--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I get messages from 21-year old white…" description: "\"I get messages from 21-year old white dudes who have just gotten out of an expensive college and say 'Hey can I pick your brain?' and I have nothing to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/adam-conover-6921_advice_i-get-messages-from-21-year-old-white-du_2564210.jpg" --- # I get messages from 21-year old white dudes who have just… ![“I get messages from 21-year old white dudes who have just gotten out of an expensive college and say 'Hey can I pick your brain?' and I have nothing to say to them because A. They already have all the advantages and B. My advice would be the same as anyone else: Go do open mics.” quote by Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/adam-conover-6921_advice_i-get-messages-from-21-year-old-white-du_2564210.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/adam-conover-6921_advice_i-get-messages-from-21-year-old-white-du_2564210.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/adam-conover-6921_advice_i-get-messages-from-21-year-old-white-du_2564210.jpg) > “I get messages from 21-year old white dudes who have just gotten out of an expensive college and say 'Hey can I pick your brain?' and I have nothing to say to them because A. They already have all the advantages and B. My advice would be the same as anyone else: Go do open mics.” [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker criticizes privileged newcomers seeking advice, noting they already have advantages and suggesting they should gain experience through open mic performances. **In simple terms:** Privileged people ask for advice they don’t need; try open mics instead. Key Takeaway Encourage self‑directed learning and humility. Themes privilege advice culture experience Mood reflective critical Type advice social commentary When to use this quote - open mic participation - networking events - skill workshops - mentorship programs Key Concepts self‑growth humility career development Questions to Reflect On - What can those with privilege do beyond personal growth? - How can we make advice more equitable? A Different Perspective The advice may not address deeper systemic inequities that give some people unearned advantages. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Open mic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mic/) ## Related quotes > [Standup comedy was my weird hobby. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-sennott/as-a-freshman-in-college-i-was-dating-this-guy-who-said-he-was-a/) [Rachel Sennott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-sennott/) > [When I started, I was very deliberate about making friends with people like John Mulaney who were really funny and wanted to go up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/when-i-started-i-was-very-deliberate-about-making-friends-with-people/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [I started going to the open mics every day in 2003. You make the comics laugh, they get you work, and you build up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-griffin/i-started-going-to-the-open-mics-every-day-in-2003-you-make-the/) [Erik Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-griffin/) > [I did so many open mics. I would write jokes on Twitter constantly, and then slowly, over time, open mics turned into shows. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-wolf/i-did-so-many-open-mics-i-would-write-jokes-on-twitter-constantly-and/) [Michelle Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-wolf/) > [I used to go to open mics in New York when I was starting out, and it was mostly just people who wanted an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-schaal/i-used-to-go-to-open-mics-in-new-york-when-i-was-starting-out-and-it/) [Kristen Schaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-schaal/) > [Hopefully people are upset for the reason I want them to be upset. Even when I was doing open mics, I've always had people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/hopefully-people-are-upset-for-the-reason-i-want-them-to-be-upset/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) ## More by Adam Conover > [Millennials are always on their phones and it's running their lives, but you know who is also on their phones? 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And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. 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