I can't speak for everyone, but the main thing I've taken away from my jury service has been an overwhelming sense of contempt for the participants. It starts with the scheduling, continues into the selection process and compensation, and even filters down into that distinctive courthouse smell of dust and wood varnish and body odor; in sum, though, we're talking an impression that you're needed to fulfill a formal requirement, but aren't actually valued and in fact constitute a major inconvenience that must be worked around. Especially if you demonstrate any initiative, or indeed any traits at all other than having a pulse and a sponge-like capacity for rhetoric.

I suppose there's an argument to be made for doing it anyway, but I've never been one for martyrdom.

If we're being snarky! ;)

If only.

A stream of invective composed mostly of ad hominem non sequiturs does not a good snark make. You'll have to up your game :-P

P.S. Did you check your mind for a pulse recently?

Wow, note to self, never reply to comments not directly relating to the idea or adding to the conversation or seek to argue definitions. Will this get me negative karma too? I stand by my reply. If you refuse a jury then you also refuse to participate in your democracy out of individually selfish motives. Is that a wrong analysis to think the person who comes up with some excuse is doing so to benefit themselves and that the knock on effects of that are a negative indicator for democracy?

Tapping out.