Is anyone here not in college?

[Claincy he/him]

There are few older people, but not all responded to this thread. However, people my age (I feel ancient ) do not often dwindle inside online communities except perhaps those about parenthood, but these are harsh, harsh, harsh beyond any possible measure. To avoid at all possible cost if you want to retain sanity, but I may one of the only one with kids here (I feel even more ancient ).

Oh I know there are plenty of older people here and I wasn't saying I have any issue with younger people at all. It generally doesn't matter what age someone is on forums. (Though a five year old would probably be fairly noticeable.) I have a feeling that the demographic was a little older when I first joined (not saying that's necessarily good or bad) particularly given how back then the site was substantially smaller and much more focused on detailed theorising. (The roleplaying subforum was about as active as a graveyard.) It was also before steelheart was released It's pretty cool how much the site has grown since then.

[Cracknut he/him]

Dropout... kinda. I'll be back though

[Guest]

I think a lot of the older ones probably do not respond to this thread, as technically the OP was just asking for people that are younger than college. I think.

[Guest]

Oh I know there are plenty of older people here and I wasn't saying I have any issue with younger people at all. It generally doesn't matter what age someone is on forums. (Though a five year old would probably be fairly noticeable.) I have a feeling that the demographic was a little older when I first joined (not saying that's necessarily good or bad) particularly given how back then the site was substantially smaller and much more focused on detailed theorising. (The roleplaying subforum was about as active as a graveyard.) It was also before steelheart was released It's pretty cool how much the site has grown since then.

 

This is one of the great thing about forums: you are not label by your age, your gender, your physical appearance, your ethnicity which makes for conversation outside the typical prejudices. 

 

It is not always easy to find real life people sharing your interest in an author or a book. 

[Left he/him]

This simply has to be put after any post like the above^^

 

[dayman]

I wonder what the typical Sanderson fan is in terms of age, sex, education and wealth. Personally, I know most of my working peers do not read much fiction let alone fantasy.

[Sarcasm she/her]

I wonder what the typical Sanderson fan is in terms of age, sex, education and wealth. Personally, I know most of my working peers do not read much fiction let alone fantasy.

From what I observe, it seems like the average Sanderfan is male, around college age or older, with degrees usually in computer sciences or mechanical engineering. Note that these are just observations, so please don't take any offense at this. 

[Guest]

I wonder what the typical Sanderson fan is in terms of age, sex, education and wealth. Personally, I know most of my working peers do not read much fiction let alone fantasy.

 

GoT gets a lot of attention in my worklpace, but not many try to read the books. When I talk about fantasy, I usually get this sort of reaction      One of my colleague enjoys fantasy and he is nearing on his sixties, but he tends to reshuffle through his old stuff as opposed to try anything new. I just cannot get him into trying SA  I'm sure he would love it if he were to try it: he loves little Ender and Arya so much... Other people are just discouraged at the prospect of simply reading a book       Most adults just do not read much more than the occasional popular book or so I have found.

 

 

From what I observe, it seems like the average Sanderfan is male, around college age or older, with degrees usually in computer sciences or mechanical engineering. Note that these are just observations, so please don't take any offense at this. 

 

From my personal experience, it seems people often read a lot when they are younger, but end up giving it up as they age. Why? I do not know. I myself go into dry periods, but I always come back to reading. Perhaps it is they get bored or feel the story are too similar or are just not taking the time to read anymore. Parents my age tend to spend their evening cleaning and going to bed ridiculously early 

 

There seem to be a higher rate of fantasy readers in engineering: I have noticed this as well during my own school years. For the longest time, fantasy has held a negative stigma, being deemed a lesser genre. I am not surprise to find out people into liberal professions have been avoiding it as their studies have often emphasis the distinction between "real literature" and "lesser books" such as fantasy... which is not true at all, but many people still carry on this idea. Now with GoT and LoTR, fantasy is getting a bigger spotlight and I am quite happy about it. Saying you, as a woman, you preferred reading books about dragons and swords as opposed to Bridget Jones Diary was not all too popular a decade or so ago    

[arc_onyx he/him]

According to Wikipedia I am in 9th grade (Year 10 in New Zealand). That puts me in what we call college (or sometimes secondary school), which I think it's equivalent to American high school.

[Xaladin he/him]

...

 

From my personal experience, it seems people often read a lot when they are younger, but end up giving it up as they age. Why? I do not know. I myself go into dry periods, but I always come back to reading. Perhaps it is they get bored or feel the story are too similar or are just not taking the time to read anymore. Parents my age tend to spend their evening cleaning and going to bed ridiculously early 

...

My technical writing professor said 60% of college freshman read for pleasure, while the percentage of college seniors who read for pleasure is negligible. And so he did us all a favor. Reminiscent of elementary school, one assignment for the term is to read 20 minutes every day. Imagine that! The only requirement is that the reading material is "book length." And so I started reading the Wheel of Time (this will take way longer than the term ... ) ... 

[Guest]

My technical writing professor said 60% of college freshman read for pleasure, while the percentage of college seniors who read for pleasure is negligible. And so he did us all a favor. Reminiscent of elementary school, one assignment for the term is to read 20 minutes every day. Imagine that! The only requirement is that the reading material is "book length." And so I started reading the Wheel of Time (this will take way longer than the term ... ) ... 

 

This is great! I am not a firm defender of forcing young people to read so-called classics as, from personal experience, these can be quite outdated and uninteresting for nowadays people. Not every readers will want to dig into the classics, nor will appreciate them, but it does not mean they cannot enjoy reading. I firmly believe the best way to ensure kids will keep on reading is to allow them to read material appropriate to their age, their reading level and their generation.

 

There are so many books out there, it is easy to find appealing well written books for teenagers/young adults enabling decent discourse afterwards. They may not have the label "classic" on them, but shouldn't the goal be help people develop a lasting interest into reading? They have a lifetime to dig into the classics... why force them in High School? Shaskespear sure is a classic, but most 14 years old will be completely turned of by it, so for one kid who'd actually appreciate it, you have 25 you may give up reading because you turned it into a chore....

 

I also think if High School/College teachers would make their students read fantasy instead of Emile Zola, they may find they would retain their interest into reading better. It frustrates me so much to think most teachers would spit on fantasy thinking it is not deep enough to enlighten the young minds...  It is true reading about characters shopping for a dress and carefully describing every single garment for hundred of pages is SO much better     

[Eerongal he/him]

Eero is about ~10 years graduated from college and well into his career phase of life. I think Eero is also the oldest on the moderating team, just barely beating out Shiv. Not the oldest on the forums period, but definitely up there.

[navybrandt he/him]

I try to alternate reading books for pleasure and reading books for education/personal growth. It's worked well for me because I actually read the "good-for-me" books faster to get back to a fun book.

[Axies he/him]

I also think if High School/College teachers would make their students read fantasy instead of Emile Zola, they may find they would retain their interest into reading better. It frustrates me so much to think most teachers would spit on fantasy thinking it is not deep enough to enlighten the young minds...  It is true reading about characters shopping for a dress and carefully describing every single garment for hundred of pages is SO much better     

THAT. I really had a lot of problems starting to read anything longer than a comic book because of that. The problem is that the "classics" and the "literature" is always a controversial topic. Is Tolkien a classic? Robert Jordan? Assimov? Sanderson once Cosmere is finished? Is fantasy/cifi "literature"? I'd say yes, but the "enlighted" that say what should and shouldn't be one thing or the other disagree.

I work on a bookstore (we sell fantasy/cf/terror books only). So no. I'm not in college. I don't even know what you mean by "college" (shame on me). Here in Spain you do prescolar (3-5y), primaria (6-12), secundaria (13-16), bachillerato/formación profesional (16-18 or 20) and universidad (18->). You wouldn't believe the lot of people that comes to the store buying books to firends because "I don't read. I'm too old for reading." or "yeah... fantasy is for kids I'm a gronw up I don't read those things".

 

[Kaymyth she/her]

THAT. I really had a lot of problems starting to read anything longer than a comic book because of that. The problem is that the "classics" and the "literature" is always a controversial topic. Is Tolkien a classic? Robert Jordan? Assimov? Sanderson once Cosmere is finished? Is fantasy/cifi "literature"? I'd say yes, but the "enlighted" that say what should and shouldn't be one thing or the other disagree.

I work on a bookstore (we sell fantasy/cf/terror books only). So no. I'm not in college. I don't even know what you mean by "college" (shame on me). Here in Spain you do prescolar (3-5y), primaria (6-12), secundaria (13-16), bachillerato/formación profesional (16-18 or 20) and universidad (18->). You wouldn't believe the lot of people that comes to the store buying books to firends because "I don't read. I'm too old for reading." or "yeah... fantasy is for kids I'm a gronw up I don't read those things".

 

 

American college = British university = universidad

 

We 'murricans seem to be the only people who call university "college".

[Axies he/him]

American college = British university = universidad

 

We 'murricans seem to be the only people who call university "college".

You guys... you are wierd. xD

[Guest]

You guys... you are wierd. xD

Hey, I ain't complaining about living in America.

[StormingTexan he/him]

I'm only a couple years younger than Brandon. It does freak me out a little to think we may be in our 70's before Dragonsteel is finished. 

[Steel Compounder]

I'm definitely not in college...

[Guest]

THAT. I really had a lot of problems starting to read anything longer than a comic book because of that. The problem is that the "classics" and the "literature" is always a controversial topic. Is Tolkien a classic? Robert Jordan? Assimov? Sanderson once Cosmere is finished? Is fantasy/cifi "literature"? I'd say yes, but the "enlighted" that say what should and shouldn't be one thing or the other disagree.

I work on a bookstore (we sell fantasy/cf/terror books only). So no. I'm not in college. I don't even know what you mean by "college" (shame on me). Here in Spain you do prescolar (3-5y), primaria (6-12), secundaria (13-16), bachillerato/formación profesional (16-18 or 20) and universidad (18->). You wouldn't believe the lot of people that comes to the store buying books to firends because "I don't read. I'm too old for reading." or "yeah... fantasy is for kids I'm a gronw up I don't read those things".

 

 

I live in Quebec/Canada, we have a weird schooling system  We have kindergarden (5y), primary (6-12y - 6 grades) and secondary (13-17 - grades 1 to 5). After that, you have to go to Cegep/College before going to University. It is an in-between level where you chose your field of study such as Applied Sciences or Social Sciences, but no matter what you choose, you still have a bunch of mandatory classes to do such as literature (4 classes), philosophy (3 classes), second language (2 classes) and physical education (2 classes). These programs take 2 years to complete and depending on your curriculum will open you doors for University. You are given a R grade which will be taken into account to enter the University program of your choosing (for example, to enter medicine, you need the highest R grade)

 

You can also choose a technical program in Cegep/College to become a technician such a technician in civil engineering (for example). These programs last 3 years and you still have to do the mandatory classes. Afterwards, you can either go work or pursue at University. 

 

In others words, we leave "High School" one year faster than the Americans. Cegep is similar to a small University: it works relatively the same. You have a schedule and teachers do not care if you attend or not. You are treated as an adult, which is fitting as we are adults at 18 here, but there no bar on ground because many are still minor when entering. However, most Cegep have bars right across the street     

 

So anyway, in this in-between level, we do a lot of literature with a lot of painful read. Most people I knew were put of reading during these years where they were forced to discuss the supposed classics.... but I can see the purpose of it for a class named "literature". I severely criticized the purpose of having 15 years old teenage boys read this:

 

 

Seriously       My husband gave up reading completely after that one. For my part, I believe a book does not need the label "classic" to be worthy of educating teenagers/young adults, especially not in High School. I believe having them read decent well written book of various style is more worthy than having them discuss this:

 

 

A boring book about a guy who wonders for 300 pages whether he should kill or not a guy, if I recall properly  Funny is all the kids who actually enjoyed those books ended up pursuing a career in literature... The others most likely do not read today   

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

I live in Quebec/Canada, we have a weird schooling system We have kindergarden (5y), primary (6-12y - 6 grades) and secondary (13-17 - grades 1 to 5). After that, you have to go to Cegep/College before going to University. It is an in-between level where you chose your field of study such as Applied Sciences or Social Sciences, but no matter what you choose, you still have a bunch of mandatory classes to do such as literature (4 classes), philosophy (3 classes), second language (2 classes) and physical education (2 classes). These programs take 2 years to complete and depending on your curriculum will open you doors for University. You are given a R grade which will be taken into account to enter the University program of your choosing (for example, to enter medicine, you need the highest R grade)

You can also choose a technical program in Cegep/College to become a technician such a technician in civil engineering (for example). These programs last 3 years and you still have to do the mandatory classes. Afterwards, you can either go work or pursue at University.

In others words, we leave "High School" one year faster than the Americans. Cegep is similar to a small University: it works relatively the same. You have a schedule and teachers do not care if you attend or not. You are treated as an adult, which is fitting as we are adults at 18 here, but there no bar on ground because many are still minor when entering. However, most Cegep have bars right across the street

So anyway, in this in-between level, we do a lot of literature with a lot of painful read. Most people I knew were put of reading during these years where they were forced to discuss the supposed classics.... but I can see the purpose of it for a class named "literature". I severely criticized the purpose of having 15 years old teenage boys read this:

Seriously My husband gave up reading completely after that one. For my part, I believe a book does not need the label "classic" to be worthy of educating teenagers/young adults, especially not in High School. I believe having them read decent well written book of various style is more worthy than having them discuss this:

A boring book about a guy who wonders for 300 pages whether he should kill or not a guy, if I recall properly Funny is all the kids who actually enjoyed those books ended up pursuing a career in literature... The others most likely do not read today

My sister had to read The Stranger and she absolutely loathed it. Seriously, she'd pause her reading every few pages to rant about how awful the book was.

Here in the States, we don't make boys read about ballrooms and high society so much as we make girls read about men and their problems. Most books considered "literature" at

The high school level are told from a male perspective--Oedipus, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, The Great Gatsby, Death of a Salesman, and so on. And I liked many of those, but many books told from a female perspective are more likely to be taught at the university level in a Women's Studies class.

[Guest]

My sister had to read The Stranger and she absolutely loathed it. Seriously, she'd pause her reading every few pages to rant about how awful the book was.

Here in the States, we don't make boys read about ballrooms and high society so much as we make girls read about men and their problems. Most books considered "literature" at

The high school level are told from a male perspective--Oedipus, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, The Great Gatsby, Death of a Salesman, and so on. And I liked many of those, but many books told from a female perspective are more likely to be taught at the university level in a Women's Studies class.

 

I feel for your sister   The Stranger was an awful, awful read and worst I recall at the time thinking to myself I should like it because it is a stupid "classic". My secondary 5 teacher made us read it (equivalent of 11th grade)... that and this awfully boring book written by some French author from Quebec at the turn of the last century... So boring and you know what? I had to read it AGAIN in literature class while in Cegep, but admittedly, it was about 1000 better than the Stranger or anything written by Camus. Don't try reading The Pest   Honestly, I am quite sure over a thousand of years of French literature produced much better work than this one... How about Alexandre Dumas? Or even Alexandre Jardin, quite good for teenagers, but no no no, it was all about Zola, Balzac and Camus     

 

My husband also read The Merchant of Venise in his second language class at 14 years old... Right. Make 14 years old teenage boys whom are just learning English read Saskespear written in old English. Way to go. Good teaching. Nobody understood a thing  I wonder why. Such a great school he went to  I don't want to send my kids there      even if its a well rated school 

 

In my school, we read The Outsiders, which was written by a woman, for the English class which was a 1000 more times more appropriate   but I went to a low key public school... 

 

As for the ballroom book, honestly, most people hated it, even girls. Zola and Balzac were French authors who lives in a time period where they were paid for each written pages, so the more they wrote, the more money they made. You easily figure out their books are filled with pages and pages and pages of useless descriptions. I have heard people complaining of Jordan describing every piece of clothes the girls wore, this was NOTHING in comparison. Really NOTHING.

 

No women authors in the States? Never had to read Agatha Cristies? Or Ann of Green Cables? Such a cute one for young teenager girls      Alright, boys would probably hate it  , but it is a good book. So adorable and truly very Canadian   Or Little Women? Isn't this a classic in the States? Or Jane Austen? You do not read Jane Austen in the States?

[Guest]

I've read all of those.

Jane Austen is possibly one of my favorite authors. I love her wit and intellect, especially her insight into the social issues of her time period. Pride and Prejudice is on my list of most favorite books. I absolutely love it.

Little Women is good, and also Little Men, the sequel.

I've just started reading Agatha Christie's work, and am so far enjoying it greatly. I like it when the plot twists *actually* surprise me.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

No women authors in the States? Never had to read Agatha Cristies? Or Ann of Green Cables? Such a cute one for young teenager girls      Alright, boys would probably hate it  , but it is a good book. So adorable and truly very Canadian   Or Little Women? Isn't this a classic in the States? Or Jane Austen? You do not read Jane Austen in the States?

 

It's odd. While those books are definitely considered classics—as are Count of Monte Cristo (which I adore) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame—they aren't usually read in schools. When they are, they're put on an elective reading list, where students can read them for assignments like book reports, or for points as part of programs designed to get them to read longer and more difficult books. Seldom will a teacher require their entire class to read Anne of Green Gables or Little Women.

 

The reason for this is that prevalent "wisdom" here in the States says that while girls are able to enjoy books told from a male perspective, boys rarely enjoy books told from a female perspective. Which is so sexist it would be hilarious, if it weren't so commonly accepted. And it's wrong. Just look at all the teenage boys who loved The Hunger Games. Or talk to a brony, or one of any number of guys who enjoyed Frozen.

 

There are some teachers who refuse to believe it. When I was in 11th grade, my English teacher assigned us Harriet Ann Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, an 1861 autobiography of a former slave who detailed all of the horrible things an attractive female slave could face on a Southern plantation back in those days. The boys in my class loved it, were horrified by the things Jacobs went through, sympathized with her….in other words, they and my teacher proved that boys can and do enjoy books written by and about women, and they enjoy them quite a bit. But that doesn't stop the majority of American teachers from assigning books written by and about men. 

[Unhinged he/him]

It probably doesn't help that in the U.S. everything must be measured and scored. A teacher who has gotten their students to read 100 books over the course of the school year will show up on paper as being worse than one who only got their students to read five books but had them turn in meaningless reports on each one that could be graded. Now I do understand that it is necessary to have some prof that the students actually read the book but instead of a simple summary or an in class discussion we were forced to do utterly meaningless reports that often seemed like they were completely unrelated to the actual book.

 

Also on the actual topic of the thread I've finished my classes at college and am just finishing off the last hundred or so work hours left till I can be done for good... based on what I've seen of the real world so far, juries out on whether or not graduation is a good thing.