Is there a downside to being well-edjamacated?

HiFiRaver · 18-21, M

I think being well-educated can set expectations about society and your life prospects that may be unrealistic. I’ve never believed “ignorance is bliss”, but being educated raises your standards (for many things) and you may soon find those standards are not easily met.

Degbeme · 70-79, M Best Comment

skool learned me so gooder.

TinyViolins · 31-35, M

I can only speak for myself. I'm a college graduate with 2 bachelor's degrees, but my girlfriend and her parents are all high school dropouts. They're good people and we get along cordially enough, but when they start talking about current events or social issues, it's very clear that there are huge gaps in their understanding of the topics. We're basically approaching the same conversation at two totally different levels of complexity.

I suspect it probably sounds arrogant of me, but I always walk away from those discussions feeling hopeless for the human race. I think that's a big reason why you see really smart people keep to themselves or keep their social circles small. At some point, you just can't gain anything useful or worthwhile from talking to less educated people. It can feel isolating not being able to have engaging dialogues with those around you.

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

I was told at school that being an intellectual was a guaranteed way to be first against the wall when the communists invaded. Look at Cambodia and China as examples, and we see that was/is true. Thank goodness that in so many modern 'western democracies' education and critical thinking are valued by those in charge and the world is able to see the dangers of populist nationalism. 😕

When I teeched Inglish, I maid shure that I saved the kids from luking too brite four this reezun

awildsheepschase

A sense of impending sadness? If one were to have studied biology or environmental sciences, I can't imagine how they feel. You could feel without a companion if you have not fostered loving social connections, and this list could go on.