If everyone wasn't constantly distracted, they might notice what's going on. Like the lack of quality/single-payer healthcare in America. Then people might decide to demand better laws, so that the Zuckers of the world aren't spying on our every move like creepy corporate weirdos, checking out our data from every angle.

But it's way easier to just go back on social media than to do the hard stuff.

Tenure track is not a requirement to stay. Who cares if grad school perspective is so wrapped up in the low odds of a competitive TT position that everyone talks as if it's still the holy grail of the profession? It isn't. If society valued education, we'd be paid more. Instead, we're criminally underpaid. It's an unfunny joke.

Also, teaching takes away from learning and personal growth. My job feels like a total waste of my abilities. Maybe I'm just overworked and undersupported, or maybe the profession simply isn't an ivory tower at all. Maybe the Ivies have more support? I wouldn't know.

Anyhow, start working on converting the CV into a resume, and put some applications out there, as you put it: "so as to not have regrets about not trying." I'll be doing the same. The worst answer is complacency.

This is the way.

Also up up down down left right left right b a select start for two players.

It is possible to have both. :P