"Karens"

 

Yesterday the New York Times had a story about fencing and sort of debating whether doing this sport helps students get into college.

        The comments section got a little heated -- usually in the NYT it's relatively sedate.

I mentioned the back-and-forth on this subject to a co-worker, who seemed to grasp the whole picture immediately -- he analyzed:  "It's because they're all Karens!"

[Disclaimer:  In this context, Karens does not refer to people from Thailand or Myanmar, but rather to ladies who are vociferous (and sometimes unexpected) in demanding their own way -- and "now, if not sooner!"]

It's -- when people start saying How Things Are which affect their children's education and future, there's some facts, and some wishful-thinking mixed in there -- and some just plain "urban legends" -- stuff that some people say which just probably isn't really true, but it becomes sort of a "ghost story" to scare people about their future, or the future of their offspring.

I.e., "Education isn't necessarily the answer!  There are a lot of PhDs driving taxicabs!"  That's one we used to hear back in the '70s.

Remember the college admissions scandal, a few years ago?  When the two daughters of the actress in Full House were made to pose in a photograph to look like they were rowing a boat, even though they were not really on a rowing team.  And this was supposed to help these girls get into the University of Southern California?

        I was thinking, "What?!"  It was inexplicable, to me.  It seemed like -- elaborate futzing-about to try and "trick" a college into letting your kid in.

Not necessary, and a waste of time, I thought.  Total misfire.

But they had some reason for doing it -- copying what their friends are doing?  But then why are the friends doing it...?  V. weird.

------------------- The reader comments under the Times article -- one says his son does fencing and is in great physical shape.

The commenter underneath replies,

~ I bet your teenager who's in "great physical shape" couldn't last an hour playing fullcourt pickup basketball, or tennis.

             (OK -- don't let these people get near any mud....)

MJ G

San Francisco

But do they have enough common sense not to bring a fencing sword to a gun fight?  Everyone in my neighborhood did.

Maciek

Poland, EU

USA is messed up.  In my country (Poland) all youth sports are state funded (at least the Olympic ones).  Like, fencing was obligatory instead of PE in a public primary school in my poor, downtown neighborhood nicknamed Bermuda Triangle*.

        And I did 4 years of rowing in a municipal club in high school, for free.  And squash here is considered a cheap alternative for tennis, for junior office workers.

        And we make on average like $2,000 a month, so no, we're no Luxembourg nor Gulf state.

* cause things like bikes or wallets tend to disappear there.

Arli

Connecticut

Oh dear.  As a result of this article some not-poor kids are going to be dragged to yet another after-school lesson by hyper competitive parents.

___________________________

"Hyper competitive parents."

This is kind of what I was thinking, as I read through the comments -- 2 things.

1.  It's generational, this attitude -- many parents of today's college students may be more "helicopter-y" than our parents were.

2.  (Some of these folks are crazy.)

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Tim Bradley

NY, NY

There has been and always will be a 'back door' to elite colleges.  Legacy applications, donors and athletes are three big ones.  Thankfully you do not need to graduate from a top school to be successful.  There are plenty of opportunities for folks from solid state universities and other private colleges.  It is a big tent.

TeeVla

Tacoma

I have yet to see an article of this sort, and there are many, connect the final dot:  society needs to stop worshipping these institutions.  We should be suspicious of their membership, not impressed by them.  Instead of calling them elite, we should vociferously point out their lack of imagination.

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