Comment by bsoqk
14 hours ago
People who study STEM for the enrichment of their intellect are privileged. Most of us had to study STEM (or whatever else) because we had bills to pay.
14 hours ago
People who study STEM for the enrichment of their intellect are privileged. Most of us had to study STEM (or whatever else) because we had bills to pay.
I feel like so many people here are part of that crowd. going on about how it's like humanities and how it's super valuable and those who are seeking to get paid are just missing the point
how is it even possible to think like that? or maybe it's some kind of coping mechanism
Lots of people don't need to work, or are relatively insulated such that they have the "leisure capacity" to study for personal fulfillment.
Remember, the top 1% of households have $12M+ in assets. That's over a million households for whom work is somewhat or completely optional for them and their children. They can live a good quality life off capital returns without any hardship.
This logic still holds down the wealth gradient. Households at the 95th percentile still have to work, but the need is more flexible. The buffer of need could be years long.
So you have millions of people who genuinely don't need to worry about getting paid that much.