Brad Paisley: Social Scientist

I like Brad Paisley and the song Online: You probably never heard of him. Some of  lyrics to "online" are as follows:

I work down at the pizza pit

And I drive an old Hyundai

I still live with my mom and dad

I'm 5'3 and overweight

I'm a Sci-Fi fanatic

Mild asthmatic

Never been to 2nd base

But there's a whole nother me

That you need to see

Go check out MySpace

'cause online I'm out in Hollywood

I'm 6'5 and I look damn good

I drive a Maserati

I'm a black belt in Karate

And I love a good glass of wine

It turns girls on that I'm mysterious

I tell 'em I don't want nothing serious

'cause even on a slow day I can have a three way

Chat with two women at one time

I'm so much cooler online

So much cooler online

I get home, I kiss my mom

And she fixes me a snack

I head down to my basement bedroom

And fire up my Mac

You get the drift. This guy lives in a fantasy world in which he is a star. Sound familiar? Well let's change a few words and see how law professors have built a similar fantasy world. Just sing it to the tune of "Online."

I work at the law school.

I drive a sensible car

I'm a big deal in the sec pool

I scoff at being member of the Bar.

I am a Harvard fanantic

A little out of shape

Often feel I am taken for granted

But there's a whole nother me

Check my law School bio

And you will agree

cause in my head I am so intellectual

I'm well known and influential

People consult me at the highest levels

My work is so important

Excuse me I'm off the to airport. 

My articles are read by everyone 

Especially students when I test on them

I know others read it too

Or at least I claim they do.

I am so much more important in my head

Partly because I am so well bred.

I have no sense of humor.

My irreverence  is nil.

I love a juicy rumor.

No courts ever cite me

But  I am important still.

In the real song,  opposed to this admittedly pathetic attempt at satire (not parody, a different thing), it goes on and on to explain with great insight how people lose sight of where they are in the scheme of things and take the "self justification" remedy. 

Brad Paisley -- keen observer of the fantasy life.