The major problem with these people is that having discussed (and condemned) most normal sorts of oppression -racism, segregation, etc. - they are forever on the lookout for subtler and subtler forms of oppression. Their ideology forbids them to criticize the existence of the modern state - and so instead they do crazy things like attack the fashion industry, or indeed invent this.
*waves hand, dismissively*unwashed inbred peasants...
Both of these statements are correct. I observed them back at the university to learn them. For academics, they do not realize they exist solely (currently) as a parasitic entity. Previously, being a professor was a job. You had to work a reasonable number of hours, I believe it was 16 hours of classroom time and the rest doing related activities. Plus research projects, papers, etc.
It is significantly less and the attitude has changed. Learning is less important. Ideology, proven with facts and often lacking truth, is often more important than teaching how to learn. The cost of college has dramatically inflated due to government loans and manipulation of bankruptcy law. There is near zero interest in proving education that is useful in the real world. Even hard sciences (STEM) are all too often disinterested in providing useful information. As a computer geek and now an IT Director, I can clearly state that a CS degree is not quite worthless but I certainly would not consider it a significant plus if I was hiring a new geek to work for me.
There is a very sharp limitation to the word view of academics because they live in a bubble that is largely (and expensively) keeping them from any real world interaction. Economics do not apply. Market determination barely applies. There is little to no ideological diversity. So... Bubble boys and bubble girls go looking for ways of making a name for themselves. Often, they are looking for purpose to help them define their lives. They often choose it as a brand. Plenty of animal rights, gender, etc activists are no different than HK or Apple fanboys or fangirls. They choose their brand, and defend it regardless of right/wrong. HK, animal rights, etc all have their good and bad points. None are 100% evil or good. I suppose the difference between a product fanboy/fangirl and a cause fanboy/fangirl is that cause fanboys/fangirls keep trumping each other in how far they can take positions into the realm of insanity. Hence one feminist fangirl alleging that Firefly was sexist because Wash was oppressing Zoe. A google search can easily find the rant, and it shows the mental gymnastics involved of attempting to stretch reality (of a TV show) into something that fits the reality they wish to exist.
I intentionally am using the term "boy" or "girl" as a way of expressing my assessment of their independent thought process. It's undeveloped. Folks need to realize that not all white people are good, bad, privileged, unprivileged, etc. The inability to recognize that humanity is solely shades of grey is defining of the cause fanboys and fangirls.
Most real oppression in the US is limited to very narrow groups. Fat people, smokers, very poor, etc. Even so, not many smokers are being lynched. Racial issues still exist, at a small fraction of previous oppression. It will take generations for things to even out. Folks need to relax, mind their own business and try to be good people. That will do more to promote a peaceful, diverse United States than a thousand racist and insulting ad campaigns.
