I often realise as I’ve written it that I may be doxxing myself (sharing an anecdote about my past etc) so often that’s my reason to delete. It’s pretty paranoid but I do value my anonymity here.

I don’t have a degree. Started one back in the late '00s but didn’t complete it cos life got in the way.

Successful career in related industry but occasionally I’ll go for a job only to see it has higher ed quals as mandatory. I think I’ll lie next time if there’s something I really want to go for and know I can do.

I’m old enough that even if I had completed the course, it was all paperbased paperwork - no one’s tracking the truth down and no one really cares. Of all the recruitment I’ve done, I’ve never cared about anyone’s degrees. Hell, half the technologies and methodologies I work with didn’t even exist when I was at uni. So who gives a shit even if I did have the degree.

My nephew was straight up adorable from the moment he was born. People doted on him left and right. He was a personable, polite little boy (beyond his years so it stood out) and wait staff etc would take time to say hello, compliment his parents and maybe give him a treat.

Then he got that little bit older and his baby brother was born. The attention shifted away from him. You could see him try to interact with people in the same way, and when he didn’t get the same reaction a little light left his eyes. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great little teenager now and it hasn’t affected him. But there was a short period of time where he was a sweet little innocent and the world rewarded him for it. The rewards go away, and sometimes without them I think the child stops exhibiting the behaviour.

Interesting thought op.

Edit for typos