I'm an expert
Formerly worldrevolution. The only reason I am nice to anyone else is to avoid being banned.
This might be the new king of weird for this thread. Ick. Do you also have one of those weird chains you attach to your pants lol.
Wearing a class ring
- Thread starter youngplaya21
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This might be the new king of weird for this thread. Ick. Do you also have one of those weird chains you attach to your pants lol.
EdibleExplosives
Member
Holy fuck, you'd pay over 1000 dollars for a ring from your college? Maybe it's just cause I'm not from the US, but that seems insane.
Pristine_Condition
Member
I'm a Texas Tech guy, and I hate Aggy with a passion, (including all their goofy traditions) but don't be silly. Texas A&M is a very good state school, and a degree from there carries a good deal of value.
I didn't get a class ring, but I probably wouldn't wear it even if I had one, except maybe to alumni events and football games. I simply don't wear jewelry of any type. I used to like nice watches, but I don't even wear those anymore.
RoadHazard
Gold Member
Yep, I have no concept of that stuff at all. We just got (bought) a hat when graduating high school.
empty vessel
Member
I'd sell it for its value in gold and diamonds. I don't get college rings.
What? How is that weird? Its just attached to my key ring, no. Better than it getting lost in my house somewhere.
adamsappel
Member
My uncle is a professor at Texas A&M. He's been there for 30 years. I'm sure if you asked him, he'd still say he's a West Virginian.
Thinking we're weird because of our traditions is one thing. Thinking we're tools is another. Our traditions aren't harming anyone and I think some of them are pretty cool, like Muster.
Might as well find a Japanese girl in a kimono or a Scot in a kilt and call him/her a tool because "his/her dress is weird" and they are proud of it.
Calling someone a tool for something that has no bearing on your life is what I would consider bitter, personally.
EDIT: I've never heard of the jar until now and I've been at that school for 3 years...I don't think it's real. My friend who's in the traditions council has never heard of it either..
Intra-school ribbing is now basically like racism, gotcha.
Tornado Condor
Member
A tool would buy an overpriced ring because of "tradition".
And no, i'm not bitter. I attend a better school than you and we aren't fooled into buying a ring because of "tradition".
My comparison wasn't meant to include any racism, but of course now you're going to focus on that.
EDIT:
This is what I meant:
Scot in a kilt - traditional garb.
He's proud of it.
If you think he's a tool because he's wearing it and he's proud and you think it's weird, that is a very easily comparable to:
Aggie wearing their ring - traditional accessory
They're proud of it.
You think they're a tool because they're wearing it and they're proud and you think it's weird.
Am I right?
Nobody's fooled into buying a ring, people actually legitimately want them. For some people, they have multiple generations of Aggies in their family and one symbol of that is them having their rings.
And what does "I attend a better school than you" have to do with anything? Did you bring that up just to look down on me?
that1dude24
Member
the idea is that the "want" is manufactured, not that the tradition (which, used as a reason itself is foolish) is long lasting. there may well be a long lineage of tools.
I'm sorry, what? What on earth do you mean by the "want is manufactured"? People want things for different reasons, and any material desire for something is "manufactured" in a sense. The Aggie Ring is a symbol of high ethics at the school, a symbol of hard work for your degree at A&M. For some people, their father or grandfather even have one, and they've wanted one since they were children looking at their parent's ring. I mean honestly. I want one just because if you've seen my other thread, you would know that me graduating from A&M is a big deal to me and I want my Aggie Ring as a symbol of my accomplishment and a memory of my senior year. And "long lineage of tools"?
As far as I can tell in this thread, it's mostly been polite people, but it's also included people who don't go to A&M who are just plain rude or insulting for no reason other than our school has class rings and we enjoy them and make them a celebrated part of our subculture.
The reason isn't the tradition. There are many reasons the Aggie Ring is honored at the school, the tradition was born out of those reasons.
I'm an expert
Formerly worldrevolution. The only reason I am nice to anyone else is to avoid being banned.
If a&m really was some exceptionally unique school I'd see the point of everything you wrote..but it's no different than any other average university in the states. Your accomplishment isn't any better or worse than any other 4 year undergrad program in the country. So assigning a symbolic value to something so generic as completing college is a bit odd.. the tradition stuff is fine by me. Weird, but fine. But hard work? ethics? da fuck.. your school is just a cesspool of 20sumtin fuckwits.. like every other school lol.
that1dude24
Member
i was trying to expand on salva's point, don't take the "tools" line too personally. of course desire is drummed up and manufactured for materials and products, but this is an exceptional case - where a product has little to no utility, is incorporated into a subculture, and desire for the product is almost entirely borne out of tradition and/or social pressures.
if all you really want to do is have a symbol of your accomplishment, why not make a small scrapbook? take some pictures of friends or places around campus, it would certainly be cheaper than purchasing a ring that almost covers the costs of two or three classes, and more directly symbolize good memories throughout your stay at the college.
i'm not trying to be rude or insulting here, i just think it's beyond silly to buy a ($1500?) dollar ring for reasons that amount to little more than symbolic value. if there are really many reasons, could you list them here? i'm curious what they could be because, as you stated, i don't go to a&m.
arglebargle
Member
this thread is a bit odd to me. i didnt get a class ring from my school because i am not really into jewelry (i am going to start wearing a wedding ring soon, which is tough enough) but i do not think it is toolish or weird to wear one. i certainly wouldnt judge someone. i didnt even know it was regional, and im still not convinced it is. my impression is that a lot of people from northeastern colleges and universities, especially the elite ones, wear rings.
at least not for college. high school is weird.
edit:
also, what is with people thinking $1500 for gold and diamond jewelry is a lot? not being a snob here, but it is not surprising that jewelry costs that much. even if he only wears it rarely or to specific functions, it doesnt seem like a frivolous waste of some enormous sum.
at least not for college. high school is weird.
edit:
also, what is with people thinking $1500 for gold and diamond jewelry is a lot? not being a snob here, but it is not surprising that jewelry costs that much. even if he only wears it rarely or to specific functions, it doesnt seem like a frivolous waste of some enormous sum.
that1dude24
Member
i think jewelry is a frivolous waste, but i'm sure i'm not of majority opinion there - that does also factor into my response.
unpurposed
Member
IHTFP?
I mean, an engagement/wedding ring is also nothing more than symbolic/traditional value, but people spend money on those because they still think it's worth it.
People think spending the money for the ring is worth it.
I mean, there can be a lot of sentimental values for the ring. Some of the symbolic values of the ring itself are here: http://aggietraditions.tamu.edu/symbols/aggiering.html, but there are others, like I mentioned:
- tradition
- symbol of honor and ethics of the university
- if others in your family have one, people like to get theirs as well.
- sentimental value or accomplishment
- memory of senior year
- exclusive accessory/networking symbol. You recognize an Aggie by their ring.
- a lot of people just think it's a cool looking ring
Some of these reasons don't resonate with me and some of them do, but people have different reasons for wanting one. Either way, they think it's worth it to pay for it. Just like some people have reasons for buying any kind of expensive ring. Though in fact, the girls rings are much cheaper, $700-800, because they're smaller and use less gold. Men's rings are expensive because they're bigger (14k solid gold, $1500, although the 10k solid gold is $1000 instead).
Me? I still don't know how I'm going to pay for it. Was hoping to put some money aside, maybe I'll get a ring scholarship, I don't know. I may not get it for a while. I do want one, though, for some of the reasons mentioned. If I can't afford it then I won't get it.
Aggie culture/spirit is a really detailed complicated thing that is best either learned by being a student here or pouring over wikis, hahaha, so part of it I'm just going to say is: "it's an Aggie thing".
Also, I'm going to be "that guy" and say...I probably shouldn't lurk this thread anymore because I have a thermo final on Friday I have to study for lol.
Actually, A&M isn't an average or mediocre university, it's ranked very well in many programs for a public university, particularly in engineering and business. Either way, I'm not saying it's a symbol that we're better than other people. We're not and I don't care to pick fights with other schools like some Aggies do lol. My accomplishment of going to college is special to me because 6 years ago I could never have seen myself graduating from college, let alone the major I picked, so the ring would symbolize my accomplishment of my hard work.
And A&M takes its honor stuff very seriously, we have an honor code and an honors council and yada yada. I'm aware other schools probably do that too but for whatever reason A&M takes huge pride in that (and things like The Big Event) and the ring is a symbol of that.
lunchtoast
Member
It's not weird at all.
captmorgan
Banned
I don`t see any problem with a class ring, I`ve met many Canadian Eng. With the "iron ring"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Ring
"The Iron Ring, sometimes also known as a Steel Ring, is a ring worn by many Canadian-trained engineers, as a symbol and reminder of the obligations and ethics associated with their profession. From a concept originated in 1922,[1] the ring is presented to graduates in a closed ceremony known as The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer...."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Ring
"The Iron Ring, sometimes also known as a Steel Ring, is a ring worn by many Canadian-trained engineers, as a symbol and reminder of the obligations and ethics associated with their profession. From a concept originated in 1922,[1] the ring is presented to graduates in a closed ceremony known as The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer...."
Threads like these make me wonder how many US gaffers graduated from a university they actually liked and got a job they actually liked. The hate for class rings is...astounding.
OP, you wear it to: Alumni events, sporting events, work when you feel like it, when you dress up for work/social occasions, and nice bars and shit on the weekends.
I know the Tech ones can be expensive, and UT, but I have a few friends with aTm rings and they said they are partially subsidized by the student organizations? All of them paid under 500 for theirs, and under 500 is an amazing price for a ring with a diamond in it. But, anywho, congrats on graduating man. Get a jerb!
OP, you wear it to: Alumni events, sporting events, work when you feel like it, when you dress up for work/social occasions, and nice bars and shit on the weekends.
I know the Tech ones can be expensive, and UT, but I have a few friends with aTm rings and they said they are partially subsidized by the student organizations? All of them paid under 500 for theirs, and under 500 is an amazing price for a ring with a diamond in it. But, anywho, congrats on graduating man. Get a jerb!
Zoe
Member
Those are nothing like school rings though.
In MURICA, you can purchase "class rings" aka fancy and expensive rings that typically has your college name and year of graduation. They have them for high school and college.
For college I don't think there's anything wrong with it as it symbolizes hard work and accomplishment, but people who wear high school rings scream "I peaked in high school."
$1500 is a lot of money though. You could almost buy a PS4 AND an Xbox Infinite for that much.
....lol
GungHo
Single-handedly caused Exxon-Mobil to sue FOX, start World War 3
Exactly. Some folks will say it's Vietnam or WWII, but I'm not sure anyone knows the full story. Now it's just something they use to go after UT folks... who don't really notice it all that much because they really just want to fight with OU.
I clarified in a subsequent post that I was fucking with them. I also noted in other posts that I am actually from that part of the world and work with many Aggies.
This is where it goes off the deep end, though. It's not a symbol of ethics. It's a symbol of pride. Pride is ok, but growing it to mean something more than "I went to A&M" is where it gets crazy. If it makes you feel better, I also laugh at the recruiters we have that refuse to recruit from anywhere but BYU, OU, or wherever and try to stack their entire organization with nothing but graduates from one university. Hell, I even roll my eyes at other Marines when I see six or seven bumper stickers with "Semper Fi" and Globe and Anchors on their trucks as if the first sticker didn't get the point across. The only people I give any real reverence toward when it comes to bumper sticker pride is the POW-MIA and Purple Heart stuff.
Mr.Monitor
Member
Damn, $1500? Anyways, I've always thought they're kinda tacky but don't let that discourage you from wearing it if you want. At the same time I don't really see any issue with just having it as a keepsake, either. Do whatever you feel like, man.
One of the many functions of the Aggie ring is to remind ourselves of our commitment to the Aggie Code of Honor (An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal or tolerate those who do), so in that way, yes, it's deeply tied to ethics.
Kinda like a wedding ring is there to remind you not to touch the girls.
Kinda like a wedding ring is there to remind you not to touch the girls.
GoldenEye 007
Member
I'd imagine like a lot of things, it holds varying value to the person buying it or wearing it. Some people find them important for themselves, others not.
BertramCooper
Banned
You're making A&M sound exactly like BYU.
casablanca
Member
Seeme pointless .
And ugly.
And ugly.
Zoe
Member
A yearbook with 9000 people in your class alone?
You can try all you want, but you won't make any Aggie in this thread apologize for feeling a deep sense of community and valuing their education.
whatsinaname
Member
How much does the ring actually weigh?
BertramCooper
Banned
so it's like green lantern's ring, except giving you awesome powers it makes you a decent human being?
PetriP-TNT
Member
Well that is some stupid shit to spend stupid amounts of money for.
We had class rings on the sixth grade, they cost like 20 bucks, not worth a single penny.
We had class rings on the sixth grade, they cost like 20 bucks, not worth a single penny.
There is quite a hard sell, the schools allow pretty agressive marketing on campus, when I was in HS, they put a small tv in every classroom which received a satellite news broadcast every morning with a healthy amount of commercials for stuff like snickers,razors and clearasil, it was called Channel One.
perfectchaos007
Member
It's the only cult I'm aware of that gives you a degree at the end.
It's pretty weird as a murcan, too.
youngplaya21
Member
Honestly surprised about the amount of hate surrounding class rings. I wore it to my final presentation for Senior Design, and I liked how I looked when I paired it with a suit. Plus it doesn't look like the high school class rings people keep posting in this thread: just gold with diamonds
SquiddyCracker
Banned
It always amazes me how college is made out to be such a massive deal to some americans.
Not only the class rings, but also in just general school spirit/pride as showcased by college football leagues.
Not only the class rings, but also in just general school spirit/pride as showcased by college football leagues.
EatinOlives
Member
It's seen as crazy by many people IN the Corps as well.
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