Given the last couple of flaming posts, I would plead with people to respect diversity of interests, background, credentials, gender, race, etc. etc. Since when has it become a sin for an academic professional to be intellectual? Some of us, for better or worse, make our living by thinking about different questions and trying to facilitate others with less experience who want to address those questions as well. Unlike its use in most of Western and Eastern Europe, the word "intellectual" seems to have a perjorative sense among many Americans. When I taught in Russia, I was regularly referred to by people around me as "an intellectual" because I was an educator with an advanced degree. But it didn't bother or intimidate my friends who were factory workers, taxi drivers, house painters, etc. Yes, there's a lot of empty jargon batted about by folks in academia, but sometimes there are appropriate times to use what might seem like "high -falutin'" vocabulary to the uninitiated in order to speak about a subject with great precision. So, I think we should all give space and respect the voice which an individual feels is appropriate to the subject they're addressing. If its over one's head or too casual, or just plain boring, use the delete key and start something that interests you instead of criticizing others. Carol Beck Keene State College [log in to unmask]