So I reconnected with an old friend on FB a few years ago, we both have kids in their late teens
Last fall she announced her son was going to France for the year before starting Intl Relations at GWU
She was marking him safe during one of last year’s terror attacks in Europe
Today she mentions that he is “safe in Houston”, so I asked why he was there, since classes started today at GWU
Friend responds that he’s attending community college in Houston at “one of two schools in the States with undergraduate degrees in Criminology”… :roll:
I thought just about every community college and 4 yr college offered Criminology?
Do most kids go from GW to Houston Community college? Plus, as a California resident, why go al the way to Houston for CC?
Your thoughts?
My thoughts are you shouldn’t spend so much energy worrying about someone else’s kid. Sounds like his plans changed and he isn’t going to GW after all. It happens.
I get that plans change, it’s the “One of 2 schools” comment which is puzzling
Take a step back and stay in your lane. Frankly it is none of your business, where the kid is attending school or the circumstances that led to the change of plans. Are you really being a friend or are you looking for something to gossip about. If this person is truly your friend let her know you are glad her child is safe and move on. Anything that she really wants you to know, she will tell you
Most CCs don’t offer four year degrees at all.
Either way, not your business. Just be glad he’s safe.
There are certain areas of expertise at different programs just like any other area of study. Perhaps this particular school has an expert in a certain field this student is interested in.
I guess it is not that critical, but I do wonder if I’m supposed to pretend to believe inaccurate information about criminology programs, though
Just be glad that her son is safe. Nothing else is your concern.
Lots of things could be going on.
One possibility (but only one) is that perhaps the friend’s kid has had some detours and difficulties and setbacks. One of mine was in that boat. During that time, I didn’t say too much about that kid and kept my story pretty vague.
Most people caught the vibe, were good to not pry much, and only said nice supportive things.
But some people were quite dumb, nosey and jerky. You should not be that guy.
This sounds like a cover story. Unless the person is your closest friend or sibling, they’re allowed to give you a cover story. You don’t have to believe anything people tell you about the unique awesomeness of their child’s school.
That said, it’s not unusual for a child to go to CC out of state if a family can afford it. Some kids are socially ready to move away but don’t have the credentials for a 4-year school, some kids want to live with out-of-state relatives for a while, etc.
If we were all that convinced curiosity is so bad, would we be on CC?
It’s ok, OP, as long as you’re just curious. Maybe they have some connection to Houston, girlfriend, present or future work possibilities, could be anything.
Curiosity for something that interests you, maybe. Like if your kid was thinking about criminology too and you were curious as to programs offered, good schools to attend, etc. But I do not get the sense that is the case here. Looks like OP just wants to know if FB friend is not telling the truth. If its a close friend I could see trying to determine if you could help. But I don’t get the sense that is the case here either.
So you may find out that friend isn’t telling the truth. As noted above, there may be a lot of reasons for that. Not everything is shared with everyone equally. And for good reason. And often times, people are not trying out their stories to make sure they are 100% consistent. So what does that accomplish if its the case? Seems to me nothing other than likely never talking to the friend again. If she is telling the truth, you look like you doubted her and felt the need to question her story. What does that accomplish?
When I read your post, my first thought was that you were wondering whether the son is actually in the places mentioned. Do you have any reason to think he isn’t/wasn’t? I’ve known people who would make up things like that in order to get attention and sympathy and “be part of the action.”
I did wonder that too @sylvan8798. I hope her son is fine, of course, but it all seems not to add up
I do know people whose kids have had detours, many college transfers or “wilderness camp” or foreign boarding schools. I didn’t see anything pushy about responding to her “safe” post by saying, “So glad he’s safe, whatever is he doing in Houston”
No, you can say so glad he is safe. Period, full stop
The whatever he is doing in Houston, when she already told you her son is attending school. sounds like you are trying to clap at her. It makes you come off as petty, passive aggressive or trying to be slick with your words and it is definitely not becoming.
What ever her story is, it does not have to make sense to you. Are you looking to stir a pot or are you just a modern day Gladys Kravitz.?
I’d have to google to get the Gladys Kravitz reference, but won’t as it’s likely mean. As it happens, in my circles of old schoolmates, asking about offspring is common, not over the top. Especially if the other person posts that “safe” status on FB…if she had posted herself “safe” on FB, I’d have asked the same question, since I know she doesn’t live there…
Gladys Kravitz was the nosy neighbor of Darrin and Samantha on Bewitched. So not really mean, but kind of funny.
Gladys Karavitz is a busybody.
The issue that Op really wants to get to is not that her friend’s son is safe in Houston but What she says in her post the "plausibility " of her friends story. She doesn’t have to believe a word her friend says, Just smile and nod. How is picking her friends story apart really benefiting anyone?
It benefits me to be able to assess if people around me are fibbers or not; I don’t think of myself as nitpicking, but will reflect on it,
One helpful poster told me some CCs have areas of specialization, so that was useful info
I do have a career which requires precise info, and that I clarify inconsistencies, maybe work is following me home
My thought is that you’ve been on CC long enough to know most kids don’t go from GW to cc in Houston, especially when their parents are residents of CA. I’m wondering why it matters?
Plans can change. Parents don’t owe other people an explanation when they do, and if they give one it doesn’t have to make sense. You don’t have to believe the Houston cc has a unique major, but you should politely accept it if that’s what she told you. I don’t really understand your comment that you don’t know if you’re “supposed to pretend” to believe “inaccurate information about criminology programs.” What else would you do?