Distorted Views

There’s a certain ­phenomenon I’ve experienced a lot lately in one-on-one encounters with fellow left-­identified academics. One of us brings up whatever idea or cultural artifact is currently being championed in the zeitgeist and asks, tentatively, “So, what do you think of it?” The other’s shoulders hunch reflexively, eyes darting around the room with a mixture of fear and glee. Dropping their voice to a conspiratorial whisper, they admit, “I don’t think it’s very good.” “Of course, I would never say this publicly,” they continue, proceeding to confess their heresy with the grateful desperation of a penitent courting absolution. “I actually agree with [right-wing pundit] on this one!” or “I find [vaunted trendy intellectual] insufferably self-involved!” or “I think the hype exceeds the prose!”

Why the subterfuge? I’ve experienced a bit of trolling in my time: a man who disagreed with something I wrote emailed me, in essence, to call me a...