[Avicebron]

Because some people want to live in a world where we as a society can value things like medieval poetry and have thriving ecosystems around that.

There's a seemingly endless line of people willing to enslave themselves to a broken system rather than fold and turn into a Dominos manager like the system wants.

[zozbot234]

Except that those same people do a terrible job of actually "valuing" these things. In the absence of things like community engagement/outreach, "society" is not going to care all that much about those topics. Building a "thriving ecosystem" around whatever scholarship/research you're doing can come later, community outreach should be a forefront priority.

[seibelj]

At one point do you get punched in the nose enough times to realize you aren't meant to be a boxer? These people clearly didn't make it in academia. As much as I want to be an NFL quarterback, sometimes you have to accept reality and try for a different goal.

[cafard]

Well, what if you wanted to be an NFL quarterback, had all the skills, but couldn't find a job because Joe Montana, Dan Marino, John Elway etc.--greats in their day--had tenure?

[seibelj]

You can post on Twitter about how unfair it is, but I would rather take control of my own destiny and do something else. Living in my car outside the football stadium in the hope that someday I'll be hired would be naive. The same for the adjuncts.

[nradov]

There is no system, it's all just people. If you want academics to study medieval poetry you're welcome to pay them directly to do it, or establish a charitable foundation for that purpose. Personally I have other priorities and don't want any of my taxes or school fees used for that purpose.