I'm *certain* that you know my fav academia quote (!)
Attrib to Henry the Kissinger, ~
The reason that academic debate* is so vicious is that, so little is at stake..
* or was it conversation? life?
Now That's umm droll..
I once went with a visiting German grad student of Oriental art, whom I'd met years before in Hamburg. We went to some demi-faculty couple's house in Berkeley. The 'competition' and back-biting within every dripping phrase was .. well I'd wished mightily I'd brought a tiny tape recorder. When we left (blessedly) we looked at each other with same smirk ~ Gawd, are you sure you wanna hang out with These twits? No problem for her - she was enroute to China! (Before Nixon).
What seems faster and more condensed than academic flow is..
West Wing !! I mean - do policy wonks actually swap repartee at these hypersonic levels? (I note that some of the better quips are from the Repub. loyal opposition - I'd even call that, more balance than just about anywhere on the Tube??)
re face time with the Big-T, I'd imagine a quick rehearsal with some 3 Stooges flicks ... point to the Head Honcho's er shirt-front - as he looks down, raise hand up and tweak nose. These folk look *literally* as if.. were a smile to happen on those faces? they'd crack the concrete.
OK.. we won't get this chance with the Big-T, but t'would be glorious..
Yours most faithfully in their disservice,
Ashton
