I was raised in the middle of podunk nowhere with no TV or internet and no neighbors. Even the radio was rarely on.

I know a retired skating coach who complains about this. Yes, the system is way more objective now — except for the artistic part, inevitably. (Even that may include observable elements like complex footwork and deep edges; I don't know.) But it's making the sport kind of boring.

For me, academia was even worse. At least as a journalist I have benefits. When I taught, all I could find was adjunct work at $1000 to $3000 per semester-long course, and I have a PhD in that shit.

Worse. Burlington, VT.

Or, as my boss puts it, "Journalism is 24/7. What part of that don't you understand?"