Law School

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

As far as whether it sounds pretentious, my point was that it can still SOUND pretentious to people even if you don't SAY it pretentiously. The fact that you are saying that you are going to law school sometimes makes people think you are being "snooty" or something.

I understand your point. I just don't think it's a well-taken point.

In a circumstance like you described, where you specifically said it was not said pretentiously but people think you are being snooty, the problem is not that the statement sounds pretentious, but rather that it is perceived as being pretentious. There is a difference -- the same difference as between something being implied and inferred. If it sounds pretentious, then a hearer is being reasonable in assigning pretentiousness to the speaker. If it is said in an unpretentious manner but is nevertheless perceived as pretentious, then a hearer is not reasonable in assigning pretentiousness to the speaker.

In other words, if you tell people you're going to law school in a way that sounds pretentious, it's your problem. If you don't sound pretentious but they perceive pretentiousness anyway, it's their problem.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I understand your point. I just don't think it's a well-taken point.

In a circumstance like you described, where you specifically said it was not said pretentiously but people think you are being snooty, the problem is not that the statement sounds pretentious, but rather that it is perceived as being pretentious. There is a difference -- the same difference as between something being implied and inferred. If it sounds pretentious, then a hearer is being reasonable in assigning pretentiousness to the speaker. If it is said in an unpretentious manner but is nevertheless perceived as pretentious, then a hearer is not reasonable in assigning pretentiousness to the speaker.

In other words, if you tell people you're going to law school in a way that sounds pretentious, it's your problem. If you don't sound pretentious but they perceive pretentiousness anyway, it's their problem.

I would not expect my point to be well-taken by you because you are always going to find something wrong with what I say. No big deal though.
I definitely agree that it is their problem though. It is really unfortunate when that is the case. I found that happening to me a great deal in my hometown, but I suppose that is because people in the town assumed I was a snob because of my family's status in the area. That's why as someone else said, I just started saying I was going to grad school. It didn't alleviate the problem completely, but it did help some.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

I would not expect my point to be well-taken by you because you are always going to find something wrong with what I say.

Good grief.

ETA: Sorry it seems that way to you. The only times I can remember "always" finding something wrong with what you say have involved either (1) your insistence that when everyone understood you to be saying x, it was because everyone misunderstood you and could not possibly have been because you didn't clearly express what you meant, or (2) your dismissal of any challenge to what you've said as "always finding something wrong with what you say" rather than actually dealing with the substance of the argument.

I can live with "always" finding something wrong with what you say under those circumstances.

[pbear19]

Am I the only one who thinks this conversation has taken a Seinfeld-esque turn? For the record, I haven't had any negative reactions from people when I say I'm going to law school, nor have I had any negative reactions about the fact that I got a full ride. And I'm more than a bit sensitive to those types of reactions, so I can safely say I would have noticed. Perhaps it has to do with the manner in which it is said?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by pbear19

Am I the only one who thinks this conversation has taken a Seinfeld-esque turn?

No.

Speaking of comedy, I read every single one of Kevlar's posts in the voice of Sheldon from "The Big Bang Theory."

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by pbear19

Am I the only one who thinks this conversation has taken a Seinfeld-esque turn? For the record, I haven't had any negative reactions from people when I say I'm going to law school, nor have I had any negative reactions about the fact that I got a full ride. And I'm more than a bit sensitive to those types of reactions, so I can safely say I would have noticed. Perhaps it has to do with the manner in which it is said?

Congrats on getting a full ride!

[dekeguy]

Perhaps I am just not too quick on the uptake here but this business of being concerned about pretentiousness is a joke, right?
One earns a good undergraduate degree, does well on the LSAT, gets admitted to Law School, undertakes a difficult and challenging course designed to prepare one for a difficult and demanding profession and one is supposed to be somehow feel ... Oh, give me a break! Timidity seems at odds with being an effective advocate and alternatively, false modesty is far more offensive when one should quietly take pride in one's achievements and ambitions. I am not sure if there is much of a demand for lawyers who specialize in timidity, reticence, and the notion that one might give offense by simply acknowledging that one is studying the law.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by dekeguy

Perhaps I am just not too quick on the uptake here but this business of being concerned about pretentiousness is a joke, right?
One earns a good undergraduate degree, does well on the LSAT, gets admitted to Law School, undertakes a difficult and challenging course designed to prepare one for a difficult and demanding profession and one is supposed to be somehow feel ... Oh, give me a break! Timidity seems at odds with being an effective advocate and alternatively, false modesty is far more offensive when one should quietly take pride in one's achievements and ambitions. I am not sure if there is much of a demand for lawyers who specialize in timidity, reticence, and the notion that one might give offense by simply acknowledging that one is studying the law.

Precisely.

Kevlar said that HE doesn't like the way it sounds coming out of his mouth and that he prefers saying "graduate school" because it seems to cut down on the WOW factor. LOL. Seriously?

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by dekeguy

alternatively, false modesty is far more offensive when one should quietly take pride in one's achievements and ambitions.

Truer words were never spoken. I wish some of my classmates would realize this and stop being such braggarts. I have some classmates who are ALWAYS bragging about their grades, or bragging about grading on to law journal. It is SO annoying. I just wish they would be quiet.

[deepimpact2]

Just started my 2L year. Classes are interesting. Classmates are still incessantly bragging about grades (although many of them are lying)...especially now that they have another audience: the 1L's.