You don't know

  On my profile page I have checked the block that says, studied at the university of life. I frequently get comments about that from others wishing to "hurt my feelings" I suppose. It doesn't work, I just laugh about that. It's true I haven't graduated from any college or university. That just wasn't in my plan, never felt a need for that. Some of the smartest people I have known over the years never finished high school, let along college. And, I have to say, many I have known with that college degree weren't all that bright! It's one of those things I suppose, having credentials. No denying they are a wonderful thing, a large asset to possess, but they don't define who you are. When it comes to having any degree from a college or university I have found they rarely reflect the intelligence of the person holding them. I have discovered, through my own research, at the university of life, there are indeed many educated damn fools in this world.

  I am amused that people go to my profile page looking for some bullets to shoot at me. They are looking for ammo. I very seldom go to anyone's profile page, especially those that are complete strangers to me. I place about as much confidence in the accuracy of those things as I do listening to a used car salesman. I have thought to simply change mine to say I have a doctorate degree. I'm pretty sure that would be challenged immediately. No one has ever challenged me on going to the university of life. Yeah, I've even been called a boomer, a graduate of that university. I'm not really concerned or particularly interested in your educational background. I'm not looking to hire you, just having a discussion. When your only argument, your only defense of your statement is, everyone else says that, I just smile. Ok then, that's all you have? 

 For me, that is what you learn in school, all schools. This is what other people say is the truth of the matter, or what their opinion is. In fact, what is the highest degree you can get? A PhD. In order to obtain that degree you are supposed to study and learn what everyone else has had to say about whatever subject. Then, having learned all of that you are required to present your own idea, something new, different and insightful. You have to write a dissertation and then defend that before a panel of experts! You are required to convince the experts of your theory/hypothesis. So, the smartest folks don't repeat what everyone else is saying, they develop their own thoughts. Seems to me that is exactly what I'm doing. All I have to do is convince you. Thing is, I do not require your validation. 

  I don't need you to agree with me. You would be wise to listen, to learn from me, possibly gain some insight or a different perspective, but I have no control over that. Unless you convince me otherwise I am not going to change my opinion. You are not going to change my opinion by saying you have a higher degree of education than I do. I'm not impressed or intimidated in the least. Name calling doesn't work either. The repetition of whatever you learned in school doesn't make you smart, it just means you have a good memory. It isn't the acquisition of knowledge that makes you smart, it is the application of that knowledge in the real world. Knowing isn't doing, doing is doing. 

  I am pleased when someone goes to check my profile page. That indicates an interest to me. If nothing more I have sparked their interest in whatever topic I have commented on. They must have doubts about their own opinion. Of course when they go check it out and discovered I only studied at the university of life it may provide them an  excuse. Well, he doesn't know anything, he's not educated. LOL, yeah ok then. Is my profile page 100% accurate? I'm not saying, and you don't know. 

                                                                                      

                                       Readily available online, just print and fill in the blanks.