posted by O-Trap
Had a friend spend a semester at Oxford, and he said they actually do really well with that. Very little classroom activity. Most work is one-on-one meetings with teachers who guide the students as they do their own work and reason for themselves.
Wasn't that you? Or did you go to Cambridge?
posted by O-TrapWell, think about it, though. How far might one get memorizing historical results, as well as popular theories and the musings of known economists?
I took a bunch of Econ in undergrad and grad school. Not a single class, starting with micro & macro, could you get by on rote memorization. Every single one required understanding and APPLYING the various theories. Although I'm sure today there are more than a few really soft Econ electives offered in some programs that require little math. And you can probably get the problem completely wrong, but if you answer like a good socialist there are probably sympathetic teachers that still give you a decent grade.
On a related note, I knew someone with an economics degree from an Ivy league school....and that person failed Micro in grad school.
Anyone following the WEEKS of riots in France over gas tax increases.....you know, because Climate Change. It just seems so odd to see people rioting with what might actually be a justifiable cause, for a change.
Good to see there is some real growing resistance to that hysteria (besides just those dumb 'ol anti-science hicks in the US).
posted by gutAnyone following the WEEKS of riots in France over gas tax increases.....you know, because Climate Change. It just seems so odd to see people rioting with what might actually be a justifiable cause, for a change.
Good to see there is some real growing resistance to that hysteria (besides just those dumb 'ol anti-science hicks in the US).
Yes, and I have to LOL at the irony of the french rioting over taxes for climate change.
posted by like_thatYes, and I have to LOL at the irony of the french rioting over taxes for climate change.
Haha, agreed.
posted by like_thatYes, and I have to LOL at the irony of the french rioting over taxes for climate change.
This is a huge development, to me. Prior to this, I was led to believe only uneducated, redneck Republican voters "denied" climate change.
It's a great scam, though, because the returns are too slow such that all the crooked scientists and politicians looking to profit off it will be retired, if not dead. I just shake my head, because when you point out that "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" and get "we can't afford to be wrong"....then your bullshit meter needs to explode.
My standard response is "I'm more concerned about an alien invasion", and then I quietly enjoy the looks of "not sure if you're being serious"....
Well, it was the rural folks in France that suffered the most by a tax hike on fuel. In country areas you don't have bus lines and subways so if you're poor or unemployed those extra taxes really hit your already empty wallet pretty good.
As for climate change, didn't Al Gore freak out 20 or 30 years ago and say that the world was going to end? Here we are all these years later and he's parroting the same thing - dire emergency!
I know right?! All that sciency nonsense! Phooey!
posted by CenterBHSFanAs for climate change, didn't Al Gore freak out 20 or 30 years ago and say that the world was going to end? Here we are all these years later and he's parroting the same thing - dire emergency!
I think I mentioned it a few days ago....but the latest alarmism you're hearing about the recent governmental climate report are all quoting the "worst-worse case scenario". First, it assumes DOUBLE the warming of the IPCC's worst-case scenario. It's beyond improbable. And then the 10% GDP hit is basically a made-up number for shock value. This is junk science on par with astrology, but anyone with the guts to call it out gets shamed as bought by "Big Oil" or worse.
The most alarming thing about all this is the mainstream media is reporting an absurd scenario as fact without the least bit of skepticism or due diligence.
posted by AutomatikI know right?! All that sciency nonsense! Phooey!
You realize this post kinda proves gut's point, right?
To make it clear I am not going all in with gut's stance on climate change, but I do agree with his sentiment regarding the people he is referring to. I tend to lean that climate change is there, but not to the point that there shouldn't be any discussion. I think the policies that affect the daily livelihoods of US citizens are trash, especially when the rest of the world isn't doing shit about it. The paris climate agreement for example was/is trash. Why did we need to enter it? The US has lowered their emissions since dropping out, while the rest of the countries in that agreement have raised them. I am just merely pointing out the irony of the birth place of the agreement rioting against policy that is supposed to help curb climate change, because it affects their daily lives.
Once again good intention policy does not make good policy. US citizens have reacted in the same way on a lesser scale. Don't believe me? Just look at the states with the highest outbound rates. The beauty of this country is we have 50 states to move California especially have been the "pioneers" of climate/environmental policies and everyone in that state is either getting the fuck out or planning their escape plan. Luckily we still have some state rights over fed rights. If we didn't I wouldn't be shocked to see people rioting in our country.
I am not trying to be strawman here, but all I ask for is the same people who scream about science, data, facts, etc regarding climate change, please also apply the same logic to other topics (women's pay gap, min wage, gun debate, etc). If you can't do that, it is very hard to take you seriously.
posted by like_thatI am not trying to be strawman here, but all I ask for is the same people who scream about science, data, facts, etc regarding climate change, please also apply the same logic to other topics (women's pay gap, min wage, gun debate, etc). If you can't do that, it is very hard to take you seriously.
This. No one argues the climate isn't "changing". But the models have been wrong for 20 years, and the freak outs by the media over garbage science doesn't help anyone. I follow a meteorologist on twitter who believes in climate changes but hates the "fake news" that comes out with it, and makes good points about the changing climate. It is one thing to believe saving the planet is a good thing, and a whole different thing to say in 15 years the planet is doomed.
Part of the problem with the climate change debate is both sides simplify something that is not simple by its nature. I can't even begin to understand all of the factors that affect the climate. Obviously it changes over time - goes from hot to cold and vice versa. I have no idea if man made pollution has any contributing affect to what seems like a natural warming cycle that is underway.
My point is that this is a complicated scientific concept. The loud mouths on both sides are all talking about something they know nothing about.
For argument's sake, let's assume everyone is in favor of reducing polluting emissions. If not for the benefit of reduced climate change, for the simple fact that it's healthier for us to live with cleaner air and water. That's all good an fine. But have any of you visited China? I have multiple times and had the opportunity to travel extensively in country. At the time, I was in the steelmaking business. The pollution belching out of every manufacturing plant and steel mill I saw was overwhelming. It made me think of this analogy: If an airplane with the the most polite passengers with one exception is traviline on a three hour trip and that one exception emits gaseous hot farts the entire trip, on arrival, the plane will smell like a fart tube and everyone will have had to live in it even if they contributed nothing to the cause. China is the gaseous hot farter.
posted by Dr Winston O'BoogiePart of the problem with the climate change debate is both sides simplify something that is not simple by its nature. I can't even begin to understand all of the factors that affect the climate. Obviously it changes over time - goes from hot to cold and vice versa. I have no idea if man made pollution has any contributing affect to what seems like a natural warming cycle that is underway.
My point is that this is a complicated scientific concept. The loud mouths on both sides are all talking about something they know nothing about.
For argument's sake, let's assume everyone is in favor of reducing polluting emissions. If not for the benefit of reduced climate change, for the simple fact that it's healthier for us to live with cleaner air and water. That's all good an fine. But have any of you visited China? I have multiple times and had the opportunity to travel extensively in country. At the time, I was in the steelmaking business. The pollution belching out of every manufacturing plant and steel mill I saw was overwhelming. It made me think of this analogy: If an airplane with the the most polite passengers with one exception is traviline on a three hour trip and that one exception emits gaseous hot farts the entire trip, on arrival, the plane will smell like a fart tube and everyone will have had to live in it even if they contributed nothing to the cause. China is the gaseous hot farter.
Not China, but I was just in Vietnam and the air quality in Saigon and Hanoi was terrible. Hanoi especially was pretty bad. Whenever my wife and I travel I go out for a run in the cities/town we travel. I couldn't do it in Hanoi.
Edit: Countries like China and Vietnam are what annoy me about the policies that affect us in the US. We are making it tougher for us to live and businesses excel, while China and CO are laughing at us and pretty much telling us to fuck themselves.
posted by AutomatikI know right?! All that sciency nonsense! Phooey!
Are you talking about that science that 30 years of history proved wrong?
How do we cure this mental illness?
posted by QuakerOats
How do we cure this mental illness?
stuff like this makes my head hurt
posted by QuakerOats
How do we cure this mental illness?
Your mental illness? Well, first you stop combing the conservative websites for random stories of crazy individuals that have been promoted as part of some societal trend instead of the isolated story of one of the 350 million of us. Second, you realize that leadership is much more than pointing out economic indicators simultaneously occurring and hanging onto them as the one and only barometer of the leaders actions. Third, you quit seeing things in such a negative light. We aren't on the precipice of disaster. We're not at some crossroads that where our future is in peril We are a huge society filled with good and bad people, We succeed based upon our collective input.
Do those things and I think you will feel better.
posted by QuakerOatsHow do we cure this mental illness?
We stop giving it a platform.
The fundamental problem, though, is that crazy sells.
posted by Dr Winston O'BoogieYour mental illness? Well, first you stop combing the conservative websites for random stories of crazy individuals that have been promoted as part of some societal trend instead of the isolated story of one of the 350 million of us. Second, you realize that leadership is much more than pointing out economic indicators simultaneously occurring and hanging onto them as the one and only barometer of the leaders actions. Third, you quit seeing things in such a negative light. We aren't on the precipice of disaster. We're not at some crossroads that where our future is in peril We are a huge society filled with good and bad people, We succeed based upon our collective input.
Do those things and I think you will feel better.
Wait....you cant post a story about how crazy some elected official is because it comes from a news source you dont like? Since that is the case you think that the story is BS?
posted by Dr Winston O'BoogieYour mental illness? Well, first you stop combing the conservative websites for random stories of crazy individuals that have been promoted as part of some societal trend instead of the isolated story of one of the 350 million of us. Second, you realize that leadership is much more than pointing out economic indicators simultaneously occurring and hanging onto them as the one and only barometer of the leaders actions. Third, you quit seeing things in such a negative light. We aren't on the precipice of disaster. We're not at some crossroads that where our future is in peril We are a huge society filled with good and bad people, We succeed based upon our collective input.
Do those things and I think you will feel better.
I feel great. I was referencing the illness of liberalism and its apparent bizarre side effects.
