The Inescapability of Your Past.

The author addresses the everyday responsibilities and stresses of being a U.S. university professor and notes the added stress caused by the presence of the Internet in the 21st century. He comments on the need to serve students, publish, get along with colleagues, and maintain a good reputation, as reputation is important and long-lived in the academic world. He notes that electronic publications and the myriad websites where people can post information make it much easier for an unpopular opinion or a poorly written article to circulate. He relates stories of students who are uncertain about participating in online discussions, for fear that comments on controversial issues might hurt them later in life.