<p>This is not an answer (are there such things here?) but just some grieve that I need to place somewhere.</p>

<hr>

<p>Recently I said <a href="https://chat.stackexchange.com/transcript/18?m=51615356#51615356">on chat</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <blockquote>
    <p>"The discussion sketches a horrible situation. The criticism avoiding response like publish.illinois.edu/shavitt/files/2013/07/PNAS-Reply.pdf… cuts away a big chuck out of my last, and already small, remaining idealistic hopes for science and society."</p>
  </blockquote>
</blockquote>

<p>That was in response to the current bad state of science which seems to have turned into a strange economy where side issues (like making the news, making lots of references, marketing etc.) have become more important and are taking over. </p>

<hr>

<p>This recent issue with gender neutrality has a similar (if not greater) disillusioning impact on me. </p>

<p>The fact that it turns into actions like a volunteer moderator being fired makes me feel like the discussion is turning into a completely pointless direction. We just want equality, that means that people to start <em>acting normal</em> about this concept. This mess... is completely the opposite. We still have a long way to go.</p>
