system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
I really want to study philosophy. Does this mean I should go to grad school?

 I hear many say that the only true or real (or best) way to do it is in academia. But many people also advise strongly against going to grad school for philosophy. So it sounds like a double-bind if the best way to study philosophy is something you shouldn't do. 

Then if a person wants to seriously study philosophy, what other option is there? How sound is it to attempt to be self-taught in philosophy?
gpt
Certainly you will study philosophy if you go to graduate school, but unless you are wealthy or have an alternate career path mapped out, graduate school is for learning how to be an academic.  That is, graduate school is for leaning how to *do* philosophy and *be* an (academic) philosopher.