I feel, in equal intensity, attraction and repulsion for the academy. It is certainly no place for my species. But I am impressed by the number of brilliant minds that end up being lost in exchange for “integration”. Conventions, protocols, hierarchies… all of this undermining, stifling creativity, in an environment where the possible prize seems to be limited to recognition. To base a life’s work on the hope of applause? a better position, perhaps? It seems fragile. In the end, this path leads to tremendous frustration.