Literacy vs Illiteracy - rich or poor

[Classik]

My cousins are gradually coming home to us. (My snoring aunt just came unno ed) We need to pull down our house and build a bigger one...we need more space.

We Chatted all morning on many interesting topics. We talked about sports -aye, we talked about many things. Finally our conversation settled on: the rich and the poor in our planet. We talked about successful men and women; we talked about people who have failed. We spent a happy moment discusing LITERACY and ILLITERACY - the illiterate people and the literate people.

I have carefully looked into the lives of several people in our world today and have noticed that most of the wealthy and successful men and women are uneducated: i.e the people who never saw a chalkboard or a chalk or marker

I then asked a question: " Which is better, 'I am an illiterate billionaire - a very wealthy and successful man' or 'I am a poverty-stricken wretched well-educated person?'"

It was funny when I said it. We all laughed until we shed tears. I can't exhaust the chuckle.


It seems preposterous to say someone is well-educated and wretched at the same time. It is a possibility. At the same time it looks stupid to say 'an ultimate illiterate is a billionaire'.

But such people exist in the world today. I have seen poor doctors, dentists, lawyers, engineers, economists etc.

I have seen very wealthy illiterates. They can't solve 1+1. They tell you 1+1 = 11 (some musicians, footballers etc fall under this cathegory etc ...I'm sorry).


I see, honestly, there is sense in the saying:
*education isn't the true test of knowledge
* Not all people who went to school are rich
*Not all people who never went to school are poor etc

So, out of these two individuals highlighted in red above who would you choose?
I choose to be rich and uneducated.;) (And why schooling or working - except to make m..o..n..e..y)

But it is more painful when you are poor and uneducated; it is better when you are rich and educated.

 

[jasoncran]

i make more then my old friend who has bs in physics.he makes tarps for dump trucks of all sizes and only makes 8 per hr. he is real smart. but i make triple what he has and dont have half the education.

having a degree doesnt get you the job. it gets you the interview. his words not mine.

 

[Classik]

I think he is right.

I had this experience in a bottling company.

There were fresh engineers who couldn't do the practical work very well. But most of the peolpe who do not have a degree did very well in the practical areas. Practical experience runs a company - not degrees. (Though the combination of the two is quite excellent)

 

[jasoncran]

that has been said of the fish farming industry or reasearch.

you may know conk but if you cant run the business side, its gonna fail!

 

[for_his_glory]

I never did well in school by my own choice, but did learn to read, write and do basic math and somehow graduate. My husband quit school in 9th grade, but could barely read or write, but is wonderful in math. His earlier life was filled with drugs at the age of seven on up as this was his environment at home. He was always getting into trouble in school and later on with the law and eventually landed in jail where he taught himself how to read and write by making a chart of the alphabet and then reading the Bible he was given in jail. He has always been a self motivator to get ahead in life, but still has trouble reading and writing.

When we got married he joined a friend who owned a detail shop cleaning vehicles. In time they went into partnership and he basically ran the whole business and making some decent money until the partner stole from the business and we bought his half out. Unfortunately we closed the business as when the other guy stole all the money out of the account we could not pay our bills and rent on the building.

In saying all of this even though my husband could barely read or write he always held a good job and has always provided for him and me. Yes, it might have been better to go to school and on to college, but look at all these people who have gone to college and received degrees that can't even find a job because they have no practical skills other than book learning.

 

[Drummer4Christ]

Just out of curiosity, who specifically do you feel is "rich & illiterate"?

 

[reba]

Classik where the heck do you come up wiht all these crazy questions! :eeeekkk

 

[Classik]

Just out of curiosity, who specifically do you feel is "rich & illiterate"?

That is a christmas riddle!

It seems preposterous to say someone is well-educated and wretched at the same time. It is a possibility. At the same time it looks stupid to say 'an ultimate illiterate is a billionaire'.

But such people exist in the world today. I have seen poor doctors, dentists, lawyers, engineers, economists etc.

I have seen very wealthy illiterates. They can't solve 1+1. They tell you 1+1 = 11 (some musicians, footballers etc fall under this cathegory etc ...I'm sorry).


I see, honestly, there is sense in the saying:
*education isn't the true test of knowledge
* Not all people who went to school are rich
*Not all people who never went to school are poor etc

So, out of these two individuals highlighted in red above who would you choose?
I choose to be rich and uneducated.;) (And why schooling or working - except to make m..o..n..e..y)

But it is more painful when you are poor and uneducated; it is better when you are rich and educated.

 

[Classik]

Classik where the heck do you come up wiht all these crazy questions! :eeeekkk

My cousins

 

[Pebbles]

There is this problem in the uk. and it's a problem I'm part of, basically with the economic crash that occured the government here decided it can't pay pepoles pensions (as they were funded by the stock market) So they increased the retirement age in addition a huge number of pepole were demoted to lower positions as unemployment swept the country.

As a result there are no entry level jobs in qualified educated fields I have a 2:1 biology degree and I work depressed and unsatisfied in a supermarket. Even if I did a masters there isn't any guarentee of a job at the end of it.

however economic crashes always hurt the poor dispraporitionatly for the reason that there are plenty of what once were paid entry level jobs avalible as unpaid internships. Whitch those kids with wealthy parents can goto but are impossible for me to afford to goto especally when you factor in that the conversatives here in this country have pretty much turned all public transport into the plaything of the rich and ticket prices are unaffordibly expensive for most these days.

Personally I'd rather be stupid, and work in the job I'm currently in. because having intelligence just makes bordem and unfufillment that much more painful.

and no those who are wealthiest in socioty don't deserve it nor are they special dispite what they tell you anyone could do the job of a banker. If you gave me a million pounds for free and I sold it at 5% intrest to other parties then yeah I'd be a billionaire within a year or so too.

 

[reba]

I never did well in school by my own choice, but did learn to read, write and do basic math and somehow graduate. My husband quit school in 9th grade, but could barely read or write, but is wonderful in math. His earlier life was filled with drugs at the age of seven on up as this was his environment at home. He was always getting into trouble in school and later on with the law and eventually landed in jail where he taught himself how to read and write by making a chart of the alphabet and then reading the Bible he was given in jail. He has always been a self motivator to get ahead in life, but still has trouble reading and writing.

When we got married he joined a friend who owned a detail shop cleaning vehicles. In time they went into partnership and he basically ran the whole business and making some decent money until the partner stole from the business and we bought his half out. Unfortunately we closed the business as when the other guy stole all the money out of the account we could not pay our bills and rent on the building.

In saying all of this even though my husband could barely read or write he always held a good job and has always provided for him and me. Yes, it might have been better to go to school and on to college, but look at all these people who have gone to college and received degrees that can't even find a job because they have no practical skills other than book learning.

WOW Nice to hear about how folks overcome the bad situations we can find ourselves in. There is a lot in your post more than the quick eye will see. Thanks for the very basic and deep encouragement.

 

[yoamocuy]

I then asked a question: " Which is better, 'I am an illiterate billionaire - a very wealthy and successful man' or 'I am a poverty-stricken wretched well-educated person?'"

I think its a bit unfair to equate wealth with success and poverty with wretchedness considering the question. Just because one is wealthy does not mean he is successful unless we are all agreeing that monetary value is what determines success. Similarly, poverty does not determine whether or not one is wretched. I'm not trying to split hairs here or anything but I think it is an important distinction to make because if that distinction is not made then the question already assumes one who is poor can't be happy.

To address the question itself, I think either situation could be desirable depending on the variables. If one is poverty-stricken but educated in a field such as philosophy, then the state of financial well-being is probably not too important to that person's well being. In such a case, I imagine one would rather be poor and retain the knowledge that he has rather than give up that knowledge for financial abundance. Socrates alludes to this lack of desire for financial security in Plato's Republic. On the other end of the spectrum, one can always obtain knowledge whereas one cannot always obtain wealth so perhaps it is better for some to be uneducated and wealthy than educated and poverty-stricken? However, just because one has the ability to be educated does not necessarily mean that he will take advantage of that opportunity. I guess in all of this, it is difficult to say it is always better for one situation or the other.

I'm not a philosophy major so please don't think that I assume only philosophy majors would rather be educated and poor than uneducated and rich. Personally, I would rather be educated and poverty-stricken than uneducated and rich because wealth doesn't mean much to me. Now, in a sense, it is somewhat unfair for me to make that claim because I have never lacked necessities in my life. My family has never been well off. Although we have lived below the poverty line for many years, I have never lacked necessities such as food or shelter.

 

[Classik]

WOW Nice to hear about how folks overcome the bad situations we can find ourselves in. There is a lot in your post more than the quick eye will see. Thanks for the very basic and deep encouragement.

Good observation. Perhaps your eyes are quite bigger than ours.

 

[Classik]

I think its a bit unfair to equate wealth with success and poverty with wretchedness considering the question. Just because one is wealthy does not mean he is successful unless we are all agreeing that monetary value is what determines success. Similarly, poverty does not determine whether or not one is wretched.

(I was actually limiting it to the two individuals involved.)


It was a family chat and we wanted to know how we'd react towards the two (made) individual in red. We wanted to know what each perosn would say or choose.

Good observation

 

[Classik]

Thanks again yoamocuy.


I remember what my pastor always says. He says: A time shall come when money will disapppoint the world. Money will not give the world peace. I have seen very poor people who are full of peace and happiness. I have also seen some very rich people who have not tasted peace before.

 

[Davies]

I then asked a question: " Which is better, 'I am an illiterate billionaire - a very wealthy and successful man' or 'I am a poverty-stricken wretched well-educated person?'"

Classik,

I would choose to be the poverty-stricken wretch who was well-educated. Knowing what I know now, it's a matter of knowing how to be content whether you are are poor or rich. I think a person who is rich and uneducated can be just as miserable as the person who is poor and uneducated. Perhaps the difference between the two is the rich man's flesh (sin) nature is fed, and the poor man's flesh is not. I would think it would be easier for the poor man to come to faith in Jesus than the rich because he has nothing to rely on, much less than the rich man. Somebody could say one's education could get in the way too. Smart people tend to be prideful.

- Davies

 

[Classik]

I then asked a question: " Which is better, 'I am an illiterate billionaire - a very wealthy and successful man' or 'I am a poverty-stricken wretched well-educated person?'"

Classik,

I would choose to be the poverty-stricken wretch who was well-educated. Knowing what I know now, it's a matter of knowing how to be content whether you are are poor or rich. I think a person who is rich and uneducated can be just as miserable as the person who is poor and uneducated. Perhaps the difference between the two is the rich man's flesh (sin) nature is fed, and the poor man's flesh is not. I would think it would be easier for the poor man to come to faith in Jesus than the rich because he has nothing to rely on, much less than the rich man. Somebody could say one's education could get in the way too. Smart people tend to be prideful.

- Davies

Fantastic!
You have a lovely response.

Your post reminds me of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

 

[Classik]

Classik,

I would choose to be the poverty-stricken wretch who was well-educated. Knowing what I know now, it's a matter of knowing how to be content whether you are are poor or rich. I think a person who is rich and uneducated can be just as miserable as the person who is poor and uneducated. Perhaps the difference between the two is the rich man's flesh (sin) nature is fed, and the poor man's flesh is not. I would think it would be easier for the poor man to come to faith in Jesus than the rich because he has nothing to rely on, much less than the rich man. Somebody could say one's education could get in the way too. Smart people tend to be prideful.

- Davies

Fantastic!
You have a lovely response.

Your post reminds me of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

The Rich Man vs Lazarus.

In this case I'd choose Lazaruz. He was with God (and not that the followers of God are poor - NO), he had a perfect end. The Rich Man had a miserable end.

However, assuming that God was not involved in the life of Lazarus (say the two are ordinary people in the world today)...I will choose the Rich Man;)

 

[Classik]

The Rich Man vs Lazarus.

In this case I'd choose Lazaruz. He was with God (and not that the followers of God are poor - NO), he had a perfect end. The Rich Man had a miserable end.

However, assuming that God was not involved in the life of Lazarus (say the two are ordinary people in the world today)...I will choose the Rich Man;)

Frankly speaking, the case ot the Rich Man and Lazarus is a horrible example.

 

[Davies]

However, assuming that God was not involved in the life of Lazarus (say the two are ordinary people in the world today)...I will choose the Rich Man;)

Doesn't that sum up how society looks at life. In the pursuit of happiness, what the world presumes is happiness, people loose their souls. Judas' price was thirty pieces of silver.

- Davies