Sorry to butt into this conversation and I will probbly regret it but out of the 100's of professors and thousands of students your sampling seems a bit off to me even by your own suggestions. Also the schools you mention are all good schools but they are not typical of colleges across this country and especially on the two coasts. I have lived and attended school in New York, Colorado, Wyoming and Chicago and I can tell you the Professors in Wyoming and Colorao were qite different than those in New York and Chicago. Again we are glad for those of you who share our passion and thankful for any and all support but to say academia is on our side I believe is overstating it a little bit. Also it would help in my opinion that when Joe or anyone else challenges your views to not treat them likie a first year student and not tell them you are right and they are wrong because you are the professor and we don't have your knowledge or insight and how can we be doubting your experience. When in fact our experience has been different from yours. Most of the people that actively participate on this board seem to be well educated and we have nothing to gain by slamming academia but are speaking what they believe to be true and from their own experiences. Again this is just one persons view and I thank you for reading it whether or not we agree.
Michael J
