I have this simmering uneasiness that what I'm working on and working towards is not exactly as meaningful as some people made it out to be. I'm doing academic work, and perhaps I'm still an outsider and thus have not totally bought the idea that academics are doing useful, practical work.
The most important thing seems to be the churning out of papers. Research papers, journal papers, conference papers. And for what purpose? To provide more papers that other academics can research on and cite, so that they can write more papers? The rhetoric is never about improving the system; it's always about getting published, getting recognised by your peers. How many academics are truly sincere about wanting to improve the lives of others?
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