Yes. Moreso about the opinions, but yes. I mean, if that's all I know? Yes. There can be extenuating circumstances- one of the professors on campus actually never got her diploma. She was accepted to college her junior year, went through some trouble and dropped out of high school her senior year, but her admission wasn't withdrawn. So sure, I don't have less respect for her. But she's not exactly the majority. So, yes, if you're telling me "Cantras, I want you to have a chat with Bob/Sue here, and s/he is 32 and did not graduate high school," then yes, I will have less respect for their worldview, because it's probably a safe assumption that it's not an educated one.

no, my father never finished high school during the Depression - yet he taught college kids how to repair their cars - and he raised two little girls by himself - he is to this day the smartest man i know

no, not at all

Of course not. I have less respect in the opinions of some college student/graduate who automatically thinks that they're better than others for that lame fact alone. A lot of us read books, but a lot of us see no reason to pay someone $100,000 to tell us what books to read then explain to us what we have just read. I could understand on my own what I have read, and it costs nothing. Now who's the dummy?

No. I've known plenty of idiots that got their diplomas. On the other hand, I've known a number of very intelligent people with loads of real world experience that did not get diplomas. I judge the person based on what I know of their personality/intelligence in the here and now, not on the fact that, for reasons potentially unknown to me, they did not acquire a diploma.

Nope. I also hope we never see a day when we're required to wear patches or badges announcing our education "credentials". I've seen prejudice swing both ways on this one. Those who have lots of years of education putting up their noses at those who didn't finish high school. I've seen those with less years of education decide that "all" people with education are uppity. Of course, neither is true and the danger - the same one we've seen over and over again - is when we take ANY life experience - ANY human characteristic - and decide that "all" are "that way". Or in the case of this question, that IF this situation THEN no respect for "them" and "their opinions". There's plenty of room for all sorts of people .. with and without a high school diploma .. who will or won't MAKE USE of what they've learned .. in school .. or on their own. We've got differences in our genes and differences in our choices and inclinations. I've seen people who are "slow" (not mentally retarded .. but slower than your average person mentally) .. who are working 150% of their potential. I've also seen people who are potential genious material .. who are working 20% of their potential. Go figure!! So .. 1) Automatic judgements of an entire group of people based on a characteristic in common? No way. 2) Respect for individuals and their opinions? Yes. 3) Will I lower my opinion of someone's opinion? Yes, but that will be based on what it is and how they arrived at it .. not whether the person went to High school!

No, there are a lot of intelligent people that do not have a diploma.

Yes, I definately lose some respect and would have to consider the topic of their opinion. Undoubtedly, there are subjects they might be more knowledgeable in based on experience. Overall though, they lose points in a major way. Prejudgicial, unfair, but that's honestly the world I live in.

Absolutly.. the adult has had over 12 years to get their GED (which I might add is the easiest thing in the world to do).

No. That doesn't dictate much in the end.

not at all...high school teaches myou nothing of value...atleast thats how i felt. when you leave high school you arent properly prepared for life. it is only by being thrown into the deep end that you learn by doing. its not your knowledge, its your experience that makes your opinion valuable.

Degrees can be purchased from diploma mills. I've met some pretty ordinary people and some pretty extraordinary people, brainwise and degrees or lack thereof had absolutely zero to do with it! It is lack of curiousity and lack of interest in things around you that is stultifying..not lack of a degree. However, getting a job will be very very difficult! :)

Nope. My father quit school after the 10th grade to take care of my mother and his growing family. He strongly recommends not doing that, but the fact of the matter is, he did. Today, he's known as one of the best construction Project Managers in the state of Oklahoma. He still doesn't have his GED, but he's intelligent enough to get it if he needed it. Fact of the matter is, with his experience, he doesn't need it. I'm not going to say how much he makes a year - for one thing it's not my business, and for another, I don't want to encourage anyone to drop out of high school - it's a bad idea. But he's doing quite well without one.

No, I would not have less respect for people (adults 30+) and their opinions on an automatic basis simply because they do not have high school diplomas. It is good to have high school diplomas and more but that should not be the sum total of people's lives and their achievement. My good friend Steven may not have a high school diploma but through his diligence and innate resilience he now owns a company which employs a fair number of people with diplomas to work for him and his company. He may not be a good paper chaser but he is surely good in his area of expertise. He can surely hold his head high in his community in terms of recognition, respect and regard. As a friend, he earns my respect and I always view his opinions with courtesy.

No. There may mitigating circumstances that prevented them to get their diploma. Who am I to say that because you did not finish high school, you are less of a person? Life can teach us far more than what we would learn in school.

No. I dont judge people. Not my place to do so.