<p>We are merely stating observations and offering them as explanation.</p>
<p>Yalies say "Harvard Sucks" not "people who go to Harvard are less intelligent and qualified students, not to mention lesser human beings, because their institution is inferior." Whereas the Yale side of the rivalry is clearly "you are our enemy, therefore you suck," the harvard side seems to be "we have no enemy, ESPECIALLY not yale, which we NEVER mention, because it is an inferior school and its students are inferior human beings and we are smarter and more talented than they." Sadly, those Harvard students who act like that (and I am sure it is a vocal minority) give Harvard students in general a reputation for being unjustifiably smug in their superiority. I would think this, too, if I werent good friends with down to earth Harvard students who are as disgusted as I am.</p>
<p>Byerly I just remembered something which is going to get your blood boiling.</p>
<p>When the admissions officer for my area came to visit my hs he said that " the thing that distinguishs harvard students from other students is that Harvard students have a certain confidence about themselves. Of course, this often can and does lead to arrogance"</p>
<p>Of course, I'm paraphrasing because that visit was a few months ago, but still...</p>
<p>You could have heard the same thing 10 years ago, 50 years ago, 100 years ago or 300 years ago.</p>
<p>This image of Harvard and Harvard students endures in the common culture.</p>
<p>Surely you have heard the old adage: "You can always tell a Harvard man, but you can't tell him much." (100 Google listings)</p>
<p>This discusssion is ridiculous. School spirit, crimson face paint??...guys its Harvard, not some 2nd rate state school. </p>
<p>I would think most Harvard students would not care about things like "school spirit" are probably involved in far more serious and important endeavors like getting great jobs, into graduate schools, and winning rhodes/marshall/fullbright scholarships.</p>
<p>Here is a link to a chart you may find of interest!</p>
<p>Maybe you should acknowledge that much has changed in the social life of harvard students since your graduated 40+ years ago. It seems you attended harvard when the word puritan still implied drinking and fornicating, instead of its current colloquial use. HMS is in Boston (not cambridge) by the way, just to update you as well. </p>
<p>If you were only more of a nerd at harvard, well then, you might have stayed for another three years old man. Or better yet headed south...</p>
<p>"When the admissions officer for my area came to visit my hs he said that " the thing that distinguishs harvard students from other students is that Harvard students have a certain confidence about themselves. Of course, this often can and does lead to arrogance"</p>
<p>I'm not Byerly, but as an alum, the above doesn't make my blood boil. It's true.</p>
<p>Some of the funniest jokes that I know are the ones in which a snobbish Harvard student is the butt. I tell those jokes. They have a kernel of truth in them.</p>
<p>Embarrassed by your failed defense of the bulldog, and your failed attack on the Puritans, I see you are back to attacking me! </p>
<p>That's OK, go ahead. In the face of such humiliation, and cornered, you had no other option, I suppose!</p>
<p>Poor Bulldog.</p>
<p>Attack away! As that spirited Harvard troll Northstarmom notes - and I hope she forgives me for using her name and "spirit" in the same sentence - we're used to it.</p>
<p>Humiliation? If the previous posts are what you consider "humiliation", then my friend, you live in a sad small world. I take neither the bulldog nor the puritan seriously, but it appears that such small insignificant things are the cornerstone of your warped world, a world which you must always defend. Old age has taken your memory it appears as well -for it was you first who attacked me with </p>
<p>"This tells me that your nerdy life as a science geek and medical student not only prevented you from understanding the history of Harvard, but also - quite obviously - prevented you from gaining much of a feel for the place during your brief, cloistered interlude in Cambridge"</p>
<p>I guess you can't take what you give. Playing the hypocrite again? Spin spin spin. Divorce yourself from the Harvard name, it is causing you to defend even the smallest and insignifcant points with too much force and gravity- try reading this article from yesterday's crimson, the author could have potentially become you, if not for some mature insight.</p>
<p>Wow.. we're really getting TESTY this morning, aren't we?</p>
<p>I had OSU going to the finals...
just shows you how stupid you can be even with two ivy league diplomas</p>
<p>The topic here is APATHY. Harvard elders (save one) first try to argue that it does exist at H. No one buys it. Then the elders make a tactical shift, arguing that it has little or no value. No one buys it. Another tactical shift takes place when H elders try to smear competitor schools. Posters don't buy. Fourth tactical shift: elders introduce random academic information (not adjusted for school size). Posters not side tracked. Fifth tactical shift, elders get nasty (this is when you know the skin is getting thin).</p>
<p>My final 4 are still looking good, until tonight. anyway.</p>
<p>Google: "School Spirit"+benefits = 27,200 hits</p>
<p>This thread has lost its way. It has become about the posters instead of the school. Closed</p>