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"Blogging Prof Fails to Heed His Own Advice":
The New York Sun has an interesting piece today about Daniel Drezner's tenure denial, as well as the broader question of blogging and the academy. Hat tip: Howard.
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Was Drezner penalized for being to "out front" on nearly every issue of importance today, as expressed on his blog? Maybe, but maybe not.
But were Drezner's contributions to his discipline and to public discourse as a blogger recognized and rewarded? Obviously not.
And that's the true shame of it all.
Actions like these will only discourage young academics from taking part in real-world debates, and to retreat (again) into cloistered world of academia.
And that is a bad thing.
The usage of 'not specifically' suggests the blog was a factor.
There's also the option of writing anonymously to reduce the likelihood that personal relationships will require self-censorship. And blogging does not at all "scream no censorship"; people who write under their real names generally feel obliged not to write about their workplaces, about their most intimate relations, etc. Anonymous bloggers quite frequently seem to be much freer to discuss their family troubles or workplace gripes, whereas those whose blogs would be easily identified with them must be more discreet. Drezner put his name on his blog; other bloggers in academe, such as Bitch Ph.D., do not.
James wrote:
The usage of 'not specifically' suggests the blog was a factor.