As the first author of a fair few papers during grad school, I don’t have that email address anymore. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Also not in academia.

I guess I do also have my childhood landline still, but that’s been out of service for over 15 years. But it is one more phone number I have memorized.

It also blows my American mind how memorizable that long number is. It’s probably largely the jingle, but I can remember that cold without thinking about it for years. But I can only hold like 4 American phone numbers in my head. Without my contacts I can call: myself (helpful), my wife (I’d better), and both of my parents (good to have backups).

That’s the end of the list.

This is all very true, and I agree completely. But you’ve overlooked two very important factors that I can think of:

1. Many people attending these meetings do not have the authority to cancel them, and the people who do have the authority may not be receptive to this argument.
2. Some people will benefit from assisted notetaking even if the meeting was worthy of the time.

I’m neurodivergent and when I’m writing notes my brain shuts off audio processing. I literally can’t take notes without missing more of the meeting than I’m writing down. And unfortunately most people above me in the hierarchy can’t fathom writing a message instead of speaking for an hour.

Reminder that you can also do this if your rep voted against tabling to express support for what they’re doing and they they’re representing you well.

Millions do not accept this leadership and are actively protesting, but I guess fuck all of us?