I was just recently awarded tenure, in a faculty of engineering, at one of the top universities in Australia. If you're in engineering at least, I think it's an extremely exciting time to be in academia as AI is rewriting the rules of the game - both in the research domain and in the education pedagogy. I can say quite honestly and literally I wouldn't want to be anywhere else (and I have had multiple head-hunting offers!).

"Sociology is the scientific study of human society that focuses on human social behavior, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life.[1][2][3] The term sociology was coined in the late 18th century to describe the scientific study of society. [...] Sociological subject matter ranges from micro-level analyses of individual interaction and agency to macro-level analyses of social systems and social structure. Applied sociological research may be directed toward social policy and welfare, whereas theoretical approaches may focus on understanding social processes and the phenomenological method.[6]" - Wikipedia

With how many stories I've seen (not just this article) about <fuzzy> performative ideological institutional reactive moral panics </fuzzy> in academia in the past half-ish century, it seems bizarre that no Sociological terminology, nor theories, nor analogous situations (outside modern academia) seem to come up.

Perhaps I'm just not reading the right sources.

Perhaps Sociology is pretend science, has nothing meaningful to offer, and all the real grown-ups know that - "notice how we don't mention Santa Claus stuff either, kid?".

Perhaps sociologists understand things perfectly well - but also understand that speaking out against witch burning would - no matter their tenure and expertise - result in their own careers being burned at the stake. So outside of their secret "Sociologists only" meanings, they parrot whatever their university is currently proclaiming on such matters.

Might anyone familiar be feeling charitable, to enlighten me?