[anthonygd]

I think you made a bit of a strawman there.

> If you have some academic training, try to stay informed about current affairs and participate in politics, people will demonize you for engaging in “political hobbyism”.

The article isn't demonizing people who stay informed and participate in politics. It's saying that staying informed != participating in politics. Which seems fair and isn't excluding anyone. If you just read the articles and chat with friends about politics, you are not _participating_ in politics.

"Political hobbyism" feels a bit like the style of virtue signaling that's ridiculed so much. You can show how smart you are, you can have all the most virtuous opinions but let's not pretend you're actually contributing.