I'd almost believe this before I started my PhD. In reality, I think the most common academic/"nerd" game, by a long shot is "acquire as much useless/non-actio

I'd almost believe this before I started my PhD. In reality, I think the most common academic/"nerd" game, by a long shot is "acquire as much useless/non-actionable/niche knowledge as possible, so that you can rub other peoples' noses in the fact that they don't possess said knowledge". With very few exceptions, it's not "the long game", a "good fight" or anything else worth valorising - it's lonely, miserable fucks who are mad that other people are happy.