"Name me one person who has made it without a degree."

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my dad fucking said that tonight.

1.Stanley Kubrick
2.John Steinbeck
3.Picasso
4.Bill Gates
5.Thomas Edison
6.Willem Dafoe
7.Jackson Pollock

i plan on finishing my college degree, but this proclamation of his,"Tell me one person..," kills me. i told him that i'd compile a long list with over 100 people who have made it with no degree.

please help me.

― leese, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 07:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Jesus!

― hstencil, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 07:52 (twenty-one years ago)

God!

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 07:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Moses!

― Orbit (Orbit), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 07:53 (twenty-one years ago)

biters.

― hstencil, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 07:54 (twenty-one years ago)

8. Dolly Parton

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 07:56 (twenty-one years ago)

(haha that actually WAS my initial response, hstencil)

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 07:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Devil's advocate time:

Bill Gates came from wealth, got Microsoft rolling using his mother's Board of Directors connections.

Kubrick's first films were financed by an uncle, I believe.

Pollock's success is a bit shaky - the man died an angry alcoholic with little to show for his life. What success he did enjoy in life was courtesy of Peggy Guggenheim's patronage, I think.

Picasso - another artist. If you're going to be (arguably) the greatest painter of the 20th century, screw the degree. If you're one of the other 5.9... billion people, no dice.

Thomas Edison came from the 19th century, when a degree was less important to your success in general society.

Steinbeck - um, I don't know enough of his background. Maybe another "if you're a great [whatever], screw the degree..." type.

Willem Dafoe - obviously given his advantages in life by God, that he might play The Son.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Ian Mckaye
David Beckahm
Spice Girls
Mcauley Culkin
Drew Barrymore

― mei (mei), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:02 (twenty-one years ago)

For some definition of 'made it'

― mei (mei), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:02 (twenty-one years ago)

are they any peeps here that can belt out an earnest answer?
dolly parton, scratch that.

― leese, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Andrew Carnegie

― jack cole (jackcole), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:04 (twenty-one years ago)

made it= made a decent sum of money to support themselves and a family if they had one. some notoriety as well, but monetary gain is i think what he stresses.

― leese, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:10 (twenty-one years ago)

about "Name me one person who has made it without a degree..": It's somewhat vague to me still. in essence, that's partly why the statement remains so ridiculous and full of shit. honestly, i don't really think he really knows what "made it" means.

― leese, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:16 (twenty-one years ago)

this thread will not only be about bashing my father. (x-post)

more to list!

andrew carnegie has been the best example so far. thanks

― leese, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:21 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, i admit that my first examples were a bit dicey. i just came up with them at the top of my head.

more examples...and/or link me to a previous thread about this subject thx.

― leese, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Michael Dell.

his parents were pissed about it too - now he's one of the richest people in the world who's not Bill Gates..

― Broheems (diamond), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Challenge him on what it means to have "made it."

If he means a bourgeois life in America - white picket fence, SUV, 2.3 kids, retirement cruises, etc. - then yeah, he's got an argument about the necessity of a college degree, for income purposes.

If he means "being successful" in general, or if that's not what you're looking for out of life, you've got him.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, Steve Jobs too.

Did Wozniak? I can't remember.

― Broheems (diamond), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:46 (twenty-one years ago)

"If you're going to be a computer-geek revolutionary, screw the degree..."

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:48 (twenty-one years ago)

john cage

― anthony easton (anthony), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Point out to him that in todays employment-driven market, degrees ain't so necessary as experience. That certainly applies in the UK - don't know about the US mind.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:55 (twenty-one years ago)

oh one more - Mike Ilitch, multi-millionaire owner of Little Ceasars pizza chain and two professional sports franchises, never went to college.

― Broheems (diamond), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 08:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Richard Branson

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 09:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Charles Schulz.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 09:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Ian Penman
Paul Morley
Julie Burchill
Girls Aloud

― Nu-Enrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 09:38 (twenty-one years ago)

The Kids of Widney High

― dave q, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 09:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Robbie Williams

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 09:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Jay-Z (but not P-Diddy)

― Nu-Enrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 09:55 (twenty-one years ago)

while many people are successful in life without getting degrees, getting a degree increases your earning potential blah blah etc.

this might be the valid point which your dad was overstating in a dad-like manner.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 09:59 (twenty-one years ago)

'Earning potential'? But that's only if you get a 'job', which from what I hear sucks shit even worse than 'school'

― dave q, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 10:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Leese, are your parents paying for your studies? If so, just do it and humor them. Plus, you might find it a bit easier in job interviews rather than having to explain why you dropped out/didn't go/etc.

― Mandee (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 10:13 (twenty-one years ago)

University is fucking grebt. What's the big deal about 'making it' anyway?

― Nu-Enrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 10:14 (twenty-one years ago)

pop stars shouldn't count - that ain't workin'

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 10:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Charles Darwin?

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 10:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Muddying the C19/arty examples slightly: how many served as apprentices or juniors in their field in lieu of college? This seems to be the route for Picasso, Darwin etc.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 10:54 (twenty-one years ago)

i got a 1st in computer science, and plumbers still earn more than i do.

on the other hand if i hadn't got the degree i'd probably earn even less...

― ken c, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 11:00 (twenty-one years ago)

moral of the story: study plumbing

― ken c, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 11:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Francis Bacon (painter not the philosopher)
John Peel

― neil simpson (neil simpson), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 11:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Didn't Francis Bacon have a degree in interior design?

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 11:44 (twenty-one years ago)

pop stars shouldn't count - that ain't workin'

why not? They're still 'making it', godblessum.

― Fuzzy (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 11:52 (twenty-one years ago)

And Radiohead have degrees...

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 12:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Not Jonny...

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 12:15 (twenty-one years ago)

(that was a reflex, ignore me)

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 12:16 (twenty-one years ago)

bam margera (not even high school)

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 12:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Miles fucking Davis, Juiliard drop-out

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 13:44 (twenty-one years ago)

― Chris B. Sure (Chris V), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 13:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Dumbest thread ever!

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 13:57 (twenty-one years ago)

moral of the story: study plumbing

Its true, I do ok but my two friends who are plumbers make mad bank.

― Chris B. Sure (Chris V), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 14:00 (twenty-one years ago)

R. mufucking Buckminster Fuller!!!!!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 52 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

all the joker and the penguin are trying to do is make a living, and The Man is putting them down!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I see Bruce Wayne as more of an IDM type of guy. Anyway the Joker isn't even trying to do shit, he's just fucking with Batman, he's also some kind of trustfundian I think, I mean that explains why none of them got jobs and just became "scientists".

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 20:51 (twenty-one years ago)

What about their hanger-on lovelies (Catwoman, Poison Ivy, etc)? Are they trust fund kids, too? Can't remember...

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 20:55 (twenty-one years ago)

the Silver Age Flash was really a scientest. A police scientist. The Golden Age Starman however, was always described as an "amateur astronomer" yet you never saw him do anything else but stare out through his stupid telescope when he wasn't "fighting crime".

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 20:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Peter Parker, on the other hand...?

xpost errr Catwoman, Poison Ivy, et al are not "hanger ons"; calling Catwoman a hanger-on is like calling the goddamned Penguin a hanger-on.

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 20:56 (twenty-one years ago)

batman = luomo
the joker = kid 606

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 20:57 (twenty-one years ago)

fuck it, all superheroes are rich-boy toffs. except superman -- he was a fucking orphan who grew up in a corn field! he's a prole!!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 20:58 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost again: WTF you think an "amateur astronomer" does exactly besides stare out of a telescope? Anyway anyone who is a "scientist" has a degree, that's the way the world is, you can't become one by profession this day and age without some kind of masters or PhD. I mean Poison Ivy was like a botanist, of course she has a degree.

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 20:58 (twenty-one years ago)

but an amateur astronomer would probably need an outside income, no? but you never see these guys going to work.

And Supes, I don't know any reporters who could miss that much work and ever be called "mild-mannered." More "suspected substance abusers."

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:00 (twenty-one years ago)

PETER PARKER WAS NOT A RICH BOY TOFF!!! IT'S JUST THE INHABITANTS OF GOTHAM CITY!!!

I mean, think about Wolverine.

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:00 (twenty-one years ago)

he was rush limbaugh's dealer

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Marvel has a completely different tradition. All their major heroes (since the 60s) are stuck in puberty-limbo.

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

the real battle in superman was over who controlled the crack market ... it was just like new jack city, lex luther was cutting into clark kent's market

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

calling Catwoman a hanger-on is like calling the goddamned Penguin a hanger-on.

We can disagree. Other than being a super-thief, what else did Catwoman actually do, once she became "evil"...?

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

What, exactly, did the Penguin, the Joker, et all do besides "be evil", Nichole?

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I wasn't aware that having a viable profession besides "evil" was a requirement to being a major character in the world of comics.

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Le Corbusier.

― jed (jed_e_3), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Catwoman has always been more of a blue-collar villain. I mean, she steals for MONEY. Not ego or sexual repression like some penguins, er people.

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:04 (twenty-one years ago)

"I think you'll find that on careful inspection, Mr. Freeze, besides being evil, crazy and generally irritating to Batman, was also an architect."

Hahaha I swear to god that's a xpost.

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:05 (twenty-one years ago)

and the Flash, evidently, also played chamber music.
http://www.chingching.com/portfolio/img/flashStill.jpg

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:08 (twenty-one years ago)

What I don't understand is why Batman even gave a shit.

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I wasn't aware that having a viable profession besides "evil" was a requirement to being a major character in the world of comics.

If you aren't/weren't a trust fund kid, you'd have to get money in some way to create that laser to dominate the world, as parts ain't free, Ally.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Catwoman was a socialite/philanthropist/cat burglar who has never been out-and-out "evil" except for on the television show. She's always been an anti-hero type, even moreso than Batman himself.

The Joker was a low-level thug before he got transformed. The Penguin was a circus freak. The Riddler was a scientist who worked at Wayne Enterprises. Mr. Freeze was a geneticist, I think. Poison Ivy was a botanist. Bane was a low-level thug. Two-Face was Gotham's District Attorney. Harley Quinn was a psychiatrist. For fuck's sake why do I know this useless shit.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:10 (twenty-one years ago)

If you aren't/weren't a trust fund kid, you'd have to get money in some way to create that laser to dominate the world, as parts ain't free, Ally.

Hence the diamond heists/grand larceny/etc!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:10 (twenty-one years ago)

batman was trying to impress robin so that he could fuck him, of course! like duh.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I mean, if I was Bruce Wayne all chilling in my mansion with my "friend" Robin, and I saw the Batsignal, I'd be like FUCK THAT NOISE, why doesn't this city get a real police force for fuck's sake? What are they going to do when Batman dies? I mean he's not some sort of crazy super-powered superhero like the rest of 'em, he's just a pissed off rich dude in strange clothing with a penchant for quantum physics and mechanics. See also: the Powerpuff Girls (who do not have degrees but the Professor really obviously does)

xpost Dan is right though I like the idea of Mr. Freeze as an architect better. Nichole, wtf are you even talking about at this point?

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:12 (twenty-one years ago)

What I don't understand is why Batman even gave a shit.

I know, of all the superheroes, he's got the flimsiest motivation. Especially when you consider how driven he's supposed to be. That's why I think he's just a money-grubber, who's dressed up as a defender of justice, like the Canadian Taxpayers Federation or some similar nonsense lobby group.

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:12 (twenty-one years ago)

The Riddler was a scientist who worked at Wayne Enterprises. Mr. Freeze was a geneticist, I think. Poison Ivy was a botanist. [...] Two-Face was Gotham's District Attorney. Harley Quinn was a psychiatrist.

NOTE THAT THESE ARE ALL PROFESSIONS THAT REQUIRE DEGREES! Gotham City is some kind of bourgeousie hellhole, it disproves the concept that better education leads to less crime because look at it.

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:14 (twenty-one years ago)

do-gooders are always jerks, deep down.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I bet they all went to Columbia, fucking assholes.

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:14 (twenty-one years ago)

You mean Gotham University.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:16 (twenty-one years ago)

catwoman = TOTALLY an NYU babe.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:16 (twenty-one years ago)

and Two-Face was just pissed off that he didn't make Law Review at St. John's Law, or something. i've often thought of turning to crime b/c i didn't make Law Review, so it's only natural.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Big o'list.

― Alex Not in Same Spot He Usually Is in SF, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:17 (twenty-one years ago)

They're all just Paris Hilton with a conscience, I hate Batman now, thanks ILX.

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:18 (twenty-one years ago)

that's why Two-Face had to become a shitty DA, and didn't go to a big Wall Street firm. he's totally blue-collar (or as blue-collar as a lawyer can be).

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:18 (twenty-one years ago)

do-gooders are always jerks, deep down

If so, what excuse does the villains have? That they are simply 'misunderstood'?

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Stop identifying with Two-Face, you bourgeousie bastard.

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:20 (twenty-one years ago)

why shouldn't i identify with Two-Face? his story = story of Eisbär's life!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes and I am the spitting image of Harley Quinn.

― Allyzay in NYC, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Horatio Alger to thread!

― Orbit (Orbit), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:31 (twenty-one years ago)

well, alex in nyc clearly = the joker.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:33 (twenty-one years ago)

actually, i think that i'm a VERY poor example of the benefits of getting a degree ... if anything, i'm even more shiftless than i was before AND MORE UNEMPLOYABLE B/C MY ADDYTUDE SUCKS!!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I have made it without a degree of commitment.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Ronan just won worst joke ever.

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Come on, I've done worse than that loads of times!

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 21:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Ronan, I salute you.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 22:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks Dan, and Ally you can just............SHUT UP!! there I said it.

Anyway worse jokes are located here.

stockport couple have wedding reception in mcdonalds

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 22:03 (twenty-one years ago)

You didn't even win worst joke on this thread in all honesty.

― Allyzay, Tuesday, 2 December 2003 22:35 (twenty-one years ago)

worst joke ever in the history of mankind:

Q: why did the chicken cross the road?
A: fuck you!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 22:35 (twenty-one years ago)

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