Distancedegree.net Calls It Quits

The following message was posted on www.distancedegree.net by its owner:

At best, this site was another location to do what is done here. At worst, it was a collection of degree mill apologists and a place to go to feel better about your unaccredited school. The reality was likely somewhere in between.

At first, they were quick to pull the plug on anonymous flamers, which was nice. They also pulled Peter French's administrator privileges when he abused them; also nice. A lot of unsubstantiated--or just plain incorrect--stuff about unaccredited schools went unchecked, usually offered by those with a vested interest in those schools. And when confronted by the facts, its denizens would eventually resort to attacking the messenger when they (quickly) saw their arguments skewered. But with the proportion of unaccredited school advocates outnumbering the people who had counter-arguments, it was difficult to be contrary to the prevailing philosophy.

Ultimately, it dies because not enough people care to keep it alive.

 

I thought that it was dead many months ago.

 

So you didn't appreciate the humourless male member comment?

 

Re: Re: Distancedegree.net Calls It Quits

No, Dennis, I didn't. But I wasn't bothered by it. I just considered its source.

 

I think that this news is sad.

Frankly, I think that Degreeinfo is kind of incestuous. There's definitely room for more than one internet DL discussion group.

The problem with Distancedegree.net was that it never achieved a critical mass. People (like me) would drop in there, see no new posts or active threads and leave. After a while, we no longer dropped in at all.

 

It never achieved critical mass because anytime anyone mentioned a non-R/A program they were told the errors of their ways by a couple particularly vocal individuals who post here a lot.

The site had been set up as a home for individuals interested in non-R/A schools but ended up being a poor imitation of this forum.

May its death be quick and merciful. I was reputed to have immunity over there so I will miss it. I can't be near as bad here.

 

This reveals much, but not all. That board was started because "they" wanted a place where "they" could make all kinds of false statements about unaccredited schools without anyone else refuting them. But in order to have people log into the site, you have to let people exchange ideas. After much hand-wringing early on, the owner and the other guy (French) realized they had to let all points be considered. (Just as is done here.) Considered, but not sacrosanct.

BTW, no one was shown "the errors of their ways." The only people who got personal were the ones promoting fake and unrecognized schools. Look back at the posts. I, for one, couldn't care less where you or anyone else goes to school, until you start making false or unsupportable claims. Then it is those claims that get refuted.

I'm still looking forward to anyone refuting anything I had to say over there or over here about unaccredited schools. Not opinons, but facts.

It is interesting to note that you say your behavior is less-tolerated here than there. What does that say about said behavior?

 

But the founders created it with a narrow agenda: unaccredited schools. How much new can be said about that subject? After awhile, the same old falsehoods (and refuting them) became all there was, except the occasional ad hominem attack by someone frustrated that his/her sloppy logic regarding unaccredited schools would not be accepted without comment.

When was the last time a new degree program was discussed there?

 

Bad

 

I may be hopelessy cynical, but isn't it a coincidence that Distancedegree is shutting down at the same time that Collegehints.com is starting up, complete with a Kennedy-Western banner ad?


Bruce

 

Personally, I liked the alternative site at first. I do think that CA approved and nat'l accredited schools have a place in higher ed. and I think they do have utility for some people. If I lived in CA I would be an even stronger supporter. The problem, in my opinion, was the lack of honesty shown by some of the proponents of both of these. Instead of making a good case (which can be done), they relied on false arguments, personal attacks, and innuendo. This was a turnoff for me, and I suspect it was a turnoff for others, regardless of their stance on the many salient issues.

I can't say I'll miss it though, it has been gone for quite a while.

Tony

 

I'd agree with that statement and hasten to point out another fact. We all recognize that unaccredited schools of the shady sort appear to be finding no shortage of "students." Many people are willing to pay the money and take the diploma after doing little or no real work. The failure of distancedegree.net as a result of lack of interest serves as evidence that these people are aware that their degrees are phony and are unwilling/unable to defend them. This goes to the heart of the matter in regards to these people being the unwitting victims of scams. I don't believe that they are unwitting victims, I believe they know exactly what they're doing and exactly what they're getting. When you buy a DVD player out of the trunk of some guys car you don't mail in the warranty card. When you've got a bogus degree you don't shout it from the rooftops, you stay low-profile.
Jack

 

Ironically, I'm about to make a case for the utility of state-approved degrees! Nothing that contradicts what I've said before, of course, but hard data that supports the notion that such degrees enjoy a distinct (if lesser) acceptance for employment, even after employers receive information making it clear that state approval is not comparable to accreditation!

I guess I'll just make it here instead.

 

C'Mon, Rich. Don't leave us hanging!

Just post the complete dissertation here on DegreeInfo.

I for one promise not to download it, submit it to American College and earn a Ph.D. before your anticipated completion date in May.

 

Sorry, Russ. I've got to get the dean's letter first. But until then, you can ask questions and I'll answer them. In fact, that's how I'll handle it afterwards, too. There's no upside to publishing the entire dissertation.

 

Rich,

Regarding the level of acceptance by employers for degrees from state-approved schools (Cal Coast, etc.), what does your data reveal? For example, if degrees from RA schools enjoy a level of acceptance of 10 (on a scale of 1-10), how would degrees from state-approved schools rate?

5?
3?
7?

 

Try 10. When HR professionals were asked to rate the acceptability of recognition by the North Central Association, and also state approval, the difference between the two was not statistically significant. This was without explaining to them the difference between state approval and recognized accreditation. After an explanation was provided, the difference was statistically significant. If the NCA was a 10, state approval was still a 6. This is a remarkable finding. (And a paraphrase of the actual statistics, but you get the idea.)

 

From what I saw over there, they bashed Kennedy-Western as a place that gave unaccredited schools a bad name.

 

Thanks, Rich. Very interesting data, and I look forward to reviewing the dissertation.

 

Re: Re: Distancedegree.net Calls It Quits