The off-topic topic

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 12 May 2009, 11:15

I heard last week orso that my girlfriend wants us to go to Hong Kong again this summer. We've just been last year, so I'm not sure yet.

I absolutely love Hong Kong, but I usually use that vacation to buy stuff over there that's very expensive over here in Holland, thus saving money while on vacation. (glasses, clothes, lenses, etc...)

BTW, I'll post some pictures today or tomorrow from my Hong Kong vacation last year...

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 12 May 2009, 18:57

A question to everyone: does school cost in your country?

Finland: No. All schools and universities are free.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 12 May 2009, 19:36

Only private schools cost in the UK, and yes university costs a lot.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 12 May 2009, 20:13

Private schools are for twats anyway

University is slowly turning into a piece of pure shit in the UK, only the wealthy will be going soon, so the upper class elite twats will have all the higher education and the normal people will be begging for bread and water in the gutter.

Its a sodding joke, if it was not so bloody true.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 13 May 2009, 00:27

universities cost £3145 a year, they raise each year, but htey have a capped limit, no university can charge about that amount, however some elitist twats want to put the cap at £20,000 and raise normal fees to £10,000 a year. It bad enough getting 10k into debt for a degree (without any masters/phd) let alone 30-60k. Before Labour universities were free for students from poor backgrounds, giving everyone the chance to better themselves. Labour scrapped that almost immediately.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 13 May 2009, 01:12

I was lucky that I managed to get into University just before Labour scrapped the free tuition. I wouldn't have went otherwise. Mind you it's a waste of time for most people as they study shit they have no interest in and come out with a degree that's of no use to them (or anyone else). They need to restructure the system and make University only for those who will benefit from it (ie. doctors, teachers, scientists, etc). Everyone else should just do a couple of years College.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 13 May 2009, 13:36

Yi-Long wrote:I absolutely love Hong Kong, but I usually use that vacation to buy stuff over there that's very expensive over here in Holland, thus saving money while on vacation. (glasses, clothes, lenses, etc...)

I presume money isn't the only factor?

I'm going to San Diego in July for 2 weeks and (Northern) India for 3 weeks in the Autumn. I've not had a proper holiday for 2 years.

gasteropod wrote:Only private schools cost in the UK, and yes university costs a lot.

Uni's are free in Scotland.

HungFist wrote:Finland: No. All schools and universities are free.

You must still come out with debts though, from Uni. All the living/renting costs etc...

romerojpg wrote:University is slowly turning into a piece of pure shit in the UK, only the wealthy will be going soon, so the upper class elite twats will have all the higher education and the normal people will be begging for bread and water in the gutter.

When Uni attendance goes up each decade or so I seriously doubt that. Over time we'll get better off, generally speaking. Just like we're generally better off now than we were back in the 80s.

Markgway wrote:Mind you it's a waste of time for most people as they study shit they have no interest in and come out with a degree that's of no use to them (or anyone else).

On average you start out in a better paid job having gone to Uni than not, so that Sir is Bollocks.

Educating yourself is never a waste of time.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 13 May 2009, 13:57

bradavon wrote:
HungFist wrote:Finland: No. All schools and universities are free.
You must still come out with debts though, from Uni. All the living/renting costs etc...

Actually no. The governments gives students monetary support. How much you get depends on where you live, how much your rent is, and what other sources of income you have, but I get about 470€ per month.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 13 May 2009, 16:41

Markgway wrote:I was lucky that I managed to get into University just before Labour scrapped the free tuition. I wouldn't have went otherwise. .

With grammar like that, I'm starting to doubt if you actually went to University. I hope that you didn't study English.

Bradavon wrote: When Uni attendance goes up each decade or so I seriously doubt that. Over time we'll get better off, generally speaking. Just like we're generally better off now than we were back in the 80s.

Each decade, statistics are more reliable when taken for each year. My professors were saying that university applicants actually decreased this year, as did the number of people staying to complete their degrees. I know many many people who gave up on the idea of University because they simply couldn't afford the tuition fees, and really didn't want to get into debt. It's something i had to think long and hard about as well. I mean, whilst you don't pay them back until you are earning £15k a year, the interest starts building from the moment you take them out, at 4%+ a year they build up quite rapidly. An article I read in the Independent did the math and said that a £20,000 student debt would take up to 80 years to pay off on £15k a year salary. If the tuition fees were any higher I would not have gone to University. The biggest life saver for me was the maintenance grant of £2800 a year for books and general living, without this I wouldn't have managed. The idea of raising the fees is atrocious especially to the amount that they have in mind, if they do this i sincerely doubt that one will continue to see a rise in people attending university.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 13 May 2009, 18:27

HungFist wrote:Actually no. The governments gives students monetary support. How much you get depends on where you live, how much your rent is, and what other sources of income you have, but I get about 470€ per month.

And they don't expect that support to be paid back? That's super lucky. So you get your rent paid for too? That's even more lucky.

Over here you get a loan that you're expected to pay back at some point but only after you earn a certain amount. It's nothing like a bank loan etc...

My professors were saying that university applicants actually decreased this year, as did the number of people staying to complete their degrees.

I was talking generally, not the last few years specifically

.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 13 May 2009, 19:04

bradavon wrote:On average you start out in a better paid job having gone to Uni than not, so that Sir is Bollocks.

I always thought University was supposed to be about more than just the money. But if that's the case why not become a footballer? You'll get paid way more than any grad.

Educating yourself is never a waste of time.

Yes - but at whose expense? Why should the taxpayer fund an education that's going to give them little or nothing back? Why should the taxpayer shell out so some cunt can read art history and drink - a lot?? Most people who go to University do nothing useful with it. But if you're talking about self-gain then sure there's that. I knew a lot of people who went to University simply because they didn't know what else to do. And I was one of them. They come out with a degree that they'll never use. What a waste.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 13 May 2009, 19:26

bradavon wrote:
HungFist wrote:Actually no. The governments gives students monetary support. How much you get depends on where you live, how much your rent is, and what other sources of income you have, but I get about 470€ per month.
And they don't expect that support to be paid back?

It's free money, sort of (see below).

Markgway wrote: Why should the taxpayer fund an education that's going to give them little or nothing back? Why should the taxpayer shell out so some cunt can read art history and drink - a lot?? Most people who go to University do nothing useful with it.

Is he talking about me?

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 13 May 2009, 19:33

Shen wrote:With grammar like that, I'm starting to doubt if you actually went to University. I hope that you didn't study English.

What's with the personal attack shit? I didn't study English, I studied Communication. And yes, I actually got my Degree. What are you studying? How to be a pretentious twat 101? Perhaps you'd like to educate me on my bad grammar? Oh, hang on a moment....

Each decade, statistics are more reliable when taken for each year.

That sentence makes zero sense.

I know many many people who gave up on the idea of University because they simply couldn't afford the tuition fees

Many, many mistakes are made by people who forget to use appropriate commas.

It's something i had to think long and hard about as well.

i believe i have noticed another error.

I mean, whilst you don't pay them back until you are earning £15k a year, the interest starts building from the moment you take them out, at 4%+ a year they build up quite rapidly.

Ooh, another incoherent sentence.

The biggest life saver for me

One word or hyphenate.

The biggest life saver for me was the maintenance grant of £2800 a year for books and general living, without this I wouldn't have managed.

New sentence.

The idea of raising the fees is atrocious especially to the amount that they have in mind, if they do this i sincerely doubt that one will continue to see a rise in people attending university.

Missing comma.
New sentence.
Capitalisation required.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 13 May 2009, 20:06

I think we should all move to Finland and cripple their Uni system

.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 13 May 2009, 22:19

Have you ever heard of a joke Mark?

If my grammar is so bad why would I be getting Firsts on every single one of my essays despite being dyslexic and dyspraxic? Most of the sentences you pointed out are correct when written both ways. The ones you say don't make sense seem perfectly fine to me. I will admit to making some grammatical mistakes, missing commas and capitalisation, however no-one is perfect.
My comment on your post was purely a joke, just lacking some smileys because I was in a hurry and I'm sorry if it didn't come across that way. You talk about me being pretentious, you're the one who seemingly cannot take a joke. Now I remember why it was that I stopped posting here in the first place.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 13 May 2009, 23:54

It can be really hard to judge how well someone knows English, as many people use extreme slang and laziness when typing in a non-structured way but I do worry if they can actually write it, when it's actually needed.

I was chatting with someone on Facebook the other day (they're 20) and I couldn't understand a word they were saying. The language from my perspective had been turned into gibberish. I quickly got bored and gave up.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 13 May 2009, 23:55

Shen wrote:Have you ever heard of a joke Mark?

Jokes need to be A) funny and B) recognisible as jokes. Your comment toward me came out of the blue (as I hadn't said anything against you) and seemed like an uncessary and snide jibe. It got my goat because it was unwarranted. Maybe if you'd have put in a smiley I'd have taken it differently.

If my grammar is so bad why would I be getting Firsts on every single one of my essays despite being dyslexic and dyspraxic?

My point had nothing to do with your being dyslexic or dyspraxic - I had my own difficulties to contend with whilst studying and am not the sort of person to 'take the piss' out of any illness or disease. For all you know I could have the very same conditions as you. Yet that didn't stop you from making your original comment. My point - which presumably you missed - was that on forums we make off-the-cuff posts that are vastly inferior to the way in which we would normally write. See anything by Romero for example. I have no doubt your coursework is of a high standard. But why didn't you afford me the same courtesy?

Most of the sentences you pointed out are correct when written both ways. The ones you say don't make sense seem perfectly fine to me. I will admit to making some grammatical mistakes, missing commas and capitalisation, however no-one is perfect.

But you must now understand the point I was making...? It's easy to take something someone has written and tear it apart. No one should make any educational judgements upon a member based upon what they post here......

Maybe I'm extra touchy because I've never been a natural scholar and had to struggle with personal demons to get into and through University. I suppose we all make comments here without realising the effect it will have on the reader.

My comment on your post was purely a joke, just lacking some smileys because I was in a hurry and I'm sorry if it didn't come across that way.

I accept your explanation/apology.

You talk about me being pretentious, you're the one who seemingly cannot take a joke.

Ah, but I only thought you were being pretentious when I thought you were being serious. Now that I know you were joking, the remark is withdrawn.

Now I remember why it was that I stopped posting here in the first place.

Best just forget about it. I'm willing... as I know deep down that you're a fan of my grammar.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 14 May 2009, 17:02

Or Grammer.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 14 May 2009, 18:34

Or grammar.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 14 May 2009, 18:54

Gwamma.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 14 May 2009, 19:02

WTF is Romero talking about? It's "grammar".

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 14 May 2009, 19:41

I was joking, jeez haha

no smiley I guess.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 14 May 2009, 20:23

It's pronounced Nucular!

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 14 May 2009, 21:07

gasteropod wrote:It's pronounced Nucular!

God that winds me up too. How the hell do people get "nucular" from "nu-clear"?

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 16 May 2009, 18:47

Went to theatre for the first time in years. And for the first time ever voluntarily. I had my doubts but the play starred my friend so I wanted to see it. And it was great. I didn't get bored once, although it was over 3 hours long.

Later the same night we watched a movie starring him. Weird to have the leading actor sitting next to you, but the film was terrific and after the first few minutes I wasn't even thinking of the charater as "my friend".