Apparently, I live in America's dumbest city...

Big B

Big B

HWF Godfather
According to "Men's Health" magazine, the location of my review bunker, Fort Wayne, IN, is the stupidest city in the US. This is based on such things as people with doctorate degrees, nobel prize winners born within city limits, and other such intellectually-based categories. Okay, fine. Now let's expand the view a little more. The list of dumbest cities are in red states (which went to Bush). Many of the "smartest" cities were in blue states (which went to Kerry). For the record, I didn't vote for either, but anyway...

I know we had the title of fattest city in America at one point. However, this "dumbest city" seems to stink of political BS and uses meaningless categories. Saying you have a doctorate degree doesn't mean you're smart necessarily. It's like saying that because you don't have your MCSE, you can't work on computers. I've heard many admins talk about MCSE's that have trouble doing basic things on a computer, like changing out RAM, or setting up basic networking (like inputting an IP address). Sure, college is great. I want my doctor (who also happens to be the county coroner) to know what he's doing before trying to fix me up from whatever ails me when I see him. However, just because you have a doctorate or some other degree doesn't mean you're smart or have common sense or have a grasp on life. I've learned more outside of college than I did in it.
 
Sounds like "Men's Health" is hard up for copy.
It was a sobering moment for me when I realized that HALF the population has below mean intelligence. (Yeah, duh, that's a no brainer... but notice I'm not saying which half I'm in) ;)
 
Another thing they also factored in was the housing. They called it cheap houses, but they don't seem to recognize that the cost of living here is one of the lowest in the entire nation, so yes, in comparison with something like Boston, it may seem "cheap". But where's the connection to intelligence?
 
As a marketing ploy, making outrageous statements works. If they can hook your curiosity, anger, ego, etc. to get you to buy the magazine... (or call in to the talk show), they win. They don't have to be right, or even reasonable, they just have to SELL.

If you really want to move against stupid statements.... cancel your subscription and tell the publisher why.
 
Big B said:
...It's like saying that because you don't have your MCSE, you can't work on computers. I've heard many admins talk about MCSE's that have trouble doing basic things on a computer, like changing out RAM, or setting up basic networking (like inputting an IP address)...
Click to expand...
"...an A+ certification... ranks somewhere between tying your shoe laces and not choking to death on your drool in the universal spectrum of skills." --Maddox

I'll attest to what you've heard about MCSEs. I've trained quite a few of them as interns in the field, and... wow. Just wow. I'm not MCSE certified, so I can't even guess at what a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer has to know in order to achieve this cert (but it can't be too much). I had to babysit quite a few of them when they installed MS Office on client systems.
 
do50 said:
If you really want to move against stupid statements.... cancel your subscription and tell the publisher why.
Click to expand...

I don't have a subscription, but I did learn about this through the local paper, which even if there is a bias, I can't see either one going to this length. But, if I did, the editor would've gotten a piece of my mind.

As for MCSE's, I've heard another acronym for it: Must Call Someone Else
 
First off, I have an MCSE qualification and i'm only 19, but like any course or qualification you get ALOT of people that can complete it by merely reading and answering the questions, they don't HAVE to actually understand it.. just pass it..

When i took the MCSE, which i have to say is actually - i find a very good qualification to have, and i believe that it wasn't the easiest thing that everyone seems to make it out to be, and its unfortunate that so many people pass and yet still have the IT literacy of a salted snail.

However, before everyone carries on degrading this qualification, the same discussion could quite easily be tailored around the subject of any other qualification in any subject.

I don't know everything about computers, and i certainly don't know tones about Microsofts products because its a qualification that merely gets me a job interview.. and thats all. (like any qualification), you've all seen me, and you've all seen me post questions about seemingly basic and simple problems, but everyone has their moments, and im not afraid to show im having a bad day, or just dont know..

And i tell you what, having an MCSE at 19 is looked upon very highly :good:

- And no i didn't pay for it :) £1,532 at the time : \

And its not exactly like i'm lacking that much in IT knowledge..

The one thing i disagree with is people *no names* who buy constant new technology e.t.c - which is great, i do it all the time.. but at the same time atleast i understand the true factors of how the technology works.. or i make an effort to understand it.. and at the same time am always trying to advance my IT knowledge.

In the last year or so i've learnt: XHTML / DHTML / PHP / ASP / VB / Pascal / Delphi, i've become alot more familiar with linux, and have even built and installed my own partition of Gentoo Linux.

I'm constantly trying to develop my PHP, ASP & Database skills as these are the newest to me. I'd like to learn Binary / Hexidecimal programming off by heart like HTML and eventually would like to learn perl, coldfusion and C.

Amongst other things i'd like to learn more indepth knowledge of network communication and data architechture.

But as i said still got away to go :)
 
My intention was never to put down people who happen to have an MCSE, but the point is that paper certificates are just paper. Real-life knowledge is much more important. I personally have a few certs, some from MS and one from HP, but they've never actually landed me a position that I know of. The last two jobs I've aquired were both due to my Unix knowledge and field experience.
 
Anti-Trend said:
My intention was never to put down people who happen to have an MCSE, but the point is that paper certificates are just paper. Real-life knowledge is much more important. I personally have a few certs, some from MS and one from HP, but they've never actually landed me a position that I know of. The last two jobs I've aquired were both due to my Unix knowledge and field experience.
Click to expand...

I totally agree, but for me, being relatively new to getting experience in IT, having an MCSE at my age, and being able to show people in an interview that i can not only prove the rather limited skills an MCSE provides but alot more has allowed me a couple of good IT positions - nothing major but stuff that people struggle to get straight out of college, as they have no experience where as i can prove that i have.

As i've said before, i think i am lucky as i'm very open, overly chatty - a gd and bad thing, and at the same time have very good clear logical thought - most likely why i am good at IT or enjoy it so much.

Qualification wise, i'd like to get a Cisqo qualification in networking and perhaps Unix later on once i have more experience, and hopefully if i get the chance and i do goto Uni, i'll study for something completely different like psychology, medical or sport.
 
Funny you mention Psychology -- that's where all of my formal education is invested. :p Psychology with a focus on clinical counseling, actually. But I would encourage you to continue your education as far as possible while you are still young and relatively free of responsibility. Life experience is best, but that experience can be further enhanced by having a good foundation in a solid education. :)
 
Sounds good, i'm leaving you all slightly earlier than i previously suggested, i will infact be away from March sometime onwards, but definately 1st April (latest) onwards i'll be away working as a holiday rep :) - Come back October ish.

Although not IT experience it's life experience, which is what i need - perhaps later on in life i won't pursue a career in IT.. the dice might roll an odd number.. you never know ;) - We'll see how things go :good:
 
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