I'm leaving this group tonight. I have learned a few things. I've also
received fairly condescending remarks when unwarranted (Thanks so
much, John Denker). The main reason for leaving, though, is the main
problem with academia and politics. I spent a number of years in
academia. The politics were liberal. Everyone was liberal. I was
liberal. You expected that you could make fun of conservatives and
everyone would laugh. No real thought attached to it. Just
indoctrination from the first moment of undergrad. I moved away from
academia and began to think more about my politics. What i eventually
arrived at personally was not as important as my view from the outside
regarding academia. I still "do business" with those in academia, and
they assume everyone around them is liberal, so any caustic comment
about conservatives is fine. That's what happens on this list. One can
make any kind of disparaging remark about conservatives and it's okay.
One can even make ridiculous claims that the views of fundamentalists
are typical of conservatives in general. It's expected that all will
agree with any liberal comment, and that it won't be questioned. When
someone questions liberal dogma, one gets attacked. I am reminded of a
comment one NY Times reporter made after Reagan was elected--"How did
this happen? No one I know voted for him." I'm afraid this list
remains just as out of touch with the real world. If politics were
completely banned from this list, that would be great. But only
conservative politics are considered political. Liberal politics are
considered business as usual. So long, and thanks for all the fish.