UO 12/14

silverhope · December 2017

Image: https://media.giphy.com/media/rXAHxMYfjPIYg/giphy.gif

I don't see this posted yet and it's Thurs, so...here it is.

gildah · December 2017

I hate GOT. I think it’s a well made show, but the level of violence is way too much for me. I can’t watch it. Now I’m going to hide from all of you.

silverhope · December 2017

I think to get an advanced degree (master's, PhD, etc.), you should have to take some sort of standardized test like you do for a lot of other professional accreditations (like engineers, lawyers, and medical doctors) on top of defending your thesis/dissertation/what-have-you. I get that a standardized test would be more challenging since you are specializing in a specific area of study, but I'm sure academia can figure it out.

@gildah I am still trying to read the first 5 books, so I haven't watched an episode and have somehow avoided all spoilers...hoping to keep that up until I finish the books. I also don't love watching bloodshed (unless it's cheesy fake), so not sure how I'm gonna handle the show.

sparklingdiamond · December 2017

@gildah We just started watching season 1 and yea....it's pretty much all a bunch of naked people and blood. Always makes me think of Dwight from the Office when he was talking about it. "Yes...there is a lot of nudity...which I fast forward through to get to the violent parts."

mamaimmoos · December 2017

@gildah no need to hide! It’s definitely not for everyone. My husband even refuses to watch it with me. Which just means I get to watch most of “my” tv alone because outside of GOT and Vikings (all you GOT fans that need a filler...) I watch trash reality tv like vanderpump rules and real housewives

mileswithmyles · December 2017

@gildah I can't get into it either.

suchaglencoco · December 2017

DH is also not a GoT fan, which is fine by me! Sometimes I like having shows with him and other times I don't want his commentary.

My UO is I love things like Santa and the Easter Bunny. I've seen and lot of anti-Santa posts and articles on my social media lately so it made me question why I want to do it so bad while others are the complete opposite.
We had no major problems with Santa or anything like that growing up. And we didn't have a lot of money back then either. We never compared what Santa got us to what our parents got us. We were taught some kids wouldn't have as nice of a Christmas as us so we shouldn't brag. And we never had Santa used against us like "he won't bring you gifts if you're naughty". And that's the route we're choosing to take with Santa.
I think some people go overboard with it all and that's cool. And some won't celebrate him at all and that's cool too. As for me, I just want our kids to have these couple of years filled with magic and fun before they're too old for it. And I want them to have the types of memories we had growing up. AND I want to eat the cookies we set out.

silverhope · December 2017

@suchaglencoco I like Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, etc. too. However, I remember that after I 100% found out that Santa wasn't real, I was pissed my parents kept the charade up for so long and I swore I would never lie to my future children like that. But now that I am an adult, I think it's super cute and I'm sorry future children, but I am duping you too.

I think Elf on the Shelf sounds like such a waste of energy/time though. I am so annoyed that that thing came out and I am going to have to do that for my kids or they will feel left out

suchaglencoco · December 2017

@silverhope, I was never mad because my brothers told me to keep pretending so we'd keep getting "more presents". So that took the sting off of it at 5, ha. Now looking back, clearly we never got more, they were just divided.
In regards to that Elf, I was hoping it would die down before my kids were old enough to understand. It's still overwhelmingly obnoxious how not over it is. My nephews watch the movie about it every year, it has outfits and pets, they have clothing of it. Just.... ugh. Over it.

mmb4532 · December 2017

My UO is also a rant today.

I have always had an ample backside, but this pregnancy is making my ass even larger. Like huge and not J Lo huge in a good way.

I hate when people tell me how lucky I am to have a huge butt. No I'm not, I have to buy jeans a size larger and all pants are tight because of it, even wide legged pants, sweatpants, yoga pants, and leggings always see through because of it.

Rant/UO over.

nanifrog · December 2017

@silverhope, to get an advanced degree you typically take the SAT to get into undergrad and the GRE to get into grad school. What do you think another standardized test would accomplish?

lincbeesmom · December 2017

nanifrog said:

@silverhope, to get an advanced degree you typically take the SAT to get into undergrad and the GRE to get into grad school. What do you think another standardized test would accomplish?

thats what I was thinking...I’m confused

cups4 · December 2017

Or more specifically, what degrees do you want another test in? I had to take the praxis in my state in history to get into my masters in education program because that was my chosen specialty.

Ceridwen77 · December 2017

I’m glad someone is asking for clarification on the advanced degree thing...I had to take the GMAT to get into a school to get my MBA.

silverhope · December 2017

I mean a test specific to the area of study you are getting an advanced degree in. Like if you are getting your master's in art history, you would take an exam at the end specifically focused on art history. Standardized in the sense that everyone going to grad school for art history takes the same test (regardless of university) to have accreditation in that field. (Although I realize one's field of study can be extremely specialized. I know someone who wrote her dissertation on differing architectural door styles across the world.)

The GMAT and GRE are more generic (and are done to get into school, not upon completion), so I think it makes sense to have an exam specific to the field of study you are getting your advanced degree in. The same as you do for engineering or as a lawyer or medical doctor. There are tests required to have a professional license in those fields. Maybe the difference is that an advanced degree isn't the same as a professional license? So that's why they don't have exams?

It just doesn't make sense to me that some fields of study require standardized tests in order for you to practice them professionally and others don't.

BertieMeetsGertie · December 2017

@silverhope the majority of masters and doctoral programs require students to take a comprehensive exam (comps). If the student doesn’t pass this exam, he or she cannot move onto thesis or dissertation stage. Thus, one cannot graduate unless they’ve passed their comps AND these/dissertation defense.

silverhope · December 2017

@BertieMeetsGertie Hm, I guess my friend's PhD program is different bc for her comps she is defending her paper/research idea, not taking an exam.

So this UO stemmed from me reading and editing her 50 page paper (and every time she edits it) for the past month to prepare for her comps. I was thinking how it would be a lot easier (for me) if she took a test and I didn't have to read her 50 page paper. I guess every school does it differently.

crazyliblady · December 2017

@silverhope My dad always said "Santa is just as real as I am." That's the line I'm using with my kids.

holli0801 · December 2017

I think I had plenty of tests in grad school to prove I knew what I was doing, I don’t see why another would be needed... but I also did have a professional licensure exam...

im torn about Santa. I like the idea of magic and imagination... I don’t love the naughty and nice list and the idea of threatening to give or take away material items... we are very minimal when it comes to gifts though, and don’t say any are from Santa. I’m sure there will be more questions when he is older...

i guess my UO is while I love the decorating, baking, movies, family time elements of the holidays, gift-giving is so over-rated. I get my kid what he needs everyday... and stuff he wants often. If I see something I think someone I love would like, I get it. But to just come up with gifts for everyone bc it’s Christmas is just stressful and empty, IMO...

tincupchalice · December 2017

We do santa, but not easter bunny and I doubt we'll do tooth fairy or anything. Santa doesn't do the nice/naughty thing for us though.

ivyvines6 · December 2017

I grew up in an ultra conservative household and Christmas was about JESUS! I was always jealous of other kids I knew who’s parents taught them about Santa because I felt really left out. We’re doing Santa with J, but the entire idea of naughty vs nice lists doesn’t jibe well for us. It’s more of a cutesy tradition and we’re not over the top kind of people.

I do think it’s important to give smaller presents from Santa though. I read an article about a mom asking parents to do that to help maintain the illusion that Santa gives the same to all children, even the ones who’s parents have less money. So J is getting puzzles from Santa and he’ll know everything else is from us. (We get all the glory of the awesome gifts hahahahahaha)

Easter is a little more of a weird deal
for us because we are not religious, and I don’t see the purpose of making a big deal out of it? Hide eggs? Yep. Create elaborate ways to maintain the illusion of a bunny that has nothing to do with the actual “holiday” in the sense it’s celebrated? Why??? Eostre was not celebrated by children... That’s my mini rant I guess?

I don’t know enough about college level courses to really have an opinion, but I can’t fathom a way to make that make any sense for philosophy or dance history???

ivyvines6 · December 2017

mmb4532 said:

My UO is also a rant today.

I have always had an ample backside, but this pregnancy is making my ass even larger. Like huge and not J Lo huge in a good way.

I hate when people tell me how lucky I am to have a huge butt. No I'm not, I have to buy jeans a size larger and all pants are tight because of it, even wide legged pants, sweatpants, yoga pants, and leggings always see through because of it.

Rant/UO over.

Same thing with big boobs. I even fell into that trap as a young adult. Now I long for the days I could wear a button up without a safety pin.

ivyvines6 · December 2017

silverhope said:
I think Elf on the Shelf sounds like such a waste of energy/time though. I am so annoyed that that thing came out and I am going to have to do that for my kids or they will feel left out

Nope. I’m not doing that. It’s too creepy and I’m not getting my kids used to the idea of constant surveillance early... I’m behind the idea that elf on the shelf is promoting a big brother type of state early. I’m kidding... (I’m absolutely not joking)

tincupchalice · December 2017

Santa gives the big present here. Among other reasons, because I'm not wrapping that shit (santa doesn't wrap presents in our house).

nanifrog · December 2017

@silverhope a standardized test to complete an advanced degree is not feasible or valuable. There are not enough people on the planet who specialized in my research area to even create a standardized test. So yes, there are elements of a PhD that are objective. It's generally less so for a master's. You need to tell your friend You don't want to edit her paper. I can't imagine asking someone to repeatedly edit my comps. Particularly if they're not even in the field.

dem068a · December 2017

I guess unpopular here, but we are doing elf on the shelf with my almost 2 year old this year. I basically just move the elf from one place he can’t reach to another ever night, and he has a lot of fun looking for the elf every morning. It adds to the fun of Christmas for us. I don’t do any of the crazy/Pinterest worth scenarios for the elf (she just sits or hangs from somewhere), but I think if you are creative enough (and actually like doing it), good for you! I also will likely use the elf and Santa as incentives for good behavior. My friend tells her 3 year old that she is going to call Santa every night after putting her to bed, and it has changed bedtime from a fight to a right to bed situation. I personally don’t see the harm

silverhope · December 2017

@nanifrog yea, I’m not even remotely in her field, but she likes outsiders to check her papers to make sure we can understand the topic and that the grammar/spelling/word choice is correct. She has me and one other friend read them...since her grad school days. But you’re right and I should grow a spine and stop reading them.

She is expected to graduate in May, so I should have a pretty good excuse not to read/review her final research at 9 months pregnant.

And yea, you and @ ivyvines6 have some examples of degrees that are challenging to test in an exam setting. No point if the standardized exams wouldn’t add value.

thunderberry · December 2017

@silverhope haaaaate elf on the shelf. I hate that it's basically just a marketing plot disguising itself as a "tradition", I hate the weird spying thing, and I hate the enforcement of the idea that good behavior = presents. There's no way I'm doing it. I'm hoping with my kids going to French school they won't feel left out but if so maybe I'll have to come up with some sort of alternative thing I can say we do instead because there's no way I'm buying that creepy bugger!

cups4 · December 2017

Nope. No elf. I also would rather come up with a better plan to discipline my kids than a holiday "tradition." I say that now, not having too many discipline issues, but it's just not my style. I want my kids to be scared of me, not an Elf or Santa lol.

We still don't have a plan for Christmas or presents. I guess we will just split it up later on. He's almost 3, and has been to visit Santa, but we've never brought up that Santa brings gifts or comes to our house. Not by any conscious choice, just never had to bring him up I guess other than seeing a movie/show or taking a picture at the mall. I think it's worked out pretty well for us, he actually sat with Santa and was excited and not scared.

gildah · December 2017

@silverhope Your friend sounds like an energy vampire. She doesn’t seem to understand boundaries. Her thesis is her problem!

theletlers · December 2017

We talk about Santa and go see him and watch Christmas movies with him in it. But this year the only thing DS asked for is a bell. He wants a bell like in Polar Express. I have zero issue wrapping up a bell and saying that Santa brought it. But we haven't had to dive into the Elf on the Shelf thing. He doesn't know it exists and we have never brought it up to him. I think they are sort of creepy myself.
I think my opinion on the exams for masters/PhD programs etc. would be that most things that don't have some sort of licensure exam are because they don't need one. But I get the annoyance with a friend asking too much on the comps papers. I guess my bigger problem would be with how certain professions take an exam and then don't have to continue keeping up with that field. They took their exam, got their license and never have to do other courses to stay current with their field. I've known people who have doctors that are still practicing medicine but have very outdated methods or recommend medication that isn't the most effective. And a lawyer who took her BAR exam and then went ten years before practicing. But teachers have so many training days and seems like they constantly have to keep learning how to teach. I feel like some training to stay current with newer technology and school standards is good. But I think other professions should also have to stay current with the times too.

ivyvines6 · December 2017

@theletlers I definitely agree about doctors. Even if they were required to take a recertification exam every five years I would feel better about putting my trust in their care.

sandbar517 · December 2017

I work in the medical field, and I can vouch for the fact that continuing education is a huge part of maintaining your professional license. What I can't vouch for is how that continuing education is monitored and run, or how the doctors use the education they get. But yes, it is definitely required that pretty much anyone with a medical license of any kind have so many continuing education credits per year or licensing renewal period.

loko08 · December 2017

We're doing Santa, but we're not going to do the naughty/nice thing. I think that's kind of creepy.

Big no to elf on the shelf. That sounds like a headache and a disaster waiting to happen. If our kids ask why we don't do it, I'll say he didn't pass the background check.

My UO is that I think it's ridiculous when parents hand out ear plugs/goody bags to other passengers on flights in case their baby/kid cries. Kids cry. Adults can get the hell over it.

bwow615 · December 2017

@loko08 did the George Clooney story irk you?

tincupchalice · December 2017

Yeah, hell no to goody bags for other people. Parents travelling with small children have it way worse than randos on a flight with small children.

gildah · December 2017

@loko08 I don’t enjoy being around unruly kids, but this new sense of entitlement that people have about the need to never be bothered is ridiculous. If you can’t deal with a kid crying, don’t leave your house! Stay at home and be a hermit. That being said, parents should teach kids to be polite etc. I’m not saying we don’t have that responsibility, but yeah, babies cry and you can’t do a darn thing about it, so get over yourselves people! I get especially annoyed by pissy travelers. You’re flying across the country in a comfy chair with food service and a bathroom. Its not ideal, but have you seen how people from poor nations travel? Suck it up buttercup!!!!

gildah · December 2017

Perspective

loko08 · December 2017

@bwow615 oh man did that trigger me!

I'd rather spend my money on things to distract my kid while traveling than to ease the comfort of another adult in that situation.

mileswithmyles · December 2017

I’ve been on a few flights with DS and many without. The two times I’ve been upset was when the parents were ignoring bad behavior and not doing anything to stop it. I had my seat kicked for an entire five hour flight. And for a two hour flight, a five year old behind me was screaming for her mom to play with her and was being ignored.

We are taking a flight flight with DS tomorrow. I’m stocked with toys and snacks for him and keeping my fingers crossed he is okay.

tincupchalice · December 2017

The only time I've judged parents and flights is when these parents sent their 5 year old unaccompanied on a flight from Seattle to Hawaii and packed nothing but candy. Everyone was side eyeing us, but NOT OUR KID OMG.

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