What do I do with this?
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@Steve-Miller said in What do I do with this?:
This is not the hill to die on.
This is the question, isn’t it. Is this the hill? IOW, does this work take a stand? And would I die on it? As in, would it get noticed, and could I write it up in such a way that it doesn’t? (Also, would I want to write it up in that way?)
My research has applications to linguistic human rights, and one of my new projects (on stereotypes about accents and accent stigma) brings that out even more.
This particular project, depending on how I write it up, could be more neutral, but it can also be more critical, which is how I presented it when I gave my talk.
Ugh, the more I think about it, the more I want to publish it because I agree with what @pique is saying.
But @Steve-Miller ‘s pragmatic take is also important. I definitely need to keep my job.
Also, here’s a super paranoid thing to say: my husband is not a US citizen. Yes, he has a green card, but how vulnerable are we as an international family?
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@ShiroKuro A few years ago I probably would have thought that you were being too concerned about running into problems, but after following @Daniel thread about what happened at places like New College, it's pretty clear that things are changing in academia in a bigly way.
It's too simplistic to write these concerns off as TDS. Trump is providing a powerful platform and paving the way for people like DeSantis, Paxton (TX) et al. They represent what a lot of people in America seem to want.
Seems like moving forward with your paper is the right thing to do, but the reality is there is potentially much at stake if you do.
I don't know what to tell you. I'm not sure what I would do.
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Well there’s no deadline on this decision…. For better or worse.
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@ShiroKuro said in What do I do with this?:
And anyone who's brain isn't made of rocks will see that my analysis is very critical (but again, not re politics)....
The "brain isn't made of rocks" part here is key. Did you hear that google searches for "Did Joe Biden drop out" and "Is Joe Biden running" skyrocketed..... ON ELECTION DAY? And that in the past few days, one of the top searches on Google has been "What are tariffs and who pays them?" In other words, the intellectual ability of the average American honestly seems to be about the same as the average rock.
I do think getting the opinion of your department chair would be good, but I like the idea of calling them JP and AP - you aren't calling anyone out and your article isn't even overtly critical. Like Pique said about the KKK article, Trump supporters may even like that you are showing how "tough" and "manly" his rhetoric is and it wouldn't surprise me if Trump himself was flattered that someone wrote an academic article about him, especially if it's comparing him to another hardline politician that he admires.
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@Lisa said in What do I do with this?:
Did you hear that google searches for "Did Joe Biden drop out" and "Is Joe Biden running" skyrocketed..... ON ELECTION DAY? And that in the past few days, one of the top searches on Google has been "What are tariffs and who pays them?" In other words, the intellectual ability of the average American honestly seems to be about the same as the average rock.<
I hadn't heard about those Google searches and I'm horrified but not surprised.
I think my perspective has been shaped by having spent the past 40 or so years living in what is now deep red Trump country. It was very charming and enlightening and interesting to be in a very different culture for a very long time. A place where people have different values and priorities than what I grew up with. Whose intelligence didn't come from book learning but from common sense.
And now, I am just done with uneducated people who can't think critically. Just done. Because the common sense, the only redeeming quality, appears to be gone. After this election, my patience and my curiosity are exhausted. I've put in my time. We are going to return to our tribe and get out of here. (Not WTF here; Montana here. Or at least the part of Montana that was seduced by Trump, which isn't all of it.)
Actually I don't know exactly what we are going to do. But being surrounded by boxes of rocks isn't it.
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SK, you are smart to consider all of these things, and I think talking to your department chair and whoever else can give you good guidance is a smart move as well. Probably essential.
We can't know, nor can we control the future. We don't know that this paper would put you and your husband in any kind of jeopardy. Anticipating that it might, and then censoring yourself because of what might happen, seems to me like a betrayal of your own scholarship. Plus think about what it would mean if everyone does that? What happens to science? What happens to truth?
Now, is your paper something that really must be put out there for the sake of the progress of the field of linguistics? Is it that important? I have no idea, but that would be an important point to explore with those who are in a good position to guide you.
I won't pretend to understand the significance of your research, because I know nothing about your field. But it seems to me that if it is at all about people being treated differently, or being discriminated against, because of how they speak, that is quite important at this particular moment in time, and maybe a necessary contribution.
It sounds like you need to weigh the value of your work against the personal risks to yourself. It's very difficult for any of us to understand the significance of our own work. So in that regard, an early, private peer review from people who will give it to you straight seems essential. And then of course talking to the university about whether the imagined risks are real is also important.
My purpose in what I posted wasn't to insist you put your livelihood and lifestyle on the line, but to make the point to everyone here that hiding and self-censorship are not the way to move forward if we wish to get our freedom back. All that anticipatory obedience does is teach autocrats that they have even more power over our lives than they thought. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices to remain free. Unfortunately.
Only you know what is right for you and I certainly won't judge you either way. xoxox
fear is the thief of dreams
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@ShiroKuro said in What do I do with this?:
Also, here’s a super paranoid thing to say: my husband is not a US citizen. Yes, he has a green card, but how vulnerable are we as an international family?
That is a very real consideration that we don't have any answers to yet. The threat to deport immigrants could be very broad if the threat of 20 million is taken as the target. The spouse of my pastor is a green card holder and I know several other people of varying status who I seriously wonder how they may be affected.
I expect it to be at least partially influenced by the cooperation or lack thereof provided by state and local authorities, somewhat like the "sanctuary cities" in the past.
Big Al
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Al, I personally am watching closely to see which state governors step up and say they are stregnthening their laws to insure they are a sanctuary for democracy. So far I think it's just been California and New York; hoping more blue states join their ranks.
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@Steve-Miller said in What do I do with this?:
And start a new project.
I have several ongoing projects. The problem is, I like to plan things so one is under review while I'm writing up a different one while another is in data collection.
Not putting this one in for review screws up my timeline.
OTOH, I could just say whatever. I have tenure, so I do have some flexibility in my timeline. (of course, the meaning of tenure is very much in flux at the moment...)
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@pique said in What do I do with this?:
But it seems to me that if it is at all about people being treated differently, or being discriminated against, because of how they speak, that is quite important at this particular moment in time, and maybe a necessary contribution.
Yep. That's why this particular work is very timely.
It sounds like you need to weigh the value of your work against the personal risks to yourself.
Yes, and it's hard to do that....
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@ShiroKuro ignore the first emoji. I am still trying to figure out this platform. The message was supposed to be "solidarity"
fear is the thief of dreams
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The reaction emojis are a toggle. If you decide you don't like the emoji you added, just click on it again and it will go away.
This emoji set isn't my favorite. I'll see if I can figure out if there's anything that can be done about it. Lots of things are customizable, but it does make things a bit more complicated with respect to maintenance. That's @Axtremus department; I'm a total noob when it comes to admin tasks. He's already doing so much for WTF and I don't want to add too much to his workload.
A round of applause for @Axtremus .....
When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier
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This is a tough situation and a tough decision. I'm not really in a position to judge. Possible post-election fallout is one reason we didn't want to be in Oklahoma any more.
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@Quirt-Evans indeed!! NY State is very, very different. In all sorts of ways. Sigh.
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I think you’ve answered your own question. If you publish you will have created a relatively constant source of internal stress for yourself, regardless of any external consequences. My impression is you’re fairly cautious normally. Is this publication worth that to you?
“I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer”
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@Mik said in What do I do with this?:
My impression is you’re fairly cautious normally.
Good point! I am usually very risk-averse.
Is this publication worth that to you?
This is the question. Once I answer it, I’ll have my answer.
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Your fear is justifiable. As an out, married gay clergy person - especially one in the South - whose progressive stances are pretty visible within the community, I know that fear well. I live with it on a weekly basis as I step into the pulpit. Today was particularly risky, as I needed to speak honestly to the congregation the first Sunday after the election. Adding to the stress was that immediately following the service, there would be a congregational meeting to review and vote on my 2025 Terms of Call (compensation package).
The sermon was measured, as compassionate as possible, but unflinchingly honest and critical of the incoming regime as antithetical to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the church's established moral/social teachings and theology. It bluntly called for a rejection of those ideologies.
It was a very difficult morning.
For what it's worth, my Terms of Call were still approved.
But I don't have any illusions. I'm sure that there will be much division and ugliness in doing my job these next several years. I/we may very well become victims of harassment and abuse, or worse, assuming I'm even able to remain in my position and we're able to remain residents of the United States without having to relocate for our own safety. It's terrifying.
Still, I have to do what I have to do, in order to know at the end of my days that I've lived up to my ordination vows and my pastoral call, and that I've stood on the right side of history. I hope you'll do the same. Capitulation is what they're counting on. If we aren't all willing to take a stand, even in the face of potential risk, they'll have already won.
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@DeweyLOU Thank you for doing your part. Every person who stands in their truth despite this election is a part of the solution.
I bet your congregation admires your integrity. What you did reminds me of Pete Buttigeig deciding to out himself right before his mayoral election, knowing that he had to, above all, be true to himself, and not hide. Even if it meant he loses the election. Of course people voted for him!
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Thank you for sharing this!
It’s tempting to say something like “my work isn’t as important as yours” as a way to excuse myself from taking the risk. But:
@DeweyLOU said in What do I do with this?:
Capitulation is what they're counting on. If we aren't all willing to take a stand, even in the face of potential risk, they'll have already won.
This is a powerful message, one I don’t take lightly.
