r/TooAfraidToAsk • u/Pfacejones • 16h ago
Culture & Society Why is there a difference between educated but poor and unemployed people and uneducated but poor and unemployed people?
I don't quite know how to explain what I mean
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u/CaedustheBaedus 16h ago
There's a lot of variables that you may be missing or not sure how to explain. For example some people separate out education and trades.
Even though, someone being EDUCATED in a trade is still technically educated. But me, who went to college doesn't know jack shit about replacing a pipe in my apartment.
So while I may be able to discuss certain things with some people (idk, Plato's Cave from a random philosophy class I took years ago), I don't know how to answer his question about 'what type of pipe alloy do you use'? Just like he may be able to discuss multiple different carpentry and plumbing techniques based on the architecture of the building or historical uses, but maybe can't talk about the psychology of communication methods with youths of differing backgrounds in online schools.
Uneducated doesn't necessarily mean dumb. Just like Educated doesn't always mean smart. Some of the dumbest people I know were at my college. Some of the smartest people I know are high school graduates.
For example, there are some people who are elected to high office with college degrees...
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u/Wifabota 16h ago
Education is the ladder out of the hole. Not that it's the only way, and not that everyone who has one will use it, but it's the easiest most successful way out.
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u/infinite_what 16h ago
Formal education requires attendance, commitment, respecting authority, working cooperatively together with others, time management, having money or support or working harder to provide for your basic needs while getting the education (besides paying for the education too, in many cases). So educated people evidently have (or had) the ability and tools and support system and intellectual intelligence to achieve that educated status. They therefore have much better opportunities to be hired, and also have some proof that they are will and able to succeed. Besides they may even have opportuntiies in a field that requires a degree or higher education.
The uneducated person will struggle more over all in formal social settings, with authority, and getting opportunities because they haven’t been conditioned and shaped for years by school. The have been shaped for years in a different environment and may have to keep to the opportunities within that environment.
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u/RenaissanceHyphenate 16h ago
Some people did not apply themselves in school or goofed off, plastics, jocks, etc.
Some people did not have the opportunity to go to school, and are very smart but don’t know how the world works, so they struggle their entire lives.
Some people are not educated because of cultural norms, it’s not always one reason or another. Sometimes things are just outside a persons control.
Doesn’t mean they should not do their best to attain more for themselves.
Everyone’s best is relative, like time and distance.
For example a short drive for me is up to 1,600 miles.
Some people try very hard, but that might not reach the standard of what someone else expects.
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u/CptSmarty 16h ago
Most poor and unemployed people are uneducated due to the result of being uneducated. Most educated poor and unemployed are likely people who failed at something utilizing their education (ie business owners), or are lazy due to not being intellectually stimulated.
There are common factors, such as substance abuse and mental health issues that impact why they are poor and unemployed.
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u/yourfav0riteginger 16h ago
I feel like it's weird to say that educated people who are poor and unemployed failed or are lazy. Folks say the same things about poor and uneducated folks, but it is often not the case. You literally said the common factors are substance abuse and mental health, which are not failures or laziness. We should also account for also caretaking for a high-needs family member or friend, and many many other life circumstances. Education =/= wealth anymore.
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u/_Kendii_ 16h ago
Yeah that’s messed up. I’d like them to link those studies that they’re alluding to. Sounds more like an opinion with personal bias to me.
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u/hoopahDrivesThaBoat 16h ago
You’re asking why there is a difference between two general groups of people?
Group 1: Educated, Poor, and Unemployed.
Group 2: Uneducated, Poor, and Unemployed
I have to ask what the premise is? Who is say there is a difference and what are they claiming the difference is?
The only difference I see is one group is “educated” and the other is “uneducated”. I put those terms in quotes because they could mean anything but I assume you mean “college educated” and “non-college educated”.
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u/One_Disaster_5995 16h ago
You mean one is educated and the other one is not?