The Big Picture: Mailbag

anthony87

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Aug 13, 2009
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Could someone help me out here and explain just what it is about American highschools that makes them so different and horrible compared to the equivalent level of schools in the rest of the world?

(Huh....that could've been a good question for Bob)
 

keiskay

New member
Nov 18, 2011
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anthony87 said:
Could someone help me out here and explain just what it is about American highschools that makes them so different and horrible compared to the equivalent level of schools in the rest of the world?

(Huh....that could've been a good question for Bob)
its not that different but instead of optional like in some European countries you are forced to go to high school. i believe europe has 2 seperate schools ( or more) for education, one for those who are prepping to go to Uni and the other for people who want to do things like plumbing and such.
 

Little Duck

Diving Space Muffin
Oct 22, 2009
860
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As an English man, yes we are not France's biggest fan. Infact, no we don't like the French at all. We see them as too far up their own arse to enjoy themselves or humour. True fact, you want a Brit to be your friend, tell them a joke and they will be your friend for life.

I'm pretty sure this could just be prejudice coming from a lack of language however. Very few people speak French despite the fact we live very close to them and even have a giant underground train to France.
 

XDravond

Something something....
Mar 30, 2011
356
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Thanks for short simple but with somehow interesting pieces and short stories. The crayon was odd though...
 

Susan Arendt

Nerd Queen
Jan 9, 2007
7,222
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High school is torture. I thought about killing myself constantly, because, seriously, if the rest of my life was going to be like that, why live? Fortunately, as Bob says, it's only temporary. Everything gets way cooler.
 

keiskay

New member
Nov 18, 2011
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bahumat42 said:
keiskay said:
anthony87 said:
Could someone help me out here and explain just what it is about American highschools that makes them so different and horrible compared to the equivalent level of schools in the rest of the world?

(Huh....that could've been a good question for Bob)
its not that different but instead of optional like in some European countries you are forced to go to high school. i believe europe has 2 seperate schools ( or more) for education, one for those who are prepping to go to Uni and the other for people who want to do things like plumbing and such.
thats college not high school.

And we have primary school 5-12 (dunno about the 5 number, i was young so it might be 6 i dunno)
secondary school 12-16

thats the end of compulsory

then you have either
sixth form (it basically extends from higher standard secondary schools)
colleges (these can be specialist or quite varied.)

and then you have uni ofc. Which is why we hate americans calling university, college ITS NOT THE SAME.
yes, yes lets get into a ridiculous things each country calls other things. like how a water closet is the place were you shit and bathe, instead of the American room bathroom. or how a flash light is called an electric torch, and a trunk is called a boot.
 

Daaaah Whoosh

New member
Jun 23, 2010
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Yeah, I really liked high school. It helped me to realize that even though I was unique and had no real friends or any sort of 'crowd,' I could still be a really cool guy that everyone liked and respected. A girl that I knew had a similar experience, where in middle school, she was constantly ridiculed and outcast, whereas in high school, she finally found her place, and learned that she shouldn't care about the naysayers.

Sadly, I will probably never have the chance to talk to her again. Oh, what I wouldn't give to still be in high school...
 

keiskay

New member
Nov 18, 2011
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bahumat42 said:
keiskay said:
bahumat42 said:
keiskay said:
anthony87 said:
Could someone help me out here and explain just what it is about American highschools that makes them so different and horrible compared to the equivalent level of schools in the rest of the world?

(Huh....that could've been a good question for Bob)
its not that different but instead of optional like in some European countries you are forced to go to high school. i believe europe has 2 seperate schools ( or more) for education, one for those who are prepping to go to Uni and the other for people who want to do things like plumbing and such.
thats college not high school.

And we have primary school 5-12 (dunno about the 5 number, i was young so it might be 6 i dunno)
secondary school 12-16

thats the end of compulsory

then you have either
sixth form (it basically extends from higher standard secondary schools)
colleges (these can be specialist or quite varied.)

and then you have uni ofc. Which is why we hate americans calling university, college ITS NOT THE SAME.
yes, yes lets get into a ridiculous things each country calls other things. like how a water closet is the place were you shit and bathe, instead of the American room bathroom. or how a flash light is called an electric torch, and a trunk is called a boot.
no that place is called a toilet, or the loo, or in the north "the shitter"

we call rooms where we bathe bathrooms too, only business call the water closets, and thats political correct bunk.

And i take no issue with flash light/torch their both fine. And in the words of david mitchel, i can definitely see that the rear of the car for holding stuff looks more like a trunk than a boot.

Im ok with most americanisms. Just the college thing annoys me, because their clearly different things. (especially confusing as you have community colleges so you have to admit they exist)
well are community colleges also offer 2 year degrees you would get in uni as well, but they also run many of the programs for things like fire fighters and police man as well as other jobs like that. so it is a blended system here.
 

Mumorpuger

This is a...!
Apr 8, 2009
606
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Anyone who is currently sick of their lives because of having a crap time in high school, I highly recommend you read this article [http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-things-you-dont-learn-about-high-school-until-too-late/].

John Cheese is a hilarious, yet very encouraging writer due to his "I've been there before too, I know what you're going through" experience. He has written about abusive families, what it was like beating his alcoholism, growing up in poverty, and more.

He gets my utmost respect, and needs to be more famous. I highly recommend you check out his work.

Here's a link to his full work [http://www.cracked.com/members/John+Cheese/], scroll down to about the middle to get to the bulk of his advice columns.
 

SlugLady28

New member
Feb 24, 2011
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... Y'know everyone is going to start asking for a Lost Girls Episode now, just to annoy you, right?

I swear, I must be the only bullied nerd that didn't hate high school. Sure, it wasn't perfect, but I had the odd exception that grade school and junior high was my hell instead. Mainly because all the bullies from my grade school followed me to junior high but only about one percent went to my high school. That alone made high school heaven.
 

ProjectTrinity

New member
Apr 29, 2010
311
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I didn't give anyone a bad time, nor did I get a bad time in High School.

Well, I gave people a horrible time who decided to cross the scary Black guy...

But the point is, there is (now?) a *huge* grey area filled with huge groups of kids who aren't into annoying others at all. I was left alone by every group in the three high schools I've been in. Left alone or spammed with people hitting on me. <--Which is better than the Hollywood bullying I've seen....on TV.
 

ProjectTrinity

New member
Apr 29, 2010
311
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Daaaah Whoosh said:
Sadly, I will probably never have the chance to talk to her again. Oh, what I wouldn't give to still be in high school...
What about seeing if she has a Facebook. D:
 

BonGookKumBop

New member
Feb 24, 2010
60
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Have to comment on the television father subject. It seems that there might be a swinging pendulum on this one. In early radio programs of the 1940-50's, the father figure was a bumbling idiot. "Father Knows Best" actually started as such a program. I recently listened to one episode where the father reorganized the house while everyone was on vacation and the family had to deal with all the problems it caused when they got back. Radio programs of the time showed the father figure as a fool that tried to rudely rule over his family with an iron fist while the rest of the family took it with reason and patience. Later television programs made the fathers more caring with sage advice. With time they started going back to the bumbling idiots. Interestingly enough, Homer isn't exactly an original character. Going back to early radio, "The Great Gildersleeve" radio programs are like audio extracts of The Simpsons. You can find the originals online for free if you want to check them out.
 

GeorgW

ALL GLORY TO ME!
Aug 27, 2010
4,806
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Loved the bonus, and the pacing of the episode was really great. Please do more!