David McCullough Commencement Speach - Jets Insider.com Forums

Big L · 06-13-2012, 10:09 PM

Anyone see this high school commencement speach?

"You are not special". Good speech, I agree.

[url]

FF2® · 06-13-2012, 10:20 PM

[QUOTE=Big L;4491125]Anyone see this high school commencement speach?

"You are not special".[/QUOTE]

Well you can't even spell speech, so you're not special.

Big L · 06-13-2012, 10:26 PM

[QUOTE=FF2®;4491130]Well you can't even spell speech, so you're not special.[/QUOTE]

Meh.

FF2® · 06-13-2012, 10:31 PM

[QUOTE=Big L;4491134]Meh.[/QUOTE]

LOLz....I'm special.

32green · 06-13-2012, 11:00 PM

Great points, but he was trying so hard to be "on point" he prolly lost all but the biggest nerd there with his flowery prose.

These were High School kids.

-

Bonhomme Richard · 06-13-2012, 11:02 PM

That was a good speech. I enjoy commencement addresses that veer away from the boilerplate.

Jetspennyfan · 06-14-2012, 01:05 AM

I don't like it. I agree that the "everyone is special thing" has to stop but not on graduation.

I remember my HS graduation as a very special day. Tell me I'm not important any other day, not a day that'll be a memory.

It's like someone yelling out the divorce rate at a marriage, there's just no need to on that particular day.

BushyTheBeaver · 06-14-2012, 01:26 AM

OK essay with some nice touches, but as a high school commencement speech, epic phail. One of the basic rules of writing is to know your audience. McCullough was charged with delivering a speech to an audience of high school seniors. And he didn't. He wrote for their parents (perhaps). He wrote certainly for an anticipated online audience. And no doubt he wrote for himself and his resume. But he didn't write for the very audience he was charged to write for. In fact, his remarks to the kids (and they are kids) were for the most part too world weary for them to grasp and very often quite derisive and rude. The same speech delivered to college seniors, maybe OK. At that age you're expected to have a thicker skin. But to high school kids? If I were a 17 year old in that audience, excited about celebrating my high school graduation, I'd prolly have thought he was a self-important windbag who hated kids. Which in fact may be a fairly accurate assessment.

Big L · 06-14-2012, 06:33 AM

As I'm not special, and reading comprehension and spelling skills are low, I think he set it up with [I]you're not special[/I], but then wrapped it up with [I]but be the best you can be[/I], no?

greenwichjetfan · 06-14-2012, 08:40 AM

As a 26 year old who has gone through ups and downs, this was captivating because I had that time to look back on and relate. However, for most people graduating high school, the world is still theirs for the taking, and the maturity to understand the depths of McCullogh's speech is probably still absent.

Phenomenal message, wrong audience.

FF2® · 06-14-2012, 09:16 AM

If you know Wellesley, this was a perfect speech.

The Boston Patriot · 06-14-2012, 09:33 AM

I like it a lot. Message was right on point and if any of the young adults weren't listening, they lost again. Given the attention deficit, peanut butter allergy, texting generation, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't. I would be willing to bet that those who listened won't be the ones pumping gas the week after graduation.

[quote]If you know Wellesley, this was a perfect speech. [/quote]
This guy gets it!

JetPotato · 06-14-2012, 10:08 AM

[QUOTE=BushyTheBeaver;4491174]OK essay with some nice touches, but as a high school commencement speech, epic phail. One of the basic rules of writing is to know your audience. McCullough was charged with delivering a speech to an audience of high school seniors. And he didn't. He wrote for their parents (perhaps). He wrote certainly for an anticipated online audience. And no doubt he wrote for himself and his resume. But he didn't write for the very audience he was charged to write for. In fact, his remarks to the kids (and they are kids) were for the most part too world weary for them to grasp and very often quite derisive and rude. The same speech delivered to college seniors, maybe OK. At that age you're expected to have a thicker skin. But to high school kids? If I were a 17 year old in that audience, excited about celebrating my high school graduation, I'd prolly have thought he was a self-important windbag who hated kids. Which in fact may be a fairly accurate assessment.[/QUOTE]

I'd be fine with my 17 year old getting that message. But the reality is 99% of them were probably too busy texting or playing Angry Birds the whole time to even hear any of it.

Carlton · 06-14-2012, 10:20 AM

[QUOTE=JetPotato;4491318]I'd be fine with my 17 year old getting that message. But the reality is 99% of them were probably too busy texting or playing Angry Birds the whole time to even hear any of it.[/QUOTE]

:shakescane: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

southside · 06-14-2012, 10:52 AM

I think that speech was incredibly on point and if those kids are too dumb to have LISTENED to someone who has more KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM than they do well... who gives a sh!t. Kids today are pampered little pusses. I'm probably one of them but at least I grew up in a time where discipline was still acceptable and self entitlement wasn't at an all time high.

That guy gets it and he delivered the "you're not sh!t" speech to the right group of kids because guess what, they aren't. And they are now adults and if they want to be something they better realize that they have to go and get it.

JetPotato · 06-14-2012, 11:01 AM

[QUOTE=Carlton;4491329]:shakescane: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/QUOTE]

Just gave me a great idea for a phone app.

iCane.

Any developers here?

[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/caneuk.png/][IMG]http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4127/caneuk.png[/IMG][/URL]

crossfire · 06-14-2012, 11:02 AM

[QUOTE=southside;4491362]I think that speech was incredibly on point and if those kids are too dumb to have LISTENED to someone who has more KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM than they do well... who gives a sh!t. Kids today are pampered little pusses. I'm probably one of them but at least I grew up in a time where discipline was still acceptable and self entitlement wasn't at an all time high.

That guy gets it and he delivered the "you're not sh!t" speech to the right group of kids because guess what, they aren't. And they are now adults and if they want to be something they better realize that they have to go and get it.[/QUOTE]

This guy gets it

as often as Tebow.

southside · 06-14-2012, 11:10 AM

[QUOTE=JetPotato;4491371]Just gave me a great idea for a phone app.

iCane.

Any developers here?

[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/caneuk.png/][IMG]http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4127/caneuk.png[/IMG][/URL][/QUOTE]

I'd develop it, but I'm pretty sure if you shake the iPhone you will break the screen.

32green · 06-14-2012, 12:05 PM

[QUOTE=southside;4491362]I think that speech was incredibly on point and if those kids are too dumb to have LISTENED to someone who has more KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM than they do well... who gives a sh!t. Kids today are pampered little pusses. I'm probably one of them but at least I grew up in a time where discipline was still acceptable and self entitlement wasn't at an all time high.

That guy gets it and he delivered the "you're not sh!t" speech to the right group of kids because guess what, they aren't. And they are now adults and if they want to be something they better realize that they have to go and get it.[/QUOTE]

SHut yer fook up!!!

-

Owen Reed · 06-14-2012, 12:29 PM

[QUOTE=Jetspennyfan;4491171]I don't like it. I agree that the "everyone is special thing" has to stop but not on graduation.

I remember my HS graduation as a very special day. Tell me I'm not important any other day, not a day that'll be a memory.

It's like someone yelling out the divorce rate at a marriage, there's just no need to on that particular day.[/QUOTE]

You obviously didn't listen to the speech.

He didn't say everyone isn't special, he said you're not special. He also didn't say you're not important, he said you're not special.

Now, go polish your participation trophies.

06-13-2012, 10:09 PM	#1
Big L Plus six thousand posts Veteran Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: It's all relative Posts: 1,066	David McCullough Commencement Speach Anyone see this high school commencement speach? "You are not special". Good speech, I agree. [url]

06-14-2012, 01:26 AM	#8
BushyTheBeaver size matters All League Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,929	OK essay with some nice touches, but as a high school commencement speech, epic phail. One of the basic rules of writing is to know your audience. McCullough was charged with delivering a speech to an audience of high school seniors. And he didn't. He wrote for their parents (perhaps). He wrote certainly for an anticipated online audience. And no doubt he wrote for himself and his resume. But he didn't write for the very audience he was charged to write for. In fact, his remarks to the kids (and they are kids) were for the most part too world weary for them to grasp and very often quite derisive and rude. The same speech delivered to college seniors, maybe OK. At that age you're expected to have a thicker skin. But to high school kids? If I were a 17 year old in that audience, excited about celebrating my high school graduation, I'd prolly have thought he was a self-important windbag who hated kids. Which in fact may be a fairly accurate assessment. Last edited by BushyTheBeaver; 06-14-2012 at 01:42 AM.

06-13-2012, 10:20 PM	#2
FF2® Believes Sloppy Guy was involved JetsInsider.com Legend Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 46,223	[QUOTE=Big L;4491125]Anyone see this high school commencement speach? "You are not special".[/QUOTE] Well you can't even spell speech, so you're not special.

06-13-2012, 10:26 PM	#3
Big L Plus six thousand posts Veteran Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: It's all relative Posts: 1,066	[QUOTE=FF2®;4491130]Well you can't even spell speech, so you're not special.[/QUOTE] Meh.

06-13-2012, 10:31 PM	#4
FF2® Believes Sloppy Guy was involved JetsInsider.com Legend Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 46,223	[QUOTE=Big L;4491134]Meh.[/QUOTE] LOLz....I'm special.

06-13-2012, 11:00 PM	#5
32green The original road-kill pus slurper. MMMmmm pus. Board Moderator Jets Insider VIP JetsInsider.com Legend Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The depths of Despair. Posts: 37,672	Great points, but he was trying so hard to be "on point" he prolly lost all but the biggest nerd there with his flowery prose. These were High School kids. -

06-13-2012, 11:02 PM	#6
Bonhomme Richard Board Moderator Jets Insider VIP Charter JI Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 4,103	That was a good speech. I enjoy commencement addresses that veer away from the boilerplate.

06-14-2012, 01:05 AM	#7
Jetspennyfan All League Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,251	I don't like it. I agree that the "everyone is special thing" has to stop but not on graduation. I remember my HS graduation as a very special day. Tell me I'm not important any other day, not a day that'll be a memory. It's like someone yelling out the divorce rate at a marriage, there's just no need to on that particular day.

06-14-2012, 06:33 AM	#9
Big L Plus six thousand posts Veteran Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: It's all relative Posts: 1,066	As I'm not special, and reading comprehension and spelling skills are low, I think he set it up with [I]you're not special[/I], but then wrapped it up with [I]but be the best you can be[/I], no?

06-14-2012, 08:40 AM	#10
greenwichjetfan All League Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,081	As a 26 year old who has gone through ups and downs, this was captivating because I had that time to look back on and relate. However, for most people graduating high school, the world is still theirs for the taking, and the maturity to understand the depths of McCullogh's speech is probably still absent. Phenomenal message, wrong audience.

06-14-2012, 09:16 AM	#11
FF2® Believes Sloppy Guy was involved JetsInsider.com Legend Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 46,223	If you know Wellesley, this was a perfect speech.

06-14-2012, 09:33 AM	#12
The Boston Patriot is getting the banned back together! All Pro Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Island of Sodor Posts: 6,263	I like it a lot. Message was right on point and if any of the young adults weren't listening, they lost again. Given the attention deficit, peanut butter allergy, texting generation, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't. I would be willing to bet that those who listened won't be the ones pumping gas the week after graduation. [quote]If you know Wellesley, this was a perfect speech. [/quote] This guy gets it!

06-14-2012, 10:08 AM	#13
JetPotato fermenting Hall Of Fame Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 12,142	[QUOTE=BushyTheBeaver;4491174]OK essay with some nice touches, but as a high school commencement speech, epic phail. One of the basic rules of writing is to know your audience. McCullough was charged with delivering a speech to an audience of high school seniors. And he didn't. He wrote for their parents (perhaps). He wrote certainly for an anticipated online audience. And no doubt he wrote for himself and his resume. But he didn't write for the very audience he was charged to write for. In fact, his remarks to the kids (and they are kids) were for the most part too world weary for them to grasp and very often quite derisive and rude. The same speech delivered to college seniors, maybe OK. At that age you're expected to have a thicker skin. But to high school kids? If I were a 17 year old in that audience, excited about celebrating my high school graduation, I'd prolly have thought he was a self-important windbag who hated kids. Which in fact may be a fairly accurate assessment.[/QUOTE] I'd be fine with my 17 year old getting that message. But the reality is 99% of them were probably too busy texting or playing Angry Birds the whole time to even hear any of it.

06-14-2012, 10:20 AM	#14
Carlton Teh jobless idle spawn of wealth guy. All Pro Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7,385	[QUOTE=JetPotato;4491318]I'd be fine with my 17 year old getting that message. But the reality is 99% of them were probably too busy texting or playing Angry Birds the whole time to even hear any of it.[/QUOTE] :shakescane: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

06-14-2012, 10:52 AM	#15
southside Forever Awesome All Pro Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 8,898	I think that speech was incredibly on point and if those kids are too dumb to have LISTENED to someone who has more KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM than they do well... who gives a sh!t. Kids today are pampered little pusses. I'm probably one of them but at least I grew up in a time where discipline was still acceptable and self entitlement wasn't at an all time high. That guy gets it and he delivered the "you're not sh!t" speech to the right group of kids because guess what, they aren't. And they are now adults and if they want to be something they better realize that they have to go and get it.

06-14-2012, 11:01 AM	#16
JetPotato fermenting Hall Of Fame Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 12,142	[QUOTE=Carlton;4491329]:shakescane: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/QUOTE] Just gave me a great idea for a phone app. iCane. Any developers here? [URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/caneuk.png/][IMG]http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4127/caneuk.png[/IMG][/URL]

06-14-2012, 11:02 AM	#17
crossfire Day by day, night after night... Blinded by the neon light Jets Insider VIP Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 5,681	[QUOTE=southside;4491362]I think that speech was incredibly on point and if those kids are too dumb to have LISTENED to someone who has more KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM than they do well... who gives a sh!t. Kids today are pampered little pusses. I'm probably one of them but at least I grew up in a time where discipline was still acceptable and self entitlement wasn't at an all time high. That guy gets it and he delivered the "you're not sh!t" speech to the right group of kids because guess what, they aren't. And they are now adults and if they want to be something they better realize that they have to go and get it.[/QUOTE] This guy gets it as often as Tebow.

06-14-2012, 11:10 AM	#18
southside Forever Awesome All Pro Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 8,898	[QUOTE=JetPotato;4491371]Just gave me a great idea for a phone app. iCane. Any developers here? [URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/caneuk.png/][IMG]http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4127/caneuk.png[/IMG][/URL][/QUOTE] I'd develop it, but I'm pretty sure if you shake the iPhone you will break the screen.

06-14-2012, 12:05 PM	#19
32green The original road-kill pus slurper. MMMmmm pus. Board Moderator Jets Insider VIP JetsInsider.com Legend Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The depths of Despair. Posts: 37,672	[QUOTE=southside;4491362]I think that speech was incredibly on point and if those kids are too dumb to have LISTENED to someone who has more KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM than they do well... who gives a sh!t. Kids today are pampered little pusses. I'm probably one of them but at least I grew up in a time where discipline was still acceptable and self entitlement wasn't at an all time high. That guy gets it and he delivered the "you're not sh!t" speech to the right group of kids because guess what, they aren't. And they are now adults and if they want to be something they better realize that they have to go and get it.[/QUOTE] SHut yer fook up!!! -

06-14-2012, 12:29 PM	#20
Owen Reed Banned Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 671	[QUOTE=Jetspennyfan;4491171]I don't like it. I agree that the "everyone is special thing" has to stop but not on graduation. I remember my HS graduation as a very special day. Tell me I'm not important any other day, not a day that'll be a memory. It's like someone yelling out the divorce rate at a marriage, there's just no need to on that particular day.[/QUOTE] You obviously didn't listen to the speech. He didn't say everyone isn't special, he said you're not special. He also didn't say you're not important, he said you're not special. Now, go polish your participation trophies.