The above pic is why the words, “I have a degree in (insert subject)” or “I minored in (blank)” has very little impact on me when people trot it out in a discussion. This doesn’t mean I don’t listen to expert opinion but I am very careful when I’m evaluating an expert.

This also doesn’t mean I think classes are not valuable. I place a lot of value on traditional classes, but immersing yourself in academia for a few years and doing the bare minimum to get a degree is not the same thing as internalizing knowledge to gain command of a subject. Two people can sit in the same class and gain vastly different levels of insight based on their commitment and attention.

It isn’t hard to imagine in a few years one of these snoozers blaming the bad economy as the sole reason they can’t keep the job their degree helped them get. Yes, the economy can be a big factor, but if you slept through many of your classes then you aren’t qualified for the job and hopefully someone will discover it before you do much damage.

Several of the people in the above picture are seeking degrees in teaching. That part is very frightening!