Other Chat DCC

**Neo Emolga** · 11-29-2016, 10:30 PM

I would NEVER say exams are easy. It was SUPER RARE for me to feel genuinely good about an exam after taking it, and usually it was only after I studied the bejezus about of it.

Also, typically I crashed and burned on the earlier exams/midterms before I figured out "oh, this is how they do exams, let me try this instead" and only THEN did I finally manage to get a handle on things and do better on the later exams. Still, it was a struggle to turn Ds into even just Bs and Cs.

Overall, my GPA was 3.1, which was pretty good considering the kinds of nightmares I had to endure.

**Chibi Altaria** · 11-30-2016, 12:55 AM

You Americans make it sound like schooling is life and death. xD I've experienced exams both in Aussie and the States (albeit in the States it was more or less folios and art related) and while there was more studying involved in the US than here, I didn't think they were any harder. The stress is just what you put on yourself.

**Neo Emolga** · 11-30-2016, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by Lunar Latias

You Americans make it sound like schooling is life and death. xD I've experienced exams both in Aussie and the States (albeit in the States it was more or less folios and art related) and while there was more studying involved in the US than here, I didn't think they were any harder. The stress is just what you put on yourself.

Nah, stress is an American expectation. The Type A workaholic mentality is viewed very admirably in the States. Even in the workplace, you're surrounded by rules, deadlines, expectations, and stress. There's a good reason why so many people hate their jobs here. And many of these things could be so easily eliminated if the people on top were just a little bit more sympathetic, understanding, and compassionate.

The best leaders are the ones that know what it's like to be on the bottom. And those born into privilege are the worst simply because they don't know and understand their own people. There's a fine difference between a manager that worked their way up from the bottom and the one that got their role because they knew somebody high up who just gave it to them.

I absolutely LOATHE the phrase "it's not what you know, it's who you know." People putting this into practice and making that their credo is why this country has so many problems with leadership in so many places.

**Chibi Altaria** · 11-30-2016, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by Neo Emolga

Nah, stress is an American expectation. The Type A workaholic mentality is viewed very admirably in the States. Even in the workplace, you're surrounded by rules, deadlines, expectations, and stress. There's a good reason why so many people hate their jobs here. And many of these things could be so easily eliminated if the people on top were just a little bit more sympathetic, understanding, and compassionate.

The best leaders are the ones that know what it's like to be on the bottom. And those born into privilege are the worst simply because they don't know and understand their own people. There's a fine difference between a manager that worked their way up from the bottom and the one that got their role because they knew somebody high up who just gave it to them.

I absolutely LOATHE the phrase "it's not what you know, it's who you know." People putting this into practice and making that their credo is why this country has so many problems with leadership in so many places.

Oh well see, I'm the type who (when I have a deadline) works pretty damn hard towards it. Of course, yeah, that creates a lot of unnecessary stress. And it might make the end result seem easier, but there's a lot of mental breakdowns that happen in between. xD I know a lot of people who run businesses aren't overly sympathetic, though. And part of me agrees that they shouldn't have to be all the time, in order to run it successfully. But the other part of me knows what it's like to be dooooooown at the bottom of the food chain and can empathise with that.

I'm with you, though. I HATE it with a passion every time someone tells me "it's who who know". That's damn well not true. I worked very hard to end up with the skills and degrees that I have, and there's no way I am seeing all that effort go to waste. It saddens me to think a lot of talented, hardworking people are going unnoticed because they don't know anyone in their industry. I'm at the point in my life, though, that it has become about who I know. I'm sadly stuck in limbo because I don't really know anyone, my current job sucks (and is going nowhere) and not teaching me a thing.

Australia's not any better. xD

AD · 11-30-2016, 05:21 AM

America the Stressful: burying our anxieties in french fries and Big Mac's since the 50's

**Chakramaster** · 12-03-2016, 01:58 PM

It really seems every country has its thing everyone from around the world laughs at and makes fun of. While it's funny for some it may not be for others. Some can really take a joke, but others can't. Same goes with politics, but let's not go there xD

**Bulbasaur** · 12-03-2016, 02:01 PM

I read something somewhere about how the American suicide rate is higher than other countries whose culture is based on putting yourself before others. In America we often put others before ourselves, which causes more stress. Just an interesting piece I found.

**Neo Emolga** · 12-03-2016, 03:49 PM

Yeah, it ties with the whole "nice guys finish last" thing. Unfortunately, always putting other people first tells them you always come second. It has to strike a good balance where it's fine to sometimes give them the first opportunity, but other times, you've got to stand up for yourself and get your fair share.