The truth about Top 5/10 unis etc

OP

President_Ben

You don't really stop for lunch in the City.

In most areas you can. Only really in trading can you not, and even there people pop out to grab a quick bite, or where I work every day one person goes out to get everyone sandwiches or sushi etc.

Reply 82

OP

ChemistBoy

Have you experienced being a research student? No, then don't make comparisons you can't make. You have your personal philosophy on the best way to lead your life, and that is fine, however it doesn't apply to eveyone - if it did the world would be a ****ing boring place full of materialists.

Re-read my post. Where did I imply it applies to everyone? I never did, you idiot, I clearly spoke from my own personal perspective, and never tried to impose that on others. All I said is that personally I am living a much happier, healthier, fulfilling life because of the money I have, which gives me more opportunities to enjoy the good things in life.

Reply 83

Ashman

Ok i understand that but you have used the word scum and spoken derogatory of people who dont work in IB/earn less money. So it does seem that you consider people who arent in IB beneath you, whether or not you actually do is another matter, but the impression I got from your posts is one of "everyone wishes they were me, dont they" whcih is probably why some people think you are an eggit.

Reply 84

OP

Ashman

Ok i understand that but you have used the word scum and spoken derogatory of people who dont work in IB/earn less money. So it does seem that you consider people who arent in IB beneath you, whether or not you actually do is another matter, but the impression I got from your posts is one of "everyone wishes they were me, dont they" whcih is probably why some people think you are an eggit.

Not in the slightest, I apologise if I've given the impression I think everyone wants to be me, certainly not (sure, a few people on this subforum do however haha, you won't believe some of the PMs I got...). I have every respect for people who go into great professions like academia even though the pay isn't that great. I did actively consider it - I'd love to be a Dr, to have a spanning list of published journal articles and books to be proud of, but just couldn't handle starting on next to nothing, being poor at uni sucked. People I referred to as "scum" were specifically the type of lefty idiots I experienced throughout LSE trying to tell me how to live my life, that what I'm doing is utterly immoral and selfish when there's so many people starving to death in this world and it should be my moral obligation to help them etc etc. **** that. Indeed, let everyone live their own life. They can help the 3rd world whilst I help myself thankyou.

Reply 85

Ashman

"Why should my tax money go towards helping other people? Poor people are lazy and inferior, it's entirely their fault they're poor"

That quote is from you. If you believe this quote you have had such a sheltered life its unbelievable. Before you ask I'm not a "commie" or anything. Your response previously made me think that you weren't in fact the eggit i thought you were, but then I saw this quote in your signiture in another thread and realised that no you truely are a nutter.

Seriously how can one think that all poor people are lazy and inferior? I know people who had **** childhoods, suffered abuse and work damn hard just to make ends meet. They aint lazy or inferior, they are making an honest living. Seriously everything about your opinions points to the fact that you mustve been bullied in school

Reply 86

OP

Yet more excuses excuses. There's people who went through all that **** in the inner city and have now made it to the top of the field. You can't use background as an excuse for your failure when people who experienced the same as you were still able to make a success of themselves. The ****ups are the people who piss around in school and disrupt the class. Regardless of your background, if you work hard at school then you'll be able to significantly improve the lifestyle that you and your children will lead compared to what you experienced.

One of my best friends is a Bangladeshi from inner city London, moved here age 7, couldn't speak much English, got constantly bullied at school, parents never pushed him to work hard, they wanted him to go into their catering business. But no, he perservered, he knew very well that working hard to get good grades would open up opportunities for him, never let any **** like tossers at school stop him from achieving his goals. Oh, he's now doing a Masters at LSE.

Reply 87

Ashman

"Why should my tax money go towards helping other people? Poor people are lazy and inferior, it's entirely their fault they're poor"

That quote is from you. If you believe this quote you have had such a sheltered life its unbelievable. Before you ask I'm not a "commie" or anything. Your response previously made me think that you weren't in fact the eggit i thought you were, but then I saw this quote in your signiture in another thread and realised that no you truely are a nutter.

Seriously how can one think that all poor people are lazy and inferior? I know people who had **** childhoods, suffered abuse and work damn hard just to make ends meet. They aint lazy or inferior, they are making an honest living. Seriously everything about your opinions points to the fact that you mustve been bullied in school

As opposed to anyone working in an Ib's dishonest living I'm guessing :rolleyes:

Where does this salt of the earth arent all the working class so genuine idea come from?

Reply 88

rafabenitez

kb500

As opposed to anyone working in an Ib's dishonest living I'm guessing :rolleyes:

Where does this salt of the earth arent all the working class so genuine idea come from?

He's just saying that not all poor people are lazy - and that some do earn an honest living. Doesnt mean IBer's earn a dishonest living. You cant just totally cut taxes on the assumption that poor people are lazy, which I admit some of them are, but what about those that arent?

Reply 89

ssssb1

He's just saying that not all poor people are lazy - and that some do earn an honest living. Doesnt mean IBer's earn a dishonest living. You cant just totally cut taxes on the assumption that poor people are lazy, which I admit some of them are, but what about those that arent?

Well if they aren't lazy and are earning an honest living then I'm guessing they don't need financial support in the form of taxation from higher earners they simply need to adjust thier lifestlye so that it matches their income. Of course this argument is taking it to the extreme but it is a fair argument for flat rate taxation as opposed to the current progressive system.

Reply 90

15

Back to lunch.

People really do not take an hour for lunch and many of them do return to their desks to either browse the web for email, online banking, book that weekend break etc.

But if the phone rings, I'd say pick it up.

I recall the average lunch break in London being more like 40 minutes these days. In my summer job (risk management consultancy), lunch for many would be as long as it took them to get their micro meal (brought from home or after nipping out to the supermarket) going and then eat at the desk while doing some light work. Maybe a quick fag on the way to the supermarket and back too.

Reply 91

15

Ashman

Also i think people who quote Wall Street should remember that Gordon Geko goes to jail and charlie sheens character wasnt exactly a happy bunny by the end. Most people who quote that film seem to think that the film ends with them rich and happy, when in fact everyones life is ruined and its an damning indictment on 80s greed is good philosophy.

The unhappy ending had nothing to do with their attitude to lunch.

Reply 92

Ashman

Yeah, look I have never said anything is immoral/dishonest about working in IB. Like I said different strokes for different folks.

For example is someone who works as a nurse lazy? Most nurses are poor. I wouldnt call them lazy though. Yes there are lazy poor people, but there are lazy rich people. (my friends dad gave my friend a few 100k to buy his own business despite my friend working in a bar and quiting every course hes ever done) Your taxes also go to support academics, are they lazy?

Background can be used as an excuse. Yes there are some people who come from poor backgrounds and make it, but how many people do you know who have a parent in jail who make it to IB? Are all of them lazy or do you think that their background makes it extremely hard to become rich and wealthy? Obviously there are some people have that inbuilt drive that no matter what befalls them, they will succeed, but look at the statistics for which people are most likely to be working in IB or at top unis.

I grew up in a household where both parents went to good unis (Edinburgh) and they urged me to go to university and to get good grades. However I am not so naive to think that had my circumstances been different I would have gone to the same place. Your experiences in your childhood often dictate your choices later in life.

Finally

What about your taxes that go into funding our aid budget? Are you telling me that all these poor people who survive on British aid are lazy?

Reply 93

rafabenitez

kb500

Well if they aren't lazy and are earning an honest living then I'm guessing they don't need financial support in the form of taxation from higher earners they simply need to adjust thier lifestlye so that it matches their income. Of course this argument is taking it to the extreme but it is a fair argument for flat rate taxation as opposed to the current progressive system.

Are we talking about benefits here, or are we talking about our taxes going to the NHS and other public services.

Reply 94

ssssb1

Are we talking about benefits here, or are we talking about our taxes going to the NHS and other public services.

Benefits and some, although far from all, public services

Reply 95

rafabenitez

kb500

Benefits and some, although far from all, public services

Hmm then I kind of agree with you - but im only talking about those who actually are lazy and make a living off benefits because they cant be bothered to get a job [Kieth from Eastenders, classic example]. I dont like the generalisation that all poor people are poor because its thier fault, what about a disabled person who cant work...

Reply 96

15

Ashman

For example is someone who works as a nurse lazy? Most nurses are poor. I wouldnt call them lazy though. Yes there are lazy poor people, but there are lazy rich people. (my friends dad gave my friend a few 100k to buy his own business despite my friend working in a bar and quiting every course hes ever done) Your taxes also go to support academics, are they lazy?

This is a tricky area. Ethics in economics. As I said in another thread reflecting on politicians and salary, I'd be brilliant if someone like Amartya Sen would swing by and give some insight (if you haven't read any of his books, they are well worth a good look).

The fact that some people work hard and get low pay isn't necessarily a function of their work. Rather, it is a reflection of the market. ie. more people are able to be nurses and want to do it for the going wage rate.

It'd be great if nurses were all from top unis with hot grades and a collection of great skills. But they don't need to have all that to be good enough as nurses so we don't ask for it and don't pay for it.

Reply 97

Ashman

Yeah, look I have never said anything is immoral/dishonest about working in IB. Like I said different strokes for different folks.

For example is someone who works as a nurse lazy? Most nurses are poor. I wouldnt call them lazy though. Yes there are lazy poor people, but there are lazy rich people. (my friends dad gave my friend a few 100k to buy his own business despite my friend working in a bar and quiting every course hes ever done) Your taxes also go to support academics, are they lazy?

Background can be used as an excuse. Yes there are some people who come from poor backgrounds and make it, but how many people do you know who have a parent in jail who make it to IB? Are all of them lazy or do you think that their background makes it extremely hard to become rich and wealthy? Obviously there are some people have that inbuilt drive that no matter what befalls them, they will succeed, but look at the statistics for which people are most likely to be working in IB or at top unis.

I grew up in a household where both parents went to good unis (Edinburgh) and they urged me to go to university and to get good grades. However I am not so naive to think that had my circumstances been different I would have gone to the same place. Your experiences in your childhood often dictate your choices later in life.

Finally

What about your taxes that go into funding our aid budget? Are you telling me that all these poor people who survive on British aid are lazy?

I'm sure lazy nurses exist in fact I know from first hand experience tht they do, however, this is irrelevant as you cannot generalise either way. On what exactly are you basing the argument that most nurses are poor? I'm guessing that they earn more than or close to the average wage in the country, that wouldn't be consiered poor by the majority in the country. If you are saying they are poor on the basis that they cannot afford everything they would like or afford what people with higher incomes can then tough that is thei problem not one that should be compensated for through a progressive tax system.

No I think at that international aid is a different matter simply because many of the systems which allow people to succeed such as free schooling do not exist in other countries. Therefore the situation there is much more complex. However a relatively minor proportion of tax income is spent on international aid and if tax wasn;t raised for this purpose then I'm sure individual charity would compensate to a great extent anyway.

Reply 98

15

ssssb1

what about a disabled person who cant work...

The market purists will probably say you should take out insurance for it.

More practical economists will tell you that people are **** when it comes to assessing risk and that few, if any, would insure themselves for the very real risk or some strange disease/accident.

Accordingly, government steps in to account for human stupidity (because a rational observer from the outside can do this when individuals reflecting on their own more constrained budget will not) and provides this insurance, to correct for 'yet another market failure'.

Reply 99