Jimbo wrote:I got an email from my high school alumni group announcing that they were setting up a $1000 scholarship program in honor of a classmate who recently passed away. It sounded like a nice thing to do until I got to the part where the email said that the scholarship would be given to a graduate from our alma mater who met this qualification: "senior student-athlete, who is enrolling in a 4 year college and majoring in either political science, sports management or pre-law." What irks me is the narrow scope of the qualification. Does society need more campaign managers, sports managers or lawyers? I don't think so. We need more plumbers, electricians and carpenters, not to mention doctors, nurses, scientists and artists. I am sorely tempted to send the email back to the whole group and telling them where to stuff their elitist scholarship. Should I?
Well, it depends, on quite a lot of things. How much do you care about your old school? Did you know and like the dead classmate? Do you care what any of the surviving ones think of you?
Basically, if you don't contribute, some will think you're cheap, others that you're dishonouring the school, or the dead guy, or all three of these. Actually telling them to shove it and why (fwiw I completely agree with you about it being a pile of shit, unless perhaps the dead guy was a jock into law and politics, in which case it's an understandable pile of shit) would only aggravate those reactions. When I was in a similar position with my old university (all my schools have ceased to exist, as have all ties with fellow-sufferers therein) I just stopped responding to their importunings, and they lost interest. Which was fine by me. If any of these people from nearly half a century ago, or their opinions of you, are important to you, then just ignore their request, or find some excuse. If not, damn the torpedoes.