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Author Topic:   School of Hard Knocks
jwhop
Knowflake

Posts: 9417
From: Madeira Beach, Florida
Registered: Aug 2001

posted April 11, 2005 02:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jwhop     Edit/Delete Message
This is an email I received. I don't know if it's for real or not.

Gates' High School Address
TO MT. WHITNEY HIGH SCHOOL in Visalia, CA.

Love him or hate him, he sure hits the nail on the head with this!

To anyone with kids of any age, here's some advice. Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talked about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1: Life is not fair -- get used to it!

Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait! till you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping -- they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

If you agree, pass it on.
If you can read this -
Thank a teacher!
If you are reading it in English-
Thank a soldier!!

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PixieDust
Knowflake

Posts: 181
From: Nahcotta, WA
Registered: Apr 2005

posted April 11, 2005 02:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for PixieDust     Edit/Delete Message

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lalalinda
Moderator

Posts: 3291
From: nevada
Registered: Jun 2005

posted April 11, 2005 03:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lalalinda     Edit/Delete Message
I'm pretty sure I graduated from that school

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Bluemoon
Knowflake

Posts: 4456
From: Stafford, VA USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted April 11, 2005 03:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Bluemoon     Edit/Delete Message
Good one JWHOp! I will be passing it on. I like the last part!! regarding teachers and soldiers.

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BlueRoamer
Knowflake

Posts: 3944
From: Calm Blue Ocean, Calm Blue Ocean
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 11, 2005 04:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for BlueRoamer     Edit/Delete Message
There are some good points. Unfortunately, the ideology behind these rules is completely and utterly selfish.
"Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room."

Essentially thi is saying is that you should forget about helping any causes, and just serve yourself. This is what's wrong with America, this post promotes the flagrant and primitive social darwinism that American culture is currently embracing. It's all about ME, and MY stuff, and what I'M doing. It's about MY SUV, and MY car phone. Other people can just go to hell. It's only good to be nice to nerds cause they will be your boss some day, NOT because you should out of the kindness of your heart or because you're a good Christian.

Before we listen to any of Bill Gates advice, I think a close analysis of him is absolutely necessary. I've seen the man speak at UC San Diego, and he is NOT happy. Bill Gates is depressed and the reason is that his focus in life is wrong. He represents a pinnacle of sorts in American consumption and greed.

And thank a soldier for what? I thank soldiers for defending our country, but I pity the ones in Iraq fighting for our oil, for they are completely and utterly duped. They are young, innocent, naive men, and many hvae absolutely no idea what they're doing.

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calliope
Knowflake

Posts: 77
From: The Ether
Registered: Feb 2005

posted April 11, 2005 04:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for calliope     Edit/Delete Message
Ooh - ouch!
Hmm, I have to agree with Blue Roamer on No. 7.
Okay, I can see that maybe in some instances Gates has a point...but some of the comments are also plainly arrived at over years of experience. Many teenagers would simply not be willing to swallow that. You don't, when you're young, you know??

Now if they lowered the school leaving age to 14 and reintroduced apprenticeships - the story might be different. Teenagers would have a chance to act like "responsible adults", assuming that's what they wanted.

But one size does not fit all, and some of us might not want to have to work so hard, might not want certain responsibilities. It's all relative.

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Cinderella Fae
Knowflake

Posts: 6
From: Chicago, Ill
Registered: Apr 2005

posted April 11, 2005 05:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Cinderella Fae     Edit/Delete Message
I totally agree with jwhop. Those are some good thoughts to live with, especially when you are young and impressionable and anyone can lure you into believing life is a bed of roses. It is not - but neither does it have to be a bed of thorns. Just remember your priorities and be grounded I guess ... and dont forget working hard at something you are passionate abt, going through stress and humiliation to achieve your ultimate goal and never losing your perspective through it all can work wonders in making life worthwhile for you and the people you love (but thats just my take on it!)

I guess I am reminding myself more than anyone else with this post!

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neptune's mermaid
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Posts: 1069
From:
Registered: Dec 2004

posted April 11, 2005 05:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for neptune's mermaid     Edit/Delete Message
“If you are reading it in English-
Thank a soldier!!”
who said that? I don't think it was part of his speech.

Most of them are good, a tad pessimistic, but good. I guess pessimism and reality go hand in hand

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jwhop
Knowflake

Posts: 9417
From: Madeira Beach, Florida
Registered: Aug 2001

posted April 11, 2005 08:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jwhop     Edit/Delete Message
Some of us have an advanced degree from the school of hard knocks Lalalinda

Well BR, I think you may have misread # 7. I read it to mean "get your own sh*t together before you rush off to save the world." Who could take anyone seriously who cannot dress themselves, take care of a 15x15 bedroom and remember to do the things around the house they're responsible for. Who is going to listen to rants about management of the rain forest or any other from the irresponsible?

Hmmm, the fact you're reading this in English...more or less means neither the Germans, Japanese, Spanish, Russians, Mexicans or Italians managed to prevail against the US....soldiers. The English didn't prevail either but they would dispute that we speak English.

I didn't intend to start a controversy by posting that email. I just thought it was funny...and true.

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lalalinda
Moderator

Posts: 3291
From: nevada
Registered: Jun 2005

posted April 11, 2005 10:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lalalinda     Edit/Delete Message
jwhop

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BlueRoamer
Knowflake

Posts: 3944
From: Calm Blue Ocean, Calm Blue Ocean
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 12, 2005 01:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for BlueRoamer     Edit/Delete Message
I see the truth, I just don't like Bill Gates and what he represents!

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Philbird
Knowflake

Posts: 3396
From: Here, there and everywhere.
Registered: Jun 2004

posted April 12, 2005 12:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philbird     Edit/Delete Message
If Bill Gates isn't happy, I guess donating to all those charities, and making speeches pro bono isn't worth his energy. Because of his "greed," you now have the privlidge of griping about him on your computer!

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ghanima81
Moderator

Posts: 1577
From: MAINE! :)
Registered: Aug 2003

posted April 12, 2005 02:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ghanima81     Edit/Delete Message
** note to Philly **

Don't make funny jokes when I'm drinking hot Chai tea... throat aflame.

I think Billy is on to something... we need a reaffirmed sense of reality in this world... I mean, who here had rubber chips under their swingset at school? NOT I, and I am better off for it. Live and learn, ya know?

Ghani

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Philbird
Knowflake

Posts: 3396
From: Here, there and everywhere.
Registered: Jun 2004

posted April 12, 2005 05:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philbird     Edit/Delete Message
LOL Ghani! Yes, we had cement too! (and no law suits, just a bandaid!)

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Bluemoon
Knowflake

Posts: 4456
From: Stafford, VA USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted April 12, 2005 06:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Bluemoon     Edit/Delete Message
Yes! I remember. We had to do exercises every morning and PE everyday. They only have PE twice a week at my daughter's school.

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BlueRoamer
Knowflake

Posts: 3944
From: Calm Blue Ocean, Calm Blue Ocean
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 12, 2005 07:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for BlueRoamer     Edit/Delete Message
Philbird:
If Bill Gates isn't happy, I guess donating to all those charities, and making speeches pro bono isn't worth his energy. Because of his "greed," you now have the privlidge of griping about him on your computer!

Yes I'm sure all his donating to charities is ALL out of the goodness of his heart and has NOTHING to do with tax write offs. There are many other operating systems out there, Bill Gates just got in at the right time, and is an extremely good businessman. I DO NOT owe my computing "privelege" to Bill Gates, what about mac, Linux, Unix, etc??

I think there's enough harsh reality in this world, maybe preserving kids innocence for a while really isn't a bad thing. Instilling a sense of hope, and a vision of the world as a peaceful place isn't that bad. Utopia has to start somewhere. Why ruin everyones fun prematurely? Yes you might say it will lessen the shock, but regardless, it's going to be a shock anyway. The world is harsh, but lets try to raise kids believing it doesnt' have to be that way.

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Philbird
Knowflake

Posts: 3396
From: Here, there and everywhere.
Registered: Jun 2004

posted April 12, 2005 11:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philbird     Edit/Delete Message
Are you really taking those rules literally?
Let's ban books too!

"Yes I'm sure all his donating to charities is ALL out of the goodness of his heart and has NOTHING to do with tax write offs."

You are going to get along very well in the real world Blueroamer, you are already suspicious of people's motives, even if they are for a good cause. (Now let's see, I can either pay Uncle Sam all of the taxes a man of my wealth should and NOT know where it is being spent, or I can donate that money to a worthy cause that may not have all the resources it needs.) Indeed, a very greedy man!

"Bill Gates just got in at the right time, and is an extremely good businessman."

DUH!
God forbid you ever get really good at whatever it is that you do, because if you did, you might have to claim yourself an American!

Eventhough we are in FFA, I'm still going to blame jwhop for this!

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jwhop
Knowflake

Posts: 9417
From: Madeira Beach, Florida
Registered: Aug 2001

posted April 13, 2005 04:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for jwhop     Edit/Delete Message
You going to blame me for the Irish Potato Famine and the collapse of the Great Wall of China too Philbird?

Quite a piece of work BlueRoamer. Not only must Gates do the good deeds which meet with your approval but to meet your test of ideological purity, he must do them for the right reasons...according to you.

Somehow, I don't see the people on the receiving end of Gate's charitable donations drawing themselves up in righteous indignation and refusing them because his motives for giving weren't pure.

Now, in the real world, Gates doesn't need to donate a penny to charity to get a tax break. Charitable donations get treated as a deduction it's true but those deductions are limited. Unlike the purchase of capital equipment which are depreciated over years. In fact BlueRoamer, Gates could have purchased enough real estate...a Microsoft software outlet on every corner to shelter income and a Gulf Stream V for every Microsoft executive and written them off as a business expense...no charitable deductions needed.

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ghanima81
Moderator

Posts: 1577
From: MAINE! :)
Registered: Aug 2003

posted April 13, 2005 10:03 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ghanima81     Edit/Delete Message
Goddess how I love when the righteously underestimated (in their own minds) take the simplest thing to stand on a soap box over...

Can't we just see the humor in it? I'm sure if jwhop wanted this to be critically overanalyzed, he would have put it in GU... but seeing as how it's just a funny little list (albeit it's from the mouth of Bill Gates) for giggles.

Dude, I mean, come on...

Ghani

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Solane Star
Knowflake

Posts: 5378
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2005

posted April 13, 2005 03:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Solane Star     Edit/Delete Message
Thanks jwhop,

It sounds as if you and Bill Gates are living here in my house with my fourteen you old son!!!

Solane Star

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Johnny
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Posts: 2056
From: Colorado, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted April 13, 2005 04:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Johnny     Edit/Delete Message
Sigh.

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BlueRoamer
Knowflake

Posts: 3944
From: Calm Blue Ocean, Calm Blue Ocean
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 13, 2005 04:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for BlueRoamer     Edit/Delete Message
Yes, if Jwhop wanted to have an arguement he would have put it into "global unity," anyone see some irony here?

I apologize, Ghani, if I seem contrary and that you don't like to read my opinion. I'm sorry if I see the need for idealism as well as realism, and I'm sorry if I'm not willing to have consumerist values and advices crammed down my throat. Authoring a post telling me to stuff it, then ending it with a peace sign is a bit contrary don't you think?

As for Bill Gates, a tax write off isn't the only reason to give to charity, he's the owner of a megaconglomorate with a tarnished image, don't you think he'd want to improve that image? I'm not aruging about the actually physical results of the deed here, I'm arguing about ideology and correct morals, something you, Jwhop, as an advocate of consumerism, corruption, and war, will never, ever understand.

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Solane Star
Knowflake

Posts: 5378
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2005

posted April 13, 2005 04:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Solane Star     Edit/Delete Message
Blah, Blah, blah!


Blue Roamer now you have to insult jwhop to get your point across!

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BlueRoamer
Knowflake

Posts: 3944
From: Calm Blue Ocean, Calm Blue Ocean
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 13, 2005 04:48 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for BlueRoamer     Edit/Delete Message
I apologize if you choose to waive your 1st amendment rights, but I do not. I am not insulting Jwhop. I'm sure he will admit that he is an advocate of war and consumerism, I am simply pointing out the truth.

"blah blah blah" is an effective arguement, are you a lawyer?

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Philbird
Knowflake

Posts: 3396
From: Here, there and everywhere.
Registered: Jun 2004

posted April 13, 2005 05:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philbird     Edit/Delete Message
Don't forget about the Irish Potato Famine!
It's jwhop's job to go around screwing up the world, and he's very good at it! Aren't ya Mr. jwhop?
Better not get too good at it though, you'll have to jump up a tax bracket and lord knows what charities you'd donate to!

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