Blogger Z keeps churning out those posts that are so good I want to kiss them:
What if those who say they are having such a hard time with research and writing and suffering so greatly, are faking it completely?
What if the ones who want me to use my blog space to discuss suffering even more than I already do, alleging that only in this way can I convince the legislature that what we do is work, are precisely those fat, entitled types the legislature is complaining about?
What if going on about how much we are suffering just makes us look silly to the legislature? I want to emphasize that research and writing, if work, are not onerous requirements but what we came for.
I seriously think that people who do not like to write, should not have gone to graduate school in the humanities, and people who are not interested in research, should not have gone to graduate school at all.
Academia can hope for a very bright future while we have academics like Z defending it. Z’s blog is a breath of fresh air in more ways than one, so I highly recommend. After one reads all those miserable academic blogs about research being “effectively gendered male“, it is such a relief to find a passionate, undefeated, powerful scholar like Z to serve as one’s role model.
Clarissa's Blog 
I must say that both you and Z do an exceedingly good job of fighting the good fight undefeated! 🙂
LikeLike
Yay!! Thank you. 🙂 I’m more of a follower than a leader at this point, of course. 🙂
LikeLike
Undefeated, O good. Don’t emulate me entirely though – I screwed up at more than one job and I am lucky to have tenure anywhere. Most people who say they are suffering have not been through anywhere near lo que yo, etc., and remember I’m studying for the LSAT and fixing up the house to sell, because I have had it with listening to all these people. I do not recommend my exact path.
LikeLike
This difficult journey you’ve had today allows you to give this really great advice. While SOME people who haven’t had it nearly that hard keep discouraging beginning academics with stories of how everything is so horrible.
I come into the classroom and sincerely announce, “God, this is the best job in the world!” And students say, “Really?? This is not what other profs are saying!”
LikeLike
You’ve got to consider what my X would say, namely: I only sound smart on my blog, and my blog is a fraudulent text for that reason! 😉
LikeLike
P.S. Best job in the world, I don’t know, but research / writing sure aren’t what is wrong with it!
LikeLike