The GU’d Life – 3

If some day I become famous and someone were to ask me of what is the best cartoon I have ever produced (notice the usage of words), I would have to nominate this among a few others which I have not yet produced. The allegory and parallel to the way students here feel about University debt is outright horrendous and without any logic. If it comes to worst, the debt will be around 12000£ (a sizeable chunk is alcohol, drugs and sex related at that) and if they think that this is a LOT given the quality of education and life they have during this period is plain moronic. Let me make my points before you blast me off.

First of all, debt of any sort is bad. That has to be taken into account. But then, how can anyone put a value to education? Take a minute to ponder about the education, quality and value.
Secondly, this debt can be paid off in a couple of years once got a job and if folk feel it is a big deal to pay off the debt (either because they cannot get a job or by cheating) then such people are not worth the education to start with.

That is all I can say. I will explain some subtleties of the cartoon now which I have realized only later. The parallel of students to pigeons is quite appropriate because anywhere you go, all you see is lazy mob pigeon-like behavior and inspite of nothing much to do in terms of actual labs or classes or library, most students always seem to look busy running in circles and chattering incessantly with other people about the coolness of some band or what is happening to some character in “Neighbours”. If not, they seem to use the time of commuting by walk to talk and SMS on mobiles as if walking is the only time they can manage their busy schedules. All this is just like pigeons always coalescing as a crowd with their springy necks and guturrr guturrr sounds.
More than the loans and pop-corn analogy, I kinda like that the pigeon has “choked” by eating the popcorn. One is that it is entirely its own doing given its pigeon-brainedness but what I really like is that choking is possible (from my First-Aid PG Training) if one takes in more than can be chewed – in other words, greedy – or when the food is not properly chewed – in other words, lazy – or when the food is forced into the throat – in other words, stupid. Interpret whatever you want from this even if you are a pigeon!
Next the tax-payers or the guy sitting on the bench. They are kind but always seem to be in a constant state of confusion and keep getting bullied into paying more and more taxes by the people in uniform. Rather than being indebted and appreciative to the tax-payer who pays their salaries, these uniformed people always seem to find faults. Maybe this is not the case in Scotland but that is certainly the case in India…