So you know how I always say I hate identities and communities because I’m so different and unusual and just don’t fit in anywhere, right?
I just discovered that I’m not in any way special or unusual. I was simply looking for a community in all the wrong places. It turns out that there is a large community with blogs, magazines, books and a subculture of its own that thinks as I do, organizes reality in a way very similar to mine, and finds answers to the questions that interest me. What I can’t find among academics or the feminist community, this group has in spades.
I found this community as I was lying in bed last night, battling a fresh round of insomnia. Before you imagine anything exciting, I was scrolling down my news feed when I saw an article from a blog I’d just added on a lark. It was titled something like “What You Need to Know About Members of Group X.” The description of said group fitted me perfectly. As I kept reading articles published by this group I discovered that they offered really useful advice to assist me in teaching, research, workplace politics, and even in my interactions outside of work.
It’s a very interesting new experience for me to realize that I’m not in the least unique and there is a crowd of people just like me. That community is where I should have gone to find kindred spirits and get advice on how to be the best academic I can be.
So the riddle is: what is this exciting community I discovered?
Clarissa's Blog 
Academics who are dedicated to research. Since there you found “useful advice to assist me in teaching, research, workplace politics, and even in my interactions outside of work.” The words “and even” imply the community is dedicated to academia.
You gave yourself away too much in the post, but it’s not too late to change the latter and hide my comment. 🙂
LikeLike
That would be too easy, my friend, and I don’t fix easy riffles. 🙂 The point is precisely that these folks are not academics.
LikeLike
Maybe academics who are working in American universities but who are also immigrants?
LikeLike
I’m never that obvious, am I? 🙂
LikeLike
I have no idea, but I’m interested in watching the discussion here. 🙂
LikeLike
It’s a very easy guess for those who know me in person, I think. 🙂
LikeLike
The first reasonable (?) Google hit for your quote suggests you’re small, furry, and ferocious: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongoose
LikeLike
Ok, this is very close except from the small part. 🙂 The weight loss doesn’t go that far. :-)))
LikeLike
Homeschooling dog lovers?
Fundamentalist Christian austistics?
hmmm something says no….
a blog you added on a lark suggests something not related directly to academics or feminism or autism or the immigrant experience (or the other more predictable aspects of your life and work).
My guess is related to gardening. I’ve never caught the bug but I’ve known people who swear by its therapeutic and general getting-things-together powers.
LikeLike
Amazing guess Cliff. I am convinced. Scratch previous answer. I am seconding Cliff’s gardening guess. 🙂
LikeLike
Not gardening, nah hah nah. Harder than that. 🙂
LikeLike
No, not gardening. But you are going in the right direction when you guess that it’s not an obvious thing.
LikeLike
I too am going to go with gardening.
LikeLike
People who like those really bizarre but oddly fascinating sequinny handbags shaped like asparagus and stuff??
LikeLike
Actually, this is kind of going in the right direction in a way. 🙂
LikeLike
Spinning enthusiasts? Maybe just those who like the gym in general? Those who like to drive?
LikeLike
Something connected to home decor or/and general upkeep?
“If your pipes are leaking” turns into “If your research is lacking,” and so on. 🙂
Home upkeep is a good metaphor for pretty much everything, both personal and political.
LikeLike
““If your pipes are leaking” turns into “If your research is lacking,” and so on.”
– Very inventive. 🙂
OK, I’ll help: it’s a profession. But not mine.
LikeLike
Fashion designer?
LikeLike
Actually, I did add a couple of fashion blogs, too, and I hate them all passionately. 🙂
LikeLike
OK. My last guess: photography? 🙂
LikeLike
Programmers?
LikeLike
crafts? as in arts and?
LikeLike
Oh, no, not astrology? If your birthday is Friday, you’d be a Taurus. But you do say it’s a profession, so that doesn’t really make sense…
LikeLike
No, I’m Aries. Even though I don’t believe that. My husband is a Taurus.
LikeLike