And one more for good measure
I'm intrigued by this meme, lifted from rikhei:
The list is based on an exercise developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. The exercise developers ask that if you participate in this blog game, you acknowledge their copyright.
To participate in this blog game, copy and paste the above list into your blog, and bold the items that are true for you.
Father went to college
Father finished college
Mother went to college
Mother finished college
Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers
Had more than 50 books in your childhood home
Had more than 500 books in your childhood home
Were read children's books by a parent
Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18
Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18: ballet, tap, jazz, modern, piano
The people in the media who dress and talk like you were portrayed positively
Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18
Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs
Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
Went to a private high school
Went to summer camp
Had a private tutor before you turned 18 (only if you count my father, but then I didn't need to be tutored in anything but chemistry and calculus, which he taught professionally)
Family vacations involved staying at hotels
Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them
There was original art in your house when you were a child (photography, anyway)
Had a phone in your room before you turned 18 I don't remember about this. I think I did, but not sure.
You and your family lived in a single family house
Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
You had your own room as a child
Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course Could have, but didn't need to.
Had your own TV in your room in High School
Owned a mutual fund or IRA in High School or College
Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
Went on a cruise with your family
Went on more than one cruise with your family
Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up
You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family
Now I recognize that I led a pretty privileged life as a kid (and in some respects still do, I mean how many people own their own home at 28 and have no debts) but I take issue with some of the questions.
For example, is it really a sign of privilege to have had *any* new clothes before the age of 18? I mean, really, it's often cheaper to buy kids clothes at Target or Old Navy than it is to go to a thrift store (especially since at the thrift store you spend longer to find things that fit). Or what about havin gyour own room? I was an only child--who on earth would I have shared with?
Some are interesting, though. I never questioned the fact that we flew lots of places as a kid. Sure, it's expensive, but it was almost always to see family.
I think it would have been more interesting to ask if you had traveled internationally than to ask if you'd been on a cruise. Where I grew up the latter was really uncommon and the former was pretty much the norm for upper middle class families. I'm also puzzled by the heating bill question. I think it would have been better to ask: "were aware of the cost of heating"--my parents would never have told me that kind of financial detail as a kid.
Lots of interesting stuff to think over. I wish this list were longer and more nuanced.
The list is based on an exercise developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. The exercise developers ask that if you participate in this blog game, you acknowledge their copyright.
To participate in this blog game, copy and paste the above list into your blog, and bold the items that are true for you.
Father went to college
Father finished college
Mother went to college
Mother finished college
Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers
Had more than 50 books in your childhood home
Had more than 500 books in your childhood home
Were read children's books by a parent
Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18
Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18: ballet, tap, jazz, modern, piano
The people in the media who dress and talk like you were portrayed positively
Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18
Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs
Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
Went to a private high school
Went to summer camp
Had a private tutor before you turned 18 (only if you count my father, but then I didn't need to be tutored in anything but chemistry and calculus, which he taught professionally)
Family vacations involved staying at hotels
Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them
There was original art in your house when you were a child (photography, anyway)
Had a phone in your room before you turned 18 I don't remember about this. I think I did, but not sure.
You and your family lived in a single family house
Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
You had your own room as a child
Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course Could have, but didn't need to.
Had your own TV in your room in High School
Owned a mutual fund or IRA in High School or College
Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
Went on a cruise with your family
Went on more than one cruise with your family
Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up
You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family
Now I recognize that I led a pretty privileged life as a kid (and in some respects still do, I mean how many people own their own home at 28 and have no debts) but I take issue with some of the questions.
For example, is it really a sign of privilege to have had *any* new clothes before the age of 18? I mean, really, it's often cheaper to buy kids clothes at Target or Old Navy than it is to go to a thrift store (especially since at the thrift store you spend longer to find things that fit). Or what about havin gyour own room? I was an only child--who on earth would I have shared with?
Some are interesting, though. I never questioned the fact that we flew lots of places as a kid. Sure, it's expensive, but it was almost always to see family.
I think it would have been more interesting to ask if you had traveled internationally than to ask if you'd been on a cruise. Where I grew up the latter was really uncommon and the former was pretty much the norm for upper middle class families. I'm also puzzled by the heating bill question. I think it would have been better to ask: "were aware of the cost of heating"--my parents would never have told me that kind of financial detail as a kid.
Lots of interesting stuff to think over. I wish this list were longer and more nuanced.