So, Raz is thinking about going back to School

[CountDeMoney]

raz is in a terrible financial situation and very likely won't ever have another job in his life. certainly not a normal job, at least. so, college is a pointless expense to him. he wants to learn? library card. through his own research, raz will learn far more than he ever would in a classroom environment. just look at history majors. by and large, they don't know shit about history

having a professor present is useful to improve writing, but raz's post doesn't indicate that's what he's really interested in. so, he'd be paying to have a professor explain reading material that he probably could figure out himself, so he's better off cutting out that $500-3000 middleman. especially in his case where he doesn't have hundreds of dollars to pile up and set on fire

You're overlooking the human interaction aspect.

LaCroix accounts for that with the guy at the counter when he tells Raz to buy a gun and blow his brains out.

[grumbler]

raz is in a terrible financial situation and very likely won't ever have another job in his life. certainly not a normal job, at least. so, college is a pointless expense to him. he wants to learn? library card. through his own research, raz will learn far more than he ever would in a classroom environment. just look at history majors. by and large, they don't know shit about history

having a professor present is useful to improve writing, but raz's post doesn't indicate that's what he's really interested in. so, he'd be paying to have a professor explain reading material that he probably could figure out himself, so he's better off cutting out that $500-3000 middleman. especially in his case where he doesn't have hundreds of dollars to pile up and set on fire

You're overlooking the human interaction aspect.

Judging from his spelling and punctuation, LaCroix is an English major.  English majors don't know a lot about human interaction.

[Norgy]

I think you're being to touchy-feely on this one, LaCroix.  Maybe you should be more direct.

i mean, really. with how godawful raz has said of his situation, time and again, people really should not be encouraging college. i'm pro-college for 99% of the time. but this clearly is not a good idea

Social interaction is good for 99 % of people. Being isolated isn't. If community college helps someone get out the door and maybe meet people, that's worth a lot already.
If college is a bad idea, what do you suggest? A Living Doll?

[LaCroix]

I think you are over-analyzing this.  If Raz is in what accept as a "godawful" situation, then changes are to be encouraged.  A summer course, or even a degree, might not be financially justifiable, but it lets Raz get back into a familiar pattern that still requires him to interact with people, and it allows him to be successful in an endeavor that obviously has meaning to him.  Financial aid might also be available, but I think a summer course at a CC is probably a good investment even if it doesn't work out.  In the latter case, at least Raz will not have to wonder if he should be trying school again.  That's worth $600 right there.

You're overlooking the human interaction aspect.

Social interaction is good for 99 % of people. Being isolated isn't. If community college helps someone get out the door and maybe meet people, that's worth a lot already.
If college is a bad idea, what do you suggest? A Living Doll?

as brain mentioned, there are plenty of ways for one to gain social interaction than spend money attending classes. furthermore, i will point out that no where in this thread has raz said his goal of going back to college is to interact with others. that is something brought up by other posters, not raz. from his posts here, he wishes to improve his mental capacity

raz could volunteer as brain suggested, or be active with the church. i'm sure his psychiatrist/case workers would have suggestions and likely would know what options are available in his city.

also, there seems to be odd false dichotomy going on here. "either raz spends money to go to college or does nothing," no, there are other options. my whole point is that raz, who simply does not have money to burn, should not waste it by going to college when 1) he can learn far more through other avenues (like having his parents rent out books from the library for him or whatever) and 2) if he really does want social interaction, which he said no where in this thread that he does, then he can interact with groups for free

finally, there seems to be this assumption by many here that if raz did go to college, that he would get positive social interaction. that is not necessarily the case. weird people get ostracized real quick. there's a strong chance raz would be the class weirdo and shunned by everyone. furthermore, there's a possibility that because class discussion often leads to debates, he might get agitated and cause an incident. remember the drive-thru event he talked about awhile back? shit, man, at least at church potlucks the atmosphere is pretty informal and friendly

so, going to college seems like a really bad option for a number of reasons. i don't see any positives to it. just a whole ton of negatives and bad outcomes

[Lettow77]

Raz should be a freebooter in darkest Africa, where even with his mental impairments he'll be ahead of the curve. It would provide opportunities for personal advancement, and he could vent his frustrations in a healthy environment. I like to think he could find an Afrikaner on the cusp of their twilight years to apprentice under. He could wear a dashing hat!

[Capetan Mihali]

I think the "human interaction" bit is a subtext that other posters have pulled out and Raz has tacitly agreed with.

I forget the drive-thru incident, but there is a non-negligible possibility that classroom discussion does provoke an upsetting experience.

[Capetan Mihali]

And Raz, do you know if you've actually been trespassed at the library?  You can check with the police to see if there's a current order against you.  I kind of imagine you might have been asked to leave once, but that's not enough to bar you from the premises. 

For better or worse, we don't live under Sulla and/or Lucullus, so persona non grata has lost some of its significance.  The library has to formally add you to its proscription rolls before it can legitimately keep you out.

[LaCroix]

I think the "human interaction" bit is a subtext that other posters have pulled out and Raz has tacitly agreed with.

I forget the drive-thru incident, but there is a non-negligible possibility that classroom discussion does provoke an upsetting experience.

2 drive-thru lanes (where orders are given/received) merged into one for the pay/pick up. raz was in one of the lanes and let a woman in the other through to be polite. someone behind raz honked his horn. so, raz got out of his car, went to the driver's door, peered into the window, and asked him to stop honking. as he relayed it to the board, he appeared distressed over the incident

best thing raz could do with his life is probably pawn his computer and kindle, which are really just holding him back since i imagine he spends a ungodly amount of time on electronics. from there, he could take baby steps toward integrating himself in a warm, friendly environment, like a local catholic church or volunteer organization. on the side, he picks a subject and starts reading. this would all be completely free, except for gas, i guess. or bus fare

college

[Ideologue]

I'm with Cal, get a job.

College doesn't actually require, or--when you're old as fuck like us--even encourage social interaction.  I don't know why anyone would suggest college for that reason.

But a job does.  (It's also a net positive financial decision, unlike taking random bullshit courses, but that's so obvious I don't think it really needs pointing out.)

[Eddie Teach]

If his community college is anything like mine was, social interaction outside class is limited to whoever is on the other side of the phones everyone had attached.

[Monoriu]

I'm with the job crowd.  The ultimate aim should be self-sufficiency.  A job is the most direct approach toward that goal.  A community college course helps in the long-run, and does offer formal recognition that self-study doesn't.  May also be a start toward some kind of academic qualification.  But that's more for the future.  A job can help right now in terms of financial benefits and social interaction.  Completing a course may or may not require human contact.  I completed a lot of courses at university level without talking to anybody in class.   

[MadImmortalMan]

Raz probably knows more about history than the average JC history professor does.

[CountDeMoney]

Raz, don't listen to the haters:  they already have their degrees. 
You want to get some classes under your belt, do it.  Like Yi recommended, start small, like a History or Writing class.  One class, take it from there.

[Monoriu]

Raz, don't listen to the haters:  they already have their degrees. 
You want to get some classes under your belt, do it.  Like Yi recommended, start small, like a History or Writing class.  One class, take it from there.

It is possible to get a job and take one course at the same time. 

[CountDeMoney]

He has to walk before he can run.  He has...issues he has to deal with.