Do you think people without college degrees are jealous of those who have them?

Question

For that sake of this question, I'm only considering a Bachelor's and higher.

I asked a question earlier about men finding women with a higher level of education attractive or intimidating. Most responses actually answered the question (which thank you to those who are able to do that) but there were some that thought I was 'bitter' because I'm single and educated (Bachelor's). Don't know how they got that conclusion from one question but any whooooooooooo...

I kinda noticed on this site in general that people without degrees like to knock down those who have one. It almost seems like they don't feel a Bachelor's is something anyone should be proud of. It's always 'wow, you wasted your money' or 'you know that doesn't make you smart, right?'

I'll be honest, but it seems like those comments come mostly from bitterness that they don't have a higher level of education or didn't have the ability to get one. I don't think I've ever seen anyone on here say that you need to get a Bachelor's so I don't get the anger from those who do not have one. I tell my students all the time that technical schools are great as are community colleges and certificated programs and that college is not the only avenue.

But it's getting really annoying that people who don't have a degree feel the need to knock someone down just because they do have one. I don't get that logic. I think they have the perception that a Bachelor's makes someone think they're better than others but really it's just being proud of your accomplishment. I think people without a degree act like they're better because they had this revelation that college is expensive as if no one with a degree knew that going in.

I've seen it from both men and women (though, granted, I've seen it a lot more from men) this attitude.

jennifer_bloom · Accepted Answer

I used to participate at a poetry club at a youth centre which welcomed everybody 30 years old and under (this was 6 years ago) - and I got treated like trash by almost everybody there because I read a lot of books as a child and I had a very good vocabulary and most of these people grew up in drug addicted homes and could not advance beyond a grade 6 literacy level. I didn't know why everybody was avoiding me until one day, a guy got drunk one day and told me the real reason they didn't like me - they thought I used a lot of big words in my poems and that made them angry. I had a similar thing happen in my class last year. A girl was jealous of me for being so intelligent and stole my written homework assignment which was worth 20% of my final grade. I believe she is the reason I got an A and not an A+.

Lavinnykins · Accepted Answer

Right, so my ex had a masters degree... in History. He loved to rub it in my face that he had a degree and I don't even have an A-level. What would rub salt in the wound, was that I have a career in a field I love, I work at a well renowned hospital and work with some of the top consultants in the country whilst he worked in a sales job he hated, doing absolutely nothing with his degree. He acted like he was better than me but yet would tell me that I went down a better route getting experience and he wished he did the same. Now I'm not saying I'm better than him in an insulting kind of way, but personally, I am in a much happier and comfortable place than he was.

mrbobz · Accepted Answer

My girlfriend has a degree.. i dont. I work in a place where probably 90% of the people have degrees, i dont. It makes no difference, i work with people who have degrees and i am equal, higher and lower than them in the hierarchy.

I have never been knocked down by any one really. I think if any one at my work place did i would point out that its amusing that we are both in the same point in life, except i saved my self £1000s

My own regret is i didn't go to university, i just wasn't ready for it, i could have done with the experience, but i was mentally too young to handle it when i was 18. Now i would love to go back and do it, and maybe i will one day once am more financially stable

Once you get a job and your established, your experience will count for more

djmzes · Accepted Answer

Simple

hellionthesagereborn · Answer

I don't think they are jealous, I think they are frustrated that we have created a system that places such emphasis on something that doesn't matter (27% of people actually have a degree related to the job they work). I think they are also frustrated that so many people think that if you don't have a college degree that your some how stupid and inferior and this is the inevitable backlash from such attitudes (and yes, this attitude does exist. Not saying every one with a degree has it but it is rather prevalent). Also they probably think its a waste because they know people with degrees who are still stuck working dead end jobs (I know one with an art degree and two who studied graphic design working dead end jobs while another friend is out earning all of them (and me to be honest) who never went to college). I think their are many things at play (and yes some might be jealous but I don't think they are jealous of the "magic piece of paper" so much as the idea that your some how better then others if you have one) and jealousy is the least likely one.

ChiTown33 · Answer

I think it works both ways. It's funny because i had a reaction to a lot of the things you said and let me be clear i commend you for getting a Bachelor's so don't think i'm trying to insult you when i say this. But i've heard before how commonplace that's getting to be. It's funny i read today that 1 in 5 Babyboomers have university degrees 1in 4 genXer's 1 in 3 millenials. and it's estimated 1 in 2 GenAlpha's will. This only strengthens that assertion.
I don't think post high school education is ever a waste of money. But i do think a lot of times it's not applicable for what a person ultimately does occupation wise (for instance my sister has a music degree what does she do? she's a vice president for Pepsi... by the way that sounds like a big deal it isn't they have a lot of them. lol)
A degree doesn't make you smarter. It makes you commited. But statistically speaking it does mean you'll make more than someone ww/out one (i guess you could say that makes you smarter than someone w/out one).
I will say this though if there's one thing life has taught me it doesn't matter what your qualifications are if you're not able to convince someone of the value you bring. So while a degree is valuable i personally believe the ability to sell yourself is paramount.

Darkfairie17 · Answer

I think it really depends on the person. Sure there are those who feel they have to knock down other people's accomplishments. But I feel bad for those people.

I used to have a co-worker like that. She would downplay people who worked hard for their degree and certifications. Meanwhile she has only graduated high school. Unfortunately she feels really bad about herself (I can see this a mile away). So I don't pay her any mind.

I worked hard to get where I am and I will continue to work hard to get even further. If she is upset by what I have accomplished that is her problem.

Don't feel bad, don't feel like you have to 'dumb' yourself down or hold your life back because it bothers other people. You do you boo!

Focus on the road ahead, and not the other people surrounding you!

WalterRadio · Answer

Sometimes, but that is not the whole story.

Specifically for Mexicans, they often have a cultural "raisins" mentality that looks down on children who do better than their parents.

But more generally, it has to do with money. Often times people who do not have good jobs, or any job at all, are jealous of those who worked hard and obtained a good paying job. That is something they can never achieve. They don't like to accept the fact that some people are better than others and they are on the losing end of that.

gothgirl997 · Answer

I really don't care..
If anything I think it's the other way round. People are envious of charismatic people with great jobs with no college degrees.

I'm envious of Adele's voice for example, Meryl Streep's acting or Spielberg who is such a great director.. There are also lots of entrepreneurs or people who are rich and made a lot of money without having a college degree.. (athletes, fashion designers). I don't know if any of them had any training (for example, a fashion designer may have been to a fashion school. I think Meryl Streep went to drama school).
If anything, I think college degrees are worthless unless you learn a skill to help you in your future career...

Kinsey · Answer

Hard to judge, we have many bachelor degree, master holder in my country. The govenment provide scholarship with monthly allowance for whoever qualified and wish to furher their study locally or internationally. There is less issue of bitterness as everybody has equal opportunity should they prove themselves capable to undergo university education.

Jackpot1977 · Answer

Not really my boy went to law school owes so much on his student loan he gets drunk and don't come out of the house because he still couldn't find a job these days most people who don't go to college are better off because everybody is stuck with a student loan they can't pay off even if they get their dream job I would rather have a simple job and no debt than a great job and 100 grand in student loan debt

Kemil_Zhoki · Answer

Some are, some aren't. It depends upon the personality of the people and, to some extent, the field of study. Although anecdotal, I know plumbers who laugh at people with some advanced degrees because those people make significantly less than the plumbers, their fields could change forcing them to go back to university, and the degreed individuals often have inordinate student loan debt.

Kelliblondebabe · Answer

I was so dumb in school and I didn't pass any exams and all I can work as is a barmaid or a receptionist! But I don't feel any jealousy or hate to the girls in good jobs

spunkygiraffe · Answer

Maybe some, since a degree helps get you some jobs, but a lot of people probably aren't, since the jobs they specialize in don't require degrees so it doesn't affect them.

Dark93 · Answer

I'm training to become an electrician. My schooling is cheaper and I'll probably end up making more than my siblings who are going to college. So im not jealous of that part.
I am however jealous about the experiences that college gives you as well as making friends and the ability to explore other areas of interest through extra classes

dwiller943 · Answer

No. But those who had to go to college to be taught basic common sense
are jealous of those who gather knowledge without paying over $30,000.00
for something than can easily be taught at home or through going to the library.

betaTester · Answer

Some of them, yes, incidentally they like to cite examples of some successful CEOs (out of millions) who didn't finish university to talk shit about college degrees. That line of reasoning is just dumb.

HOAAH · Answer

Most people do not care, especially those who have great jobs with zero degrees

Rangers · Answer

Jealous that they wasted several years of their life and tons of money for a piece of paper they won't use anyways? HA!

Northern_star · Answer

in these days..
i mean i have 16 diplomas so far including a BA and an MA, but i know people who doesn't have any, but has his own little company, making the same money i make at my 4jobs.. im sure they are not jealous of me.

Juxtapose · Answer

lol, suuure, I'm *real* jealous of all that debt xD

NerdInDenial · Answer

It depends on the degree. Some degrees are pointless.

jacquesvol · Answer

people without college degrees will tell you a college degree hasn't any value.

TacosRAwesome · Answer

I'm jealous of people who either chose a good degree or went straight to work.

Do you think people without college degrees are jealous of those who have them?

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