I should be more clear in my snarkings

[maevele]

Most of the people who responded to my wtf about the education level question on the wiscon survey thought my problem was that it was irrelevant (it was in the demographic section where you expect those types of things) or the awkward phrasing. Nope. My problem, s that usually when the education level demographic question comes up, one of the options is "did not complete high school." This option was not available. I was not offended, but just lightly "wut?" over the assumption that there were no dropouts who would attend wiscon, and the "high school" option didn't even include the usual "or equivalent."

This is why I am usually not out about my dropout status, and tend to remove myself to the bathroom when people start talking about their education.

Comments

[emilytheslayer.livejournal.com]

I figured that was it, yeah. It's a silly assumption, especially considering that I wouldn't be surprised if some of the teenagers who attend would like to have their voices heard as well.

[likeawoman.livejournal.com]

my dad didn't finish, or actually even attend, high school and (in spite of his many foibles) he is one of the smartest people I know.

being rendered invisible fucking sucks.

[voz-latina.livejournal.com]

I am a HS dropout, too.

[cumaeansibyl.livejournal.com]

That's what I thought it was, but I wasn't sure if maybe I was missing something even more obvious and weird.

Also, is Wiscon all-ages? Because, dropouts aside, there might be attendees who are still in high school.

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

I was offended, frankly, after you made it clear to me. There wasn't fucking even a space for "G.E.D." or ANYTHING.

[maevele.livejournal.com]

so it's not just me then? I thought I honestly may have been being oversensitive, and I'm totally in my post wiscon mental health crash, so i can't gauge my reactions.

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

I have a Master's Degree and I am offended by the cluelessness.

I admit that I come from a working class family, so I probably think about this stuff more, but it just seems like middle-class cluelessness and it really offends me.

[emilytheslayer.livejournal.com]

Definitely not just you. They're trying to be accepting and open but that's a major bias they aren't seeing.

[emzebel.livejournal.com]

Definitely not just you, now that you point it out. Although I am somewhat ashamed that my educationally privileged ass didn't even notice.

Ditto

[sofvckinghot.livejournal.com]

I assume everyone finished high school unless I'm told otherwise...never even thought about it. :/

[naomikritzer]

Heh. I assumed that was what had offended you, clicked on the comments, saw everyone WTF-ing about the grammar issues (which I had failed to even register) and got confused enough I decided just not to reply.

But yeah. There is clearly an assumption there that everyone who went to Wiscon finished high school. I'm almost a little surprised they mentioned the possibility of an AA, as this sort of mindset often forgets about the existence of associate's degrees.

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

You got me all worked up and I posted a complaint about it on the wiscon LJ community. Thanks for pointing it out; I hadn't taken the quiz yet and I'm not sure if I would have paid attention to that or not -- I'd like to think so, but I didn't notice it last year. Anyway, yeah. I have complained.

BEWARE THE MIGHTY COMPLAINER

[maevele.livejournal.com]

it hasn't shown up, but i am interested to see how it is received. athough i really wasn't trying to start any shit.

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

http://community.livejournal.com/wiscon/216223.html

I don't think I'm starting shit; I'm just pointing out the unintentional bias and asking them to correct it for next year, that's all.

[maevele.livejournal.com]

most diplomatic.

[sophy.livejournal.com]

I just wandered over here in my obsessive read-everything-about-wiscon quest, and you know - I skipped that question myself because it didn't have the "some college" option that most do. I did lots of college but never bothered to graduate, so I always like that option when it's available. You're right - it should have had more options to represent more people!

[maevele.livejournal.com]

i'm doing the read everything wisconny that i can thing too, and noticed in your journal you mentioned Kat Beyer, and wanting to read more of her stuff, and just havee to say she fricking rocks, and her short shots are here http://www.dailycabal.com/kat_beyer/ and more here http://www.katspaw.com/writing.html

she's currently in revision or the first book in her TRILOGY!! that has a publisher all waiting for it and stuff.

she's a good friend of mine, so it thrills me when someone discovers her work.

[sophy.livejournal.com]

That's great, thanks!
A friend of mine is in a writing group with her, so I got to tell her personally that I liked her work, which was super cool. I like when I get to do that, and I don't do it enough because I'm too shy.

I'd written down the dailycabal website somewhere in my notes, but now I can go right over there without having to sort through them all, so, yay! :)