Some people say you should be assertive. Don’t be wishy-washy. Don’t use watered-down language (“it kind of seems like…”). Don’t be afraid to own your opinion. Blah blah blah. I think this is good advice. (Although I don’t think Brenda Ueland would approve of the negative tone.) I like reading people who sound like they know what they’re talking about and aren’t afraid to stake out a position, even if unpopular.
But what if you don’t know what you’re talking about? What if you’re afraid of looking back on your published opinions with regret? What if even though you’re in your mid-thirties, your beliefs and opinions are still somewhat amorphous and subject to change based on the latest screed you read at www.pusillanimouspundits.com?
And what if you’re an admirer of …
