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Isn’t it simpler - and applies regardless of political system. Consequences are always lesser for more important people because of the impact of doing anything about it Kick an undergraduate out? So what. Take down a Vice Chancellor. Well thats seismic to an institution This is how things work

Thats why rules and laws are not applied equally and never have been. And we all see this in little ways every single day. Not sure there’s an answer. But its structural to human societies it seems to me

No, I disagree with this frame. The whole "don't assume malice when ignore suffices" is a misogynist thought terminating cliche. Epstein funded exactly these attacks on women and academia.

Do the two things contradict? Under patriarchy men, and especially powerful men ARE higher status. And malice is a hell of a lot easier from that starting point. I think both can be true.

OK. Your posts do not give that impression, but I believe you.

Fair enough… my posts are usually mildly incoherent at best…

The reason I pushed back is that what @kizzythechemist.bsky.social said is really apt and why things like "burnout" are often not classed as depression because then it's more likely people will sue their employer for purposeful (since the number of cases are known) harm to their mental health.

True. Where I was coming from is that I’d bet when similar MH issues present themselves at senior levels, there’s a lot more generous support available or even nice big severance packages. Hell, I know that I get cut a LOT more slack in a professional role than I would further down the food chain.

I am puzzled when people expect institutions to care for their employees much beyond keeping them productive though. Thats why we invented social security and nationalised healthcare.

No... this really quickly can float into victim blaming. Having high standards is how we push our society to a better place. I don't think it's right to imply that we shouldn't have expected and shouldn't continue to expect academia, which is as publicly funded as the NHS btw, to be good and better.

THAT is a good point. And I guess I’ve resigned myself to the de facto corporate capture of most of academia - seemed that way 30 years ago when I was an undergrad. Main purpose of institution appeared to be to further the interests of the instition (and the handful of those running it) even then

Probably to the point that I barely see them as ‘publically funded’ now. But yes - public employers can and should set the standard.

I recommend reading this book! See this extract where she says that we cannot avoid our duty by claiming excuses like that we do not "deserve" the duty. I also recommend it to everybody in this thread.

Not a coincidence that @saklein.bsky.social (the OP) also cited it.

To completely lose optimism is to pave over the enormous privilege and concomitant responsibility of our work. bsky.app/profile/oliv...

Exactly! And also just to be depressing for a moment "not being bullied at work" is a rock bottom standard to ask for!