It’s funny that some are implying that I’m “touting” the east coast…I’m not trying to start a debate about which coast is “better” overall (as I said, there are reasons I choose to live here and visit there), but I think briansd1 has hit the nail on the head with his observations.

And it’s really silly to say that people on the east coast are snooty about having degrees or not having degrees – degrees are irrelevant in this discussion, and the fact that number/type of degrees one has is even mentioned in the same discussion shows a lack of awareness about what was being addressed. Enjoying the company of great thinkers and debaters and engaging in fascinating discussions with open minded people has nothing to do with what number/type of degrees anyone has. Degrees are irrelevant to the concept of intellectualism.

Not to say that degrees are not wonderful and worthwhile and obviously represent many years of hard work, commitment and study…but many times there is little correlation between someone who is a true intellectual and someone who has a lot of impressive degrees.

Sorry if I sound snooty, but that’s my take on it… by the way, I have lots of wonderful, accomplished friends here (many are PhDs), and I bet they’d even agree with that statement.