No, I can't respect people like Ingvar Kamprad. Kamprad grew up on a farm, poor, and used to buy and then resell matches on the street. I mean, he founded IKEA and is now one of the richest people in the world, but, whoa, he didn't go to college. What a loser.

Bill Gates got into a college, but he's a dropout, so technically also a loser.



OP, you are ridiculous.

The entertainment industry actually encourages this. It's probably much rarer to find an entertainer (actor, musician) that has completed a college degree (much less any advanced degrees) than to find one who dropped out of high school or college in order to pursue a career in acting or music.

It's next to impossible, for example, for women to enter the entertainment business at 22 or 23. They will be competing with actresses who have been on the scene since their early teens, who already have an extensive portfolio, etc.

Anonymous wrote:I respect people who manage to get paid well without college. I wish I could have done that.

THIS.

Anonymous wrote:Most people don't have a college degree. If a person works hard and achieves success, then I have respect for them. If a person has success handed to them and acts like an entitled fool (Charlie Sheen), then I have no respect. The existence of a college degree does not affect my opinion.

But Charlie Sheen doesn't have a college degree. He didn't even finish high school!

My electrician didn't go to college. Should I not respect him, even though he does excellent work? My child's preschool teacher last year didn't go to college, but is a truly gifted preschool teacher. Should I not respect her either?

I cannot think of a single celebrity that I hold in particularly high regard. I don't mean I dislike them -- I just don't generally think of celebrities that way. I barely think of celebrities at all.

Anonymous wrote:Of course I could respect some of them. Many brilliant, highly achieving people didn't get a college degree. In some ways, it makes them more brilliant.

College degrees are pretty much meaningless these days.

I concur with your first line. But your assertion that a college degree is "meaningless" is a bit much.

A person with a degree doesn't earn my respect, regardless of profession. A learned person does. But there are many ways to become that.

Most people don't have a college degree. If a person works hard and achieves success, then I have respect for them. If a person has success handed to them and acts like an entitled fool (Charlie Sheen), then I have no respect. The existence of a college degree does not affect my opinion.

Here are some CEOs without college degrees (including Richard Branson and Bill Gates):

http://www.bloomberg.com/ss/09/05/0522_no_college_ceos/1.htm

Do you respect them?

I respect people who manage to get paid well without college. I wish I could have done that.

As long as they stick to their art, as opposed to mouthing off about how to solve the world's most pressing problems.

Of course I could respect some of them. Many brilliant, highly achieving people didn't get a college degree. In some ways, it makes them more brilliant.

College degrees are pretty much meaningless these days.

even worse that educated people think they walk on water. who cares what they did or didn't do, I am not star struck so I might be different and teach my kids to not worship people no matter what they do.

Some in Hollywood get all the limelight even though they never went to college (a few are even high school dropouts).

Curious as to your thoughts.