To hate the expression "University of Life"

[cantonwanton]

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.

YANBU, I really dislike that and 'School of Hard Knocks'.

By virtue of being alive, everyone has attended the University of Life. Equally so, everyone will have encountered tough situations in their life that they had to deal with.

I always think that people who use it to describe themselves are knobheads.

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,

Don't be silly. They're not pretending to have a degree.

"School of hard knocks" is similar.

It's just an expression.

I identify with the expression and im not as thick as shit 🤔
But some people probably do just say it without having learnt a thing since they were 18. Lots of graduates haven't learnt anything or matured or grown since they were 21.

I think you're being a bit classist TBH OP. It's a WC expression, really, and not said to deceive. It's a bit defensive, if anything.

I have to say it's somewhat ironic that the people I know who've said it are the ones who have the most limited of life experiences barely wishing to leave the town they live in no matter how briefly. Literally one person I know who has said it lives in Wales and has been to England twice, twice! It's like 15 miles from the border!

I see it on the dating sites!
It's usually not the brightest people who come up with it ...

It's an empathetic crowd in tonight

I think you've all overdosed on FB.

Oh give over. Is it really worth getting wound up about, surely no one actually takes it literally?

Agree with PP that it's probably said defensively if anything, and given the snooty responses on this thread I don't blame them! Having a degree doesn't make you special either.

Yes exactly! The people who say it are often left with a feeling that they do need to explain why they haven't been to university. I have said it a couple of times (it was never something i got in to the habit of saying regularly though) and usually I said it because Graduates, educated people, lacked the empathy or lacked the kindness to avoid putting me in an awkward position. On several ocassions I was 'encouraged' to explain why I never got a degree.
I never dreamt of volleying it back, implying that they had achieved what they achieved out of privilege.

It is definitely not demeaning those who have a degree. It is owing the fact that your life took a different path. People don't want to hear all of your regrets and explanations. They want you to accept your own reality.

*owNing

I like it.

As in: it's shorthand for "I've a massive chip on my shoulder and you're best off avoiding me". And I like efficient shorthands.

I've had a client who insisted on using it. In his case, what it actually meant was "I've a massive chip on my shoulder and I thoroughly enjoy making you run photocopies for me at a bill rate of 500/hr because I've bought you despite your fancy degree". His boss was somewhat less inclined towards financing this kind of self-indulgent behaviour. Got himself disciplined.

I work full time btw but I think "university of life" comes from the same sort of place that full time mum comes from.

I dont feel my mothering is demeaned by mothers who say they are full time mums. If they weren't regularly asked what they do and made to feel that it is not enough then they wouldnt trip themselves up with just a mum/full time mum defenses.

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

I agree. I had to wait till my three DC had been to uni before I could go uni and get my own degree and I worked bloody hard to get that degree. You either went ti university or you didn't. There is no university of life.

What’s wrong with just saying, “no, I didn’t go to university”.

I also hate 'qualified by experience' which really means, unqualified!

If someone told me they didn’t go to university, I wouldn’t judge them.

If someone told me they went to the ‘University of Life’ or worse, ‘School of Hard Knocks’ I will form opinions on your intelligence. Apologies if that’s unfair, but my experience of ‘University of Lifers’ has not been pleasant.

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

I agree. I had to wait till my three DC had been to uni before I could go uni and get my own degree and I worked bloody hard to get that degree. You either went ti university or you didn't. There is no university of life.

Why does other people's insecurity make you feel cross rather than compassionate, though?

@SelkieRinnNaMara ah see I disagree, I do find full time mum insulting, I work full time but it doesn't make me (or my mother for that matter) a part time mum. Maybe that's just my own insecurities 😂

It seems to be normally born of sour grapes but is it better than claiming to be an autodidact?

Ime the people I hear say it most often are those around the bar I work in, usually before or following a dig at me because I went to university...either I'm judging them because I'm more intelligent or I got the paper but means nothing IRL because I now work PT in a bar.

I just smile and let them get on, silently thinking what a dick they are...

What are people supposed to say! I know myself that when I've said "no, i didn't go to university" there's awkwardness, for me. Even though I might be thinking of all the things that wouldnt have happened if id gone to university.

Those who hate the expression havent experience the fact that sometimes it's like you're up on trial! WHY didn't you go!!

I have no sour grapes. No chip.

I could go and get a degree and i havent ruled it out. If i do it will be for its own reward though. For the knowledge and growth more than for the degree. But then, it is philosophy i want to learn more about!

My husband didn't go to university and he thinks the saying is cringeworthy, just asked him and he said he's been asked sometimes and he replies with "no" I asked if he feels awkward, he says no...not sure why anyone would feel awkward about being asked if they have no insecurity over it. People often ask me if DH went I smugly say no, it's awesome he's got a career without student debt, I'm relieved only one of us is saddled with that.

So the consensus from here seems to be,

Older, working class, not really had much experience beyond their own little town, chip on shoulder.... shall I add likely to be brexiteers?

shall I add likely to be brexiteers?

Some of us are trying to distract ourselves from the live coverage here

The saying has been around for years though. Long before going to university was so commonplace.
I wonder if people have always been so offended by it. Probably not.