I have to admit I absolutely honestly do not know how to take your comment.

I came through academia and consider that it taught me little other than how closed-minded and self-serving an institution it really is. And I am old enough to be pretty confident I’ll go to the grave with that conviction.

But I also know I am the exception. Both those who have been through academia and, as is often the case, found lucrative careers as a result, as well as others who consider themselves less well educated, mostly voice blanket admiration of most things coming out of that world. The media too. Conventional knowledge is the new god. Hence, as an institution, academia sits culturally beyond question for many minds — perhaps similar to the way in which the Catholic church was once beyond question in Europe.

So it is very hard to be sure which side of that fence you sit with such a comment. A previous exchange between you and I leads me to believe you are just being facetious, but do please tell me I am mistaken.