Everyone goes through a phase of needing to determine where they stand on the most important issues. University is the time and place for that. It's very conv

Everyone goes through a phase of needing to determine where they stand on the most important issues. University is the time and place for that. It's very convenient shorthand to say "I'm a ___", to let others know your current thinking. It just saves time. Some people never got the memo, you aren't supposed to construct your identity around these things. It's just a shorthand expression that starts with "I'm a". As everyone matures, people either give up on these questions, or refine their views into something that doesn't fit cleanly into a label. So it is "ivory-tower", but it's not bizarre, it's very normal. And unfortunately, not growing out of it is also normal for the professorship.