<p>Wait, holy mother of god, you people literally think that “gritty inner city struggles” is on the same level as “amazing art galleries and libraries.” Are the lives of real people there just so you can view them with the lens of “diversity” and “real life” so you can say that you once lived in the general proximity of people who live in screwed up situations? Do these people only exist insofar as they give you a volunteer opportunity or a chance for some sort of learning experience or cultural enrichment or some inane thing like that?</p>
<p>Well, maybe you don’t think they’re on the same level. I suppose if you are putting those art galleries and libraries on one side as the the main exhibition, the “gritty inner city struggles” would be more analogous to the freak sideshow entertainment in you people’s eyes, wouldn’t it?</p>
<p>I have no axe to grind either. I am an admirer of Yale.</p>
<p>As a result, I am surprised to see ad hominem responses to @AntiDeweyring on the Yale forum. Maybe those responses are not from people associated with Yale. How does that old saying go? </p>
<p>“If the facts are on your side, argue the facts. If the law is on your side, argue the law. If neither the law nor facts are on your side, attack the person.”</p>
<p>If I can share my frustration about Anti’s posts. He or She seems to possess a perspective that ultimately, can be informative to readers of this forum. But the level of invective and volume used invalidates the actual conveyance of information, advice or anecdote. Anti seems to just want to rant and spur a reply – rather than to inform. I wish it were the latter.</p>
<p>Oh, I’m being plenty informative, you just have to take what I’m saying at face value, rather than look at Yale and its spawn with rose-tinted lens (with an exqusite 24k golden frame and innumerable 26k diamond studs).</p>
<p>And if I don’t have a second song to sing, it’s really because this hit is a timeless one.</p>
<p>@fenwaypark, I wasn’t attacking anti…I’m just making an observation that’s all! He only comes to CC with vitriolic comments about NHV & Yale. I asked him this, if it was so bad, why did he/she stay? With so many other universities out there to earn a degree from…I thought it was within my rights to ask that very important question. I don’t think anyone said you had an axe to grind…I think you are mistaken. </p>
<p>The poverty is a more-than-a-century-old problem. It is not an easy one to be resolved by anybody, at least not by some random poster on CC.</p>
<p>One of my colleagues once said something (not in this context) that may be somewhat relevant here: It is much easier to criticize than to really come up with a constructive idea that would be accepted by most and would actually work.</p>
<p>Another coworker once said that, on the Earth, we really can not afford to have most people to lead the life the average American has now. In fact, in the history, it has always been the cast that only a tiny fraction of human beings could have a good life (arguably speaking, most likely by oppressing/enslaving others of the same species.) Realistically speaking, what is the odd of being drastically different several decades from now?</p>
<p>Maybe it is because of my age, I find myself less and less interested in paying attention to this kind of “critical” opinions (esp. those made with “flowery language”) that would not have any effect at all in the long run. You can say I become less passionate about many things as I am aged.</p>
<p>Pfft, as if I have any illusions of fixing anything. It’s been the opposite–I’m astounded by everyone thinking that they’re doing something usefil and the go on about how they’re being such good people by doing so.</p>
<p>As far as I can tell, there are either 3 or 4 people who posted in this thread who are current Yale students, and all of them offered legitimate (i.e. not just trolling) comments that are somewhat critical of Yale. Then there are many parents, alumni from decades ago, and prospective high schoolers, many of whom have never been to Yale and certainly never have interacted with the Yale administration, who are giddily optimistic about all things Yale. Isn’t this a bit strange?</p>
<p>Look, there are obviously many good things about Yale. Many of them are discussed elsewhere in this forum. But it’s pretty silly to shut down any criticism of the university because it taints the paradisiacal image painted in the minds of many people on this board. I really don’t know what Yale has done to earn the religious reverence of so many high schoolers, but whatever it is, the university’s ad campaign has been very effective. </p>
<p>FYI, the habit of creating an unrealistically idyllic image of Yale is not entirely harmless. First of all, it’s false advertising. More important, when there’s a culture that expects everything to be great all the time, it makes it very hard to be not ok. “If everything is supposed to be out of this world and I’m not finding it that way, there must be something wrong with me!” Try just a bit harder to be accommodating to dissenting opinions and make this forum a safe space. It also doesn’t really grant you a lot of legitimacy to ban someone for being critical. </p>
<p>Speaking of being not ok, here’s a statistic you won’t find in the pamphlets they give out during tours: according to the 2013 YCC report, more than 50% of Yale students seek care at mental health and counseling during their 4 years. That’s more than 500% the rate found in the general population. Hmm, let’s see if there’s a way we can be overly optimistic about that.</p>
<p>That’s easy, it just means that Yale is putting lots of money into the mental health therapy all these students seem to so desperately need while the general population is just too poor to afford it!</p>
Ta Da! I knew if I waited long enough, there would be something you said that wasn’t ■■■■■■■■ and that I give some credence. Not that I agree entirely, but the general direction of the thought isn’t IMO misplaced.</p>
<p>@clandarkfire - I’m a recent alum, and I found Yale pretty safe. When I went off campus, it was to the usual places where students go along Lynwood, Howe, Park, High, and a few times to Dwight. I also used to make infrequent trips to East Rock, Union Station, and the Elm City mart. I felt pretty comfortable in those areas but there were also lots of Yale kids there and I was usually with others. I think the areas immediately outside Yale’s campus are much nicer than the used to be, with new stores and late night food places. </p>
<p>Beyond that, I don’t know much about New Haven. I don’t know how things have improved in those areas, or even if they have, but I think most Yale students never explore the city so they’re never exposed to it. If you asked the average students what crime is like in New Haven, I think most of them wouldn’t know. You get those emails about people getting shot/mugged but it’s never undergraduates and often in areas that undergrads don’t frequent. </p>
<p>@An0maly I, too, find Yale quite safe - certainly not any worse than your average city. My comment was referring to the discussion about Yale’s relationship with New Haven. </p>