<p>Jym, I answered to your comment about the OP having to be open-minded by pointing out that this thread had been, safe and except a few posts, an overwhelming display of closed-mindedness and intolerance. The TOS “appendix” was not directed at your post but at the number of posts that questioned the OP on various counts. You just happened to jump on a train that had left the station before your arrived. </p>
<p>I thought I had been clear in my “objection” and my subsequent post about being sad. My issue has been and still is that a number of posters have pushed their views by questioning the OP’s attributes in a condescending and, at times, insulting manner. Who those people are does not take much effort to identify. They are the ones who responded to me with their usual acerbic verve and condescending tones. I am used to it, and will not stop me from calling their hypocrisy out when I find it warranted. </p>
<p>The quote Cobrat posted from the OP (post #40) is an excellent example of what is called overgeneralizing, and overestimating the likelihood of an event occurring. It is unfortunate that his/her friend got brainwashed into joining an activist insurgency group (or similar). But the likelihood of that here is EXTREMELY low. Yes, there are religious cults that brainwash and pull people in . Its happened to the kids of posters here on CC. That would be a higher likelihood occurrence, IMO, than being pulled into a radical political militant group.</p>
<p>OP seems to be reading but not posting. People here, IMO, are trying to be helpful. What happened to your friend is unfortunate. But it happened to one person, in another culture/country, a long time ago. To overgeneralize it as a real risk here is, IMO, unfounded. </p>
But xig, you chose one of my posts to post it, and to call out an issue that has apparently been voiced by many other posters in the thread. It sounded to me like you were calling me out on it, and implying my comments were against the TOS, which they were not. If you feel OTHERS have been condescending or unkind, please don’t use a reference to my post to make that point about other posters. I feel that is unfair. I hope I am wrong. </p>
<p>Oh, so the ‘Associate Professor of Sociology at UC Merced’. In that case, we should all be repeating whatever he said. No agendas with professors trying to remove a stigma from their peers. Especially those from such august institutions as UC Merced. No difference than quoting something that I said, except I went to a college that people outside of the UC system could actually recognize.</p>
<p>For the record, I have taken classes much more recently than my age would indicate. This is not a ‘good old days’ situation. I am also fully aware that there are exceptions to every rule. I am sure there are people of all political ilks that appreciated a well-written counter-opinion. In my experience, those people tend to be in history and political science courses where discussion and opinion is encouraged. </p>
<p>I am sure your experiences are valid. Just saying that this research is valid too . I haven’t read the book (dont think its released yet) but the information is out there.
</p>
<p>I am sure there are some, maybe more than some, wingnuts out there with tenure spewing their personal beliefs. Remember that whackjob in Colorado and the sexual deviance class complete with demonstrations in Illinois? </p>
<p>I’m inclined to simply say that I know of very few situations that come close to matching the OP’s nightmare scenario. I think it should really be fairly low on a list of fears when sending her daughter away to college. It sounds as if the daughter is serious about education. Distracted drivers, e-coli-contaminated food in the dining hall, sexual assault, fires caused by faulty wiring or haphazard safety standards in the dormitories, and excessive anxiety over academic performance (especially if accompanied by abuse of “study drugs”) are all much likelier threats than recruitment into a cult or extremist political organization. From my own observations and experiences, she’s likelier to be recruited into risky apolitical activities, like drug-trafficking, than into political ones. . . and that seems pretty unlikely.</p>
<p>Ah. Welcome back. I guess I am confused. Isn’t your deciding what schools she should look at, based on your friend’s awful experience several decades ago, in essence manipulating by your agenda? I guess I am having trouble seeing the difference.</p>
<p>I’m wondering what she thinks about this issue, and whether she is aware that she’s probably more likely to die in college of natural or criminal causes than to be persuaded to drop her studies and take up arms for some cause?</p>
<p>As an aside, both of my s’s are STEM kids. Both are done and launched. One went to school in a politically conservative part of the country. He chose to get involved in some presidential election stuff one year but that was due to his interest. No pressure from anyone. The other one went to a school whose student body is pretty politically apathetic. There are some well known people in politics who teach there, but the student body is (and this is a generalization) pretty apathetic. Another friend’s son went to Rose Hulman. Didnt hear that it was a hotbed of political activism. But these schools dont meet your “driving distance from Philly” criteria. The NE corridor is more likley to have some left leaning folks.</p>
<p>I was wondering how long a conversation we could get to just using the word really.</p>
<p>You seem confused by parental guidance with the view of supporting the individual’s long-term goals vs strangers taking advantage for their own purposes.</p>
<p>No, I am not in the least bit confused. I was just being polite.</p>
<p>I am truly sorry your friend got manipulated many years ago. But many of us are suggesting that you not let that color your perception of the climate in the US colleges. The restriction you are imposing based on an experience in another part of the world could run the risk of scratching some colleges off the list that would be wonderful environments for your daughter. And I agree with the poster above. Does your daughter agree with this criteria?</p>
<p>It was funny yesterday, SOG. The first time it was posted yesterday, and a little less so, the second… In fact, the OP commented on it as well, IIRC ;)</p>
<p>SOG, If you are speaking ot me, you must not know me very well.</p>
<p>And back to topic, OP- I was serious yesterday when I suggested you, or better yet, your daughter, read “The Insiders Guide to Colleges”. It is an excellent resources that gives a true flavor of the pulse of the campus form the students perspective. </p>
^:)^ </p>