LostIntrovert - the world of academia has become a strange and scary place - or maybe it always was. It is difficult to avoid the politics, which I'm finding even in the adjunct arena when I am trying diligently to stay away from all other teachers and just teach my classes and leave. The others find me...they want me to be on "their side" and I just don't want to play that game at all.

Thanks for what you said at the end of your post. I just don't feel capable of living my life abusing others to make myself succeed.