In a weird way, I'm somewhat grateful to the economy

[nandelle]

I was just thinking about this, as I have two definitely unfunded admissions and one probably unfunded (small chance of some funding later on...), that it some small way I'm grateful to the economy being the way it is. It's a great psychological excuse - I didn't get funding, not because I'm a lousy applicant, but because schools have no money. I think it would have been a bigger psychological blow to not get in/not get $$ in a great year. It also provides a great excuse when talking to friends/relatives..."Well, in a normal year I'm positive I would have gotten in, but this year, things being what they are, the schools are all accepting a much smaller class".

I don't know where I'd be if I couldn't blame the economy

[wildcatsfan86]

I have to admit, I feel the exact opposite. I didn't have a clear first choice school, but I had a clear last choice. Unfortunately the clear last choice is my in-state school, and it's where I knew going into this that I had to go to if I didn't get funding elsewhere. I just can't justify the kinds of loans required for out of state tuition. I got accepted to all 5 of the schools I applied to. Unfortunately the only school to offer me funding is my in-state school. I guess not having to pay for everything there does take some of the sting out of having to go there, but it's really painful to turn down all those other offers of admission, especially since they're for really amazing programs for my field. I'd rather be able to beat myself up over not being good enough, than to have something totally out of my control to blame. More painful is that if I'd been 2 months older, I'd have graduated last year, and might have had a shot at funding. The only consolation is that my friends are hearing the same thing about funding, so I know it's not just me.

[GirlattheHelm]

I think we're all grateful for a scapegoat, yes, our egos wouldn't survive this without a little something to pawn off our bad fortune - the economy or otherwise. But I'm not a friend of the economic state. I see it as a deep, deep hole with immeasurable consequences, forcing us towards socialistic measures to keep us alive rather than self reliant. And, in that, we lose the beauty and greatness of America (and, in my eyes, the individual). Instead we'll be getting welfare... and I, a raging libertarian, am not happy about that. I fear that, because even that will mean masses will go hungry.

This might sound extreme but in the face of economic collapse makes me terrified. I realize not everyone can roll their own cigarettes, grow their own tobacco, or survive in the woods comfortably, but I can do all that (and more). That doesn't mean I want to head out but I will if the economy shits the bed. Hell, I'd go there before I wandered to join a socialistic movement to save the country or myself (i.e. work to feed others for a government stipend to feed self). I'm not talking crazy conspiracy or wars - no, I'm talking packing up and living in a shanty because, seriously, this economy could drive us to that desperation for food and safety.

We always have a summer ritual in the upper woodlands of the east coast - get ready for winter while its warm out. This year will be especially intense; I'm fixing camp this summer - new roof, new shitter, new lighting (LP and solar alternative), assessing guns, buying ammo for the winter hunts, stocking, supplying, and rechecking. I do this every year but this has been the first year I looked at my families emergency supplies because I'm scared the money, and hence the food, will run out if things go to hell. I thank the stars we have merely 300 acres to fend on - but that's nothing in the eye of an economic collapse. I have a rotating supply of food, previsions and such available to my family and I, capable of sustaining us all comfortably for up to two months. I want to get that up to 6 months this year. And add enough ammunition (I do traditional and compound archery as well so I'm pretty useful) and woods-woman savvy to get me through another six if need be. I know - crazy stupid libertarian - but, I might add, I'm not talking violence - I'm talking the reality I see possible if we hit the next great depression... And at least I have several places/caches I can get to - by car, truck, horse, mule, or the shoe lace express - and I seriously fear their necessity.

There are those of us who want to go to graduate school, not see the foundation of our society collapse, regardless of how good a scapegoat the whole fiasco is (and it is a mighty good one)...

I'd take a good economy and a 'You suck' stamp on my rejections over the terror I have at thinking I might have to wash menstrual rags in a stream bed every month...

:oops:

[psycholinguist]

I'd take a good economy and a 'You suck' stamp on my rejections over the terror I have at thinking I might have to wash menstrual rags in a stream bed every month...

You could get a menstrual cup! They're washable! * grins *

(I guess that implies I'm a girl...heh.)

[GirlattheHelm]

You could get a menstrual cup! They're washable! * grins *

Haha!! I've actually got one! But I suppress my menses with drugs because I hate this aspect of feminine life with a PMS style passion.

The only thing about using the cup is that lack of sanitation would disallow its usage. I've always had trouble getting it 'dislodged' - unless there's some secret I missed out which you can feel free to privately message me with (it can be the most torturous device if it won't come off). Add the fact that if I was in a catastrophic situation, I'm just not sure how I'd like digging up there with grubby hands to get the suction off would fare... I mean, it's only on very rare or special occasions when I decide to go, "Yes! An infection, I'd love that down there!" Ah, more reasons for me to fear the economic downturn.

...I'm going to stop now before I scare people further.

[golonghorns]

...ummm....okkkk

[jferreir]

...I'm going to stop now before I scare people further.

Thank you.

[omgninjas]

The most terrifying thread in the history of this forum. Celebrating a recession as an easy ego booster, Libertarianism, and vaginal infections. Not even 10 posts yet, and critical levels of :shock: are being reached.

[GirlattheHelm]

The most terrifying thread in the history of this forum. Celebrating a recession as an easy ego booster, Libertarianism, and vaginal infections. Not even 10 posts yet, and critical levels of :shock: are being reached.

[TulipOHare]

A thought that's crossed my mind more than once:

"If the U.S. dollar becomes worthless, I don't have to pay back any of my student loans!"

[rocket_queen]

A thought that's crossed my mind more than once:

"If the U.S. dollar becomes worthless, I don't have to pay back any of my student loans!"

This is on my mind quite a bit. But the fallout from that actually happening is scary to me.

[Victory]

Wow...bad economy to menstrual cups. Definitely not the logical progression of thought I saw coming!

[Reinventing]

Washable, but recyclable or biodegradable? I don't think so. . .

Anyway, I was also drawn to this topic to make a somewhat random post. I try to see both sides of any situation, and it occurred to me that I look upon a friend who comes to me to say they're going to graduate school with the same mixed emotions that I do when they say they're having a baby--happiness at their accomplishment, fear, at well, all the stuff there is to fear (ouch ouch, $ $). So there's another upside. No ouch ouch, and the money will hopefully be flowing in the other direction.

Ah, so this topic is Freudian as well. *sigh*

[Dinali]

I hate the economy because I'm on waitlists at three different places that have made a point to say they'd have admitted me in a better year.

Also, I really love learning things. I think everyone who considers a graduate program does. But I hit my limit, and have made a mental note to NEVER find out any more about the words "menstrual cup." That's one big gap in my knowledge I hope to carry til I die.

Also: This is my 150th post. I want to see if I get a new title

Edit: Yay! Latte!

[psycholinguist]

Also, I really love learning things. I think everyone who considers a graduate program does. But I hit my limit, and have made a mental note to NEVER find out any more about the words "menstrual cup." That's one big gap in my knowledge I hope to carry til I die.

Guys can be exempted from having to learn all about anything that generally falls under the category of 'girl-talk'. * grins *

This reminds me of an anecdote. P. and D. and I (all girls) were once standing around before sociolinguistics, and N. (a guy) was sitting on a bench nearby.

P.: "I live with two girls and this guy called Adam, and the girls and I play this game called MAFIA, which means Make Adam Feel Incredibly Awkward. So we'll talk about birth-control, tampons..."

Me: "Or PMS..."

P.: "Yeah, that's the idea."

P., D., and me: * giggle ridiculously *

N. notices L. (another guy) approach and pretends to be totally freaked out.

N.: "L.! Do you want to talk about cars?!"