I went to the departmental mixer. Again. Trying to engage, you know? The 72-year-old professor was there — sweet guy, tried to talk about his research, some obscure linguistics shit. Every single time, every time, someone just cuts him off, changes the subject. Always about the junior faculty, what *they* published, what *their* grants are. It’s like an active exclusion. A systematic disengagement. He's just... ignored. And I feel this intense, almost visceral rage, like it’s happening to *me*. This isn't rational. Why the FUCK do I care so much?