the internet to those students (and teachers) willing to sign an elaborate 3 paged form which basically takes away any and all rights. You can't visit political sights (including federal sights, and slashdot), e-mail political activists....the list goes on and on and on. You are required to give them a list of all the sights you visit, and let them read your e-mail and any programs or files you might use. Unsurprisingly, however, everyone I know has signed their rights away without so much as blinking. Mandatory education is teaches more than ABCs...it teaches obedience.
jalen