The "Sorry I dont listen to hip hop" was a quote from South Park.
I am under no doubts some people work hard for their degrees, and therefore they get 1sts. 2:1s are for people who are sensible but not hard working. 2:2s are for people who do essays on the day they are due. 3rds and non honors passes are for druggies.
HOA is a good degree. If it was a joke I dont think my gf would have got an offer from a magic circle firm. Shes not the exception, as in all fairness her CV isnt that good, even by her own admission. (she doesnt have any contacts either btw) I think by and large all courses at a uni are as respected as much as each other. Yes IB etc prefer maths/economics but other jobs prefer Geography/HOA/French.
TBH Ben you have posted on average more than 20 msgs a day for 8 months.If you can do this with your extracircular activities and your social life (from what you say about it) and get a 2:1/1st then economics must be a pile of piss. I mean if it takes 3 min per post a msg (as you have to read replies, read what you wrote, think of a constructive arguement, go through the forums in look for a thread to reply to) thats 1 hour a day every day for 8 months. Thats incredible. Added to that replying to PM, Id say my estimate of 1 hour a day is conservative. Once you add sleep, lecturers, work, running societies, socialising and stuff like transport/shopping you dont exactly have much time to beast out essays.