Fast Fiction

Here’s a cool article written by an academic about how life is not as stressful as some other academics would have you believe. Complain, Complain by David Lester in the Chronicle of Higher Education. He’s very even-keeled when describing the difference between the hard work that workers do and the hard work that academics do. Let’s face it, it can’t compare.

But my favorite part of it was this: I have not attended a faculty meeting since 1972. I found that I liked my colleagues much better if I did not listen to their silly comments in such meetings.

This is something I’ve suspected for a long time. We’re all much happier in the dark. We’re all much happier not looking at a big picture we have no control over. What’s the point of going to meetings where nothing happens except you are informed of everyone else’s dissatisfaction ... which you have no control over.

Yes, I belong to the Ignorance is Bliss Club. It’s a huge club, but don’t bother coming to the meetings. None of us ever show up.