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AIBU?

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Original poster

To hate the expression "University of Life"

104 replies

cantonwanton · 27/03/2019 20:26

Every time I hear or see this on facebook or in real life, I want scream or head butt someone.

NO. You are not special of having lived, we all have, graduates included.
It's some sort of snooty DailyFailesque phrase, of elevating one's self-importance.

It's demeaning to those who actually studied for a degree and got one. I have no issue at all with people not having degrees, so stop trying to pretend you have one, and somehow by having lived you are more experienced/knowledgeable than the rest.

OP posts:
lexiconmistress · 27/03/2019 20:34

YANBU. It's said by wankers.

TheSultanofPingu · 27/03/2019 20:35

Don't be daft!

BlackSatinDancer · 27/03/2019 20:36

I just read it as them saying they haven't been to uni. It is not them pretending to have a degree.

Userisi · 27/03/2019 20:41

I assume the person who wrote it has insecurity issues about not going to university, for whatever reason.

DrCoconut · 27/03/2019 20:43

The University of Life is where you go when you're not brainy enough to get in anywhere else Grin. I'm aware some perfectly intelligent people didn't go to university through either choice or circumstances but they are not IME the ones who come out with the "I don't need a fancy degree I went to the University of Life" crap. It's used to pour scorn on being higher educated, by people who are not.

SemperIdem · 27/03/2019 20:44

Generally only absolute tossers say it, so it follows that I dislike the phrase.

Bringbackthestripes · 27/03/2019 20:44

I just read it as them saying they haven't been to uni. It is not them pretending to have a degree.

Same BlackSatinDancer

I do have a degree & I don’t find people saying it demeaning.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 27/03/2019 20:45

YANBU

Too for anyone who uses it: graduates also went through life too.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 27/03/2019 20:46

*tip! Not too.

DixieLandReject · 27/03/2019 20:48

Reminds me of Gary from Men Behaving Badly, I can remember him saying something similar.

SandyY2K · 27/03/2019 20:49

It doesn't bother me tbh. I can't be getting worked up over a phrase that's basically saying, life experience.

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 27/03/2019 20:51

'School of hard knocks' = excluded and couldn't drum up a GCSE in wood whittling if they tried

'University of life' - thick as shit, still can't whittle wood and has dangerously alt right tendencies. Optional tattoos and shaved head, possible pierced ear, Millwall supporter.

genericusername44 · 27/03/2019 20:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Langrish · 27/03/2019 20:54

Conjures up Swiss Tony from The fast Show.

Planks, generally.

londonloves · 27/03/2019 20:55

Triggers my twatometer big time

HoundOfTheBasketballs · 27/03/2019 20:58

Men who put on the university section of their Tinder profile that they've graduated from the University of Life earn themselves an immediate swipe to the left. And that's coming from someone who didn't go to university herself. It smacks of having a massive chip on your shoulder.

clairemcnam · 27/03/2019 21:03

I have found it either means people with a chip on their shoulder OR people who have become very successful and have had to work their way up after leaving school at 16 with no qualifications. The latter is something to be proud of. And for the latter the answer is usually given if someone asks them what they studied at university/where they went.

TheSultanofPingu · 27/03/2019 21:03

It's a cringeworthy phrase, but to say it's demeaning to people who have or are studying for a degree is ridiculous.

Meandwinealone · 27/03/2019 21:05

Only dickheads say it

ivykaty44 · 27/03/2019 21:06

University of life' - thick as shit, still can't whittle wood and has dangerously alt right tendencies. Optional tattoos and shaved head, possible pierced ear, Millwall supporter.

I know to men in their late 60s early 70s that have both said this to me, they couldn’t be any further from this description if they tried. Both actually are or seem very pleasant & intelligent

What different perceptions of people we all have from one small phrase

Malope · 27/03/2019 21:09

When I was doing a PDGE I came across so many people who claimed to be a teacher. Delighted to have someone I could pick the brains of, I would ask what they taught and get the reply, "life" with a sage nod.

When pressed about who this was taught to, never a straight answer and BLOODY HELL IT WOUND ME UP.

Malope · 27/03/2019 21:10

*PGDE.

Sorry. Slabfingers.

Kokapetl · 27/03/2019 21:15

I find it annoying too because of the implication that people who do go to (and work at) a university have no experience of life.

Rtmhwales · 27/03/2019 21:18

Men who put on the university section of their Tinder profile that they've graduated from the University of Life earn themselves an immediate swipe to the left.

This. A thousand times this. And if they say they went to the School of Hard Knocks. Nope. Bye.

SelkieRinnNaMara · 27/03/2019 21:23

Well, i wouldn't say it, but at about the age of 48 i finally felt, right, all of my experiences, i've learnt the lessons i was supposed to learn.. also, there are lots of things that really interest me and information is far from inaccessible. I think graduates who put too much stock in to being graduates probably hate the expression the most.