This week I have been confronted with the fact that so many of my colleagues are amassing a good amount of academic publishing credits, and I have/am not. I have a lot of conferences under my belt, but the last one was in 2021 and 🧐 serious academic clout is not necessarily associated with them.

Years ago when I hoped my future lay in academic work, preferably teaching and definitely research, I would have been happy for them and decidedly jealous.

Now I’m just like, “cool!”

I’ve gone through a bit of a transformation when it comes to energy conservation and jealousy takes much more energy than calm appreciation for another’s achievement.

“Good job!” I celebrate and then move on.

(Energy Savings: the equivalent of three social interactions and a phone call.)

Yet the main thing is that I’ve decided (dissertation excepted) is not to give away to my writing to another entity for free.

“But your blog is free.” Yes, and it is mine. Moving on. (Energy Savings: One post office visit.)

The academic world continues to eat itself with fascist capitulation and mindless A.I. adoption that I can no longer take it seriously as an institution. My small group of academics that I work with daily – total intellectual super-people – the rest of it, feh.

I’ve know that academia has little reward for the people responsible for the day-to-day learning, but I never thought they would gut themselves so completely.

Anyway, I am happy for the work my colleagues are doing and I know it will expand the knowledge of their respective fields. I truly hope it helps them achieve their academic goals. Maybe one day we’ll create an academic environment that appreciates their work as more than a line on the CV.

Pay the writers.

• inspired by academic profiting