Do you consider the under-educated to be riff-raff? Do you see a difference between un-educated and under-educated?

No, not at all.

Having gone to college, I think of it as a job I had way back in my career.

I have found, my friends who have not gone to college, worry that people look down on them, and I am always shocked they feel that way.

No. There is riff-raff in all walks of life.

Not a bit.

If anything (and yes, I went to University), I find that people with real world experience are underrated. Perhaps some examples of “those who can’t, teach.”

No.

I do not see the under-educated as riff-raff. I also do not, in general, see a difference between the educated an the un-educated. This is of course assuming that we are talking about post-secondary education. There is absolutely a difference between a child who hasn’t been taught the basics of reading, writing, and math, and a high school graduate who decides not to attend college.

In my work, I do not see a difference between the under-educated and un-educated.
Neither one will get the job.

Nope, they’re both the same, because anyone can become more educated.

Some of the most emotionally unintelligent and disconnected peeps I have known have degrees up the wazoo. There is illiteracy and then there is just plain idiocy. Head smart and heart smart. Idiocy doesn’t magically disappear with a degree. lol

When I was digging graves, I preferred the uneducated, illiterate old man with 40 years of experience in the backhoe to the fresh from college Civil Engineer with a PHD and no time behind the wheel.

There ain’t much room in those holes and an educated idiot at the controls can be a dangerous thing.

I do not see the uneducated as riff raff. The two have nothing to do with each other, except maybe riff raff have higher percentages of uneducated people than the total population, but I don’t know if even that is true. I know many people who did not finish high school, or who did not go to college, and they are intelligent, hard working, interesting and lovely people. I do not judge someone on their lack of education, I do admit to being impressed by the degrees and knowledge some people have on a variety of topics especially the sciences.

But, one guy I know who never went to college has a business in detailing cars. His knowledge about it is amazing. The different paints, best way to buff, he knows every little thing about it, and turned it into a very successful business. I find that very interesting. That once someone gets involved in a hobby or industry, how a whole world opens up of lingo and learning. The pursuit of knowledge impresses me most, more than the specific topic or whether it is done in a formal institution.

Having said all that, I do think higher education, especially for those who have the intelligence and desire for it, is not easily matched by trying to learn on your own. Plus, the university experience is its own little world you only know if you experience it.

Riff-raff in not necessarily uneducated. Riff-raff just doesn’t want to learn anything else.

I don’t think riff-raff is dependent on level of education.

Amen @YARNLADY

In the time of the apocalypse, I want to be surrounded by the people who do things. The theoretical geniuses can fuck off and die if they can’t build us a working water filter.

IMO it all depends on motive. Undereducated and/or uneducated, because they think education is some sort of bullshit and so they blow it off is definitely riff raff.
Undereducated or uneducated but curious and industrious is just one of those things. Sometimes people can’t afford school, or have to take care of their sick mother or something. The world is full of positive contributors to the human adventure who suffered economic or family hardships and missed out on institutional education (assuming that is what you mean).

I have nothing but contempt for lazy dropouts like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs—idiots, they could have done something with their lives!

Well secondary schooling or college does not necessarily make one more wise and clever. Also I know of quite a few college graduates that can’t engage in intelligent conversation about many different topics with even some high school dropouts. My one uncle is an electrical engineer and he asks me questions about electrical systems when he gets stumped. My one cousin (who I see alot) has a BA in nursing and she still comes to me for help with math. Another thing is that there are many intelligent people out there, who for one reason or another (maybe hardships), never attended college either.