you talk as if "academics and research" is something "next to God" and no hman that isn't in "your etherial plane" can understand the dedication, devotion, hard work needed to be successful, or the pain that is present when somethng pushes you out, (whether that be your inability to perform, your peers inability to see your worth, or your body, makes it impossible for you to either "maintain station" or "progress"....
Excuse me gentlemen but BULLSHIT.....what you describe in your chosen job field is true of EVERY job description above, oh lets say, "towel drier" at the local car wash.....
Publish or Perish....PLEASEEEEEE....you think thats any more difficult, any more trying, than meeting profit or performance goals established by someone other than yourself? You think busting your ass to meet a goal so that you can achieve bonus, get a raise, or a promotion is somehow "less than" not achieving "tenure"?
No disrepect intended....just a simple statement that ANY person, who works in a job where he plans on making that his "lifes work"; where he is expected to teach, mentor and guide those under him, while perfomring his assignned responsiblities; while making sure that his peers, and superiors, not only like him but value his participation; where he hopes to reach the next available position is in the same situation as you believe to be unique to your job description, are just as devoted to their jobs and are just as devasted, and lost, and crushed, when something happens to alter their job course, status and direction....
You may be correct that I don't understand "academia" but your statement about its "uniqueness" clearly shows that you don't understand the rest of the workplace any better.....
Steve