Tucker Max

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>It's too long and profane to post, but if you read the June 1st entry at <a href="http://www.tuckermax.com/blog.phtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.tuckermax.com/blog.phtml&lt;/a> , I want to know what people think of Tucker's entry.</p>

<p>Some of my questions for those more in the know:</p>

<p>-Is law school even worth it if you aren't going to a top 10? 25? 50?</p>

<p>-Is law school less difficult han its tough reputation makes it out to be? I know Tucker Max is a genius and all, but is he valid here?</p>

<p>-What major points do you disagree with?</p>

2

<p>Tucker Max isn't my favorite blogger although he can be compelling. I mention this because I don't always agree with him but I do agree with some statements in his June 1 post about lawyers. I agree with his view of why you shouldn't be a lawyer, especially if you are considering a legal career for the money or fame. I don't agree with his view of law school. I liked some things about law school and disliked others, but I definitely didn't blow it off. </p>

<p>If he wants to, I want our son to go to law school to learn to think like a lawyer, even though I don't care whether he practices law. Being around a lawyer helped him learn to think logically, speak effectively in public, and perform well under pressure. Attending a top-tier law school will help him refine these skills. Of course, people can develop these skills without law school but I think it is easier for those who attend a quality law school.</p>

<p>As to your specific questions, I don't know if it's worth it to go to a lower-tier law school. I suspect it is if you actually want to practice law. Some lower tier schools are good at teaching the nuts and bolts of legal work. Law school can be "easy" if you don't care about grades. If you care about law review and getting top interviews with law firms, you have to have good grades and most people (even very smart ones) find that difficult at top-tier law schools.</p>

3

<p>-Is law school even worth it if you aren't going to a top 10? 25? 50?</p>

<p>IMHO, it is not worth it for most people to borrow $100k plus to go to a law school outside the top 14 or so. If you get a scholarship, or in-state tuition, or your parents can pay, different story.</p>

<p>-Is law school less difficult han its tough reputation makes it out to be? I know Tucker Max is a genius and all, but is he valid here?</p>

<p>Yes, it is much less difficult if you are reasonably bright compared to your classmates and your goal is to pass rather than to make the best grades you can. Top 14 schools aim to graduate virtually everyone, and they do, including MANY people who party like Tucker (particularly true within the top 6). Tucker is no genius, and you don't have to be. If you get into one of those schools, you are very likely to be smart enough to pass without doing much work.</p>

<p>-What major points do you disagree with?</p>

<p>It is possible to really enjoy law school even if you aren't in love with civil procedure. I'm a nerd, but I'm the kind of nerd who is happy with B's and who goes out with her friends a lot. I loved law school. I worked hard in classes where I cared and very little in classes where I didn't.</p>

<p>You're not a loser for wanting to save the world. But if you thought that you were because Tucker said so, then you ARE a loser.</p>

<p>There's some truth in some law TV shows, and Law & Order is the best one. Prosecutors in NY really do get to do cool cases, even early in their careers, and they get to be in court quite a lot. They really do get to put bad guys away. (Ally McBeal & LA Law, in contrast: total fiction.)</p>

<p>Going to a top 6 law school is a damn good way to guarantee that you'll make a lot of money. Yes, it's a hard job with long hours. But that's also true of jobs like banking or consulting where you make a lot of money, and when you go into business, the risk is much higher compared to law (you may become a billionaire, you may lose your shirt; law offers lower risks and lower payoffs). It's perfectly legit to be willing to work hard at a less-than-thrilling job to make lots of money. Tucker assumes that this is a bad choice for everyone. It's a fine choice if that's what you want.</p>

<p>You ARE guaranteed a six-figure job coming out of a top-10 school unless you are devoid of social skills or (like Tucker) you decide you don't want one and you sabotage it. If you go to Harvard, Yale, or Stanford Law, this kind of sabotage requires concerted effort.</p>

4

<p>Thanks Hanna, this was the kind of response I was hoping to see.</p>

<p>I read Tuckermax.com because it's funny, not because I heed his advice as divine scripture. I just wanted to post a link to that entry to hear a sound rebuttal.</p>

<p>From my first read of what he had to say, I thought his thoughts were interesting, but I disagreed with some of his words. I'm starting undergrad on a full scholarship in the fall at a school with excellent law school placement (and the #22 Law School), with the goal of going to a top-notch law school after graduation.</p>

<p>Any other lawyers/students out there with an opinion?</p>

5

<p><a href="http://messageboard.tuckermax.com/showthread.php?t=9395&highlight=lawyer%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://messageboard.tuckermax.com/showthread.php?t=9395&highlight=lawyer&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Multiple lawyers from premiere law schools commented on his blog. Most agreed with him. They're pretty disconcerting if you're looking to become a lawyer.</p>

6

<p>"Law school is full of small, pedantic, little dorks and corporate firms are no different, except here they are in charge." </p>

<p>AWESOME. Finally you can escape the college world full of huge-ego, hippies, that do nothing with their lives.</p>

<p>I.e. Tucker Max. </p>

<p>No wonder he didn't like law school.</p>

<p>And Tucker Max is not a genius. He is an upper-middle class snob who got decent genes from his parents and did nothing with his talent except go around sleeping with women and then writing about his experiences.</p>

7

<p>"Genius is seeing what everyone has seen and thinking what no one has thought." -Albert Szent-Gyorgy, the discoverer of Vitamin C</p>

<p>Sure, what Tucker does may be "thoroughly reprehensible," but he does something that was never done before.</p>

<p>I just find his crusade to prevent students from making the "mistake" of going to law school interesting. I wanted to hear some comments outside of his messageboards, which are highly censored (over half of the posts are deleted).</p>

8

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<p>I heard all of his main arguments at various parties during law school before anybody had ever heard of him. Being the first to PUBLICIZE an idea does not make you a genius. I think he's a good writer and very sharp at marketing himself. I respect that (wish I'd thought of it myself). But he's not exactly inventing the wheel here. Read "Brush with the Law" and "Broken Contract" (both of whose authors went to law school before Tucker became famous) to see different takes on some of the same ideas (law school is a big waste of time, many lawyers are small-minded dorks on power trips, you can get good grades while majoring in drugs and sex, corporate law is a soul-sucking vortex of evil, etc.).</p>

9

<p>Pop quiz Diogenes: how many New York Times best-sellers have you written? How many screenplays have you optioned? Are you in L.A. right now, making your own TV show? Do you have one of the most highly trafficked websites in the country with legions of fans? Yet you claim that he has done nothing with his life. Compared to who? YOU? What hallmarks of personal success have you achieved? </p>

<p>Furthermore, what does personal success entail to you? Money? Fame? Happiness? Which of these factors do you believe he is not enjoying?</p>

<p>The fact that you would call him a hippie is just downright comical, and shows you haven't even read his material. But really, do you honestly think there's NO MIDDLE GROUND between pedantic dork and tree-hugging socialist? You are either being intellectually dishonest, or you're just painfully ****ing stupid.</p>

<p>You could do well to learn from the combined experience that went into his speech. But instead of benefitting from that acquired insight, you've chosen to be a presumptuous **** instead, and years down the road you'll be left wondering why your life sucks so much.</p>

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<p>Wow... I guess you just had to fulfill what your screen-name entailed.</p>

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<p>Well, he deserved it. He also deserves it for complaining that college is full of hippies, after choosing to go to ****ing Berkeley. Another well-reasoned decision.</p>

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<p>And Tucker Max is not a genius. He is an upper-middle class snob who got decent genes from his parents and did nothing with his talent except go around sleeping with women and then writing about his experiences.</p>

<p>He went to Duke Law on an academic scholarship. I'd say you have to be pretty smart to get an academic scholarship at duke law.</p>

13

<p>While I believe Tucker Max is a pretty sharp guy, as evidenced by the mob of people that worship him and the money he's making, I find it amusing that his followers/admirers seem to be, for the most part, mindless idiots. It's funny to see people identifying with their "Messiah," "Soulmate," "Idol" -- in this case Tucker. </p>

<p>Does it make sense to seek job satisfaction and satisfaction in life. Sure. Hail Tucker (because he enlighten you, or something like that)? Give me a freaking break.</p>

<p>I wonder if he'll found a religion sometime soon.</p>

14

<p>For once, I have to agree with WF.</p>

<p>Reminds me of a phrase from Obi-wan:
"Who's the more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him?"</p>

15

<p>Did you just quote Star Wars? You must be a blast at parties. Besides, how was that quote apt at all? How exactly is he a fool? You and Wildflower sure are pretentious little ****s, aren't you? Since you obviously don't get it, I'll help you out:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.festeringass.com/archives/entries/our_history_and_philosophy.phtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.festeringass.com/archives/entries/our_history_and_philosophy.phtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>If you don't at least find that extraordinarily prescient and on the mark, or understand why he has people look up to him, especially writers like myself who he is essentially blazing a trail for, then you are beyond help.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Did you just quote Star Wars? You must be a blast at parties.

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</p>

<p>I do not go to any, and I do not care about going to any.</p>

<p>
[quote]
You and Wildflower sure are pretentious little ****s, aren't you?

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</p>

<p>...this statement seems rather... self-defeating... I will wait for you to figure it out.</p>

<p>Intellectual inferiors like Mr. Max and his ilk neither threaten nor ruffle me.</p>

<p>
[quote]
If you don't at least find that extraordinarily prescient and on the mark, or understand why he has people look up to him,

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I think you used "prescient" incorrectly, unless you mean to say that the piece of writing acquired psychic abilities, the quality of which alone cannot be attributed to a piece of writing. Oh wait... you mean... Max is "prescient," right? From where did he acquire these predictive capacities? While he was having sex, getting stoned, or inebriated, or all of the above? Oh wait, even if he is "prescient," how is that passage indicative of such an attribute?</p>

<p>
[quote]
especially writers like myself who he is essentially blazing a trail for,

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</p>

<p>Believe me, all the work he does is not nearly enough to save your writing. You cannot even use words correctly. You expect Mr. Max to fix that? Why not "blaze your own trail"? Too busy watching "Fight Club"?</p>

<p>Ohhhhh ahhhh, he went to Duke Law School! Wow.</p>

<p>This is a genius:
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/28/books/28krip.html?ex=1296104400&en=9b8c06355a8dc486&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/28/books/28krip.html?ex=1296104400&en=9b8c06355a8dc486&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Not Tucker Max, I am afraid.</p>

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<p>Reminds me of a quote from House:</p>

<p>Dr. Roger Spain (First Applicant): Wow, I thought you'd be the last person to have a problem with nonconformity.
Dr. Gregory House: Nonconformity; right... I can't remember the last time saw a twenty something kid with a tattoo of an Asian letter on his wrist. You are one wicked free thinker! You want to be a rebel; stop being cool. Wear a pocket protector like he does, and get a hair cut. Like the Asian kids that don't leave the library for a twenty hours stretch. They're the ones that don't care what you think.
[pause]</p>

<p>I love Hugh Laurie.</p>

18

<p>You don't go to parties because you don't want to, you don't go because you're socially inept, pretentious, and would likely get punched in the mouth. Intellectual inferiors? Ilk? Oh yeah. Punched in the teeth. I understand that your high school experience involved four long, awkward years, but the effort to reinvent yourself as cool and/or tough has been disastrous.</p>

<p>You can't attribute prescience to a piece of writing? Are you that ****ing dumb? Why don't you let one of your Humanities professors in on that gem, along with your pretentious gloating. Really, print out this thread and show it to them. See if they don't think you are a goddamn toolbag.</p>

<p>My guess is they'll be rather shocked, partly at your stupidity, but mostly due to the fact that you don't talk like that in real life, for the reasons stated above. You are a pseudointellectual, in every possible sense. Probably you didn't even read the entire piece that I gave you, so rather than intellectually better yourself, you staunchly remain a pedantic little dip**** who stumbles through life, always laughing but never getting the joke.</p>

19

<p>
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Punched in the teeth.

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</p>

<p>This is the only way in which intellectual inferiors can respond.</p>

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you don't go because you're socially inept,

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</p>

<p>You know nothing of me. I do not go to parties because I do not like them. I can be socially adept when I wish.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I understand that your high school experience involved four long, awkward years, but the effort to reinvent yourself as cool and/or tough has been disastrous.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yeah... and I was somehow accepted at the University of Chicago... and you are stuck being obsequious and sending trite e-mails to admissions officers.</p>

<p>
[quote]
You can't attribute prescience to a piece of writing?

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</p>

<p>Consult the Oxford American Dictionary for future reference. You cannot attribute that ability to a piece of paper, let alone a webpage. What? Tomorrow will that page tell you what is happening five years from now? </p>

<p>
[quote]
You are a pseudointellectual, in every possible sense.

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</p>

<p>You know nothing of me. Your conclusions possess little evidence.</p>

<p>
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you staunchly remain a pedantic little dip**** who stumbles through life, always laughing but never getting the joke.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That may be so, but I am in a better position than you. To be honest, I do not care whether I get punched in the face, can get a girlfriend, or prove that I am more intelligent than you. I am pretty happy the way things are, and there is not a thing you can do to change that.</p>

<p>Good luck with the University of Chicago. I hear they are not using the waitlist that much this year. It is a pity.</p>

20

<p>Hahaha. I would further undermine your post (regarding my experience with U of C Admissions, your complete ignorance of what constitutes intelligence, and your continued failing to grasp the simple usage of words), but you're just not that smart, and probably wouldn't understand. Instead, I'll just laugh at the fact that you broached your inability to get a girlfriend. Seeing as how you "don't care" and all. That's why you brought it up completely unprovoked?</p>