You'll soon realize it's not that bad. Help is on the way. Trust in those who trust in themselves. Be happy. Take a pill.
And yet eternal truth is such a burden. Never having to say you're sorry is nice, 
but occasionally being able to shrug and say, "beats the shit out of me," would be a great relief. Well, I haven't talked to many other experts about this, so perhaps I'm in the minority. Maybe the rest of the experts never feel the burden of excellence. Maybe I'm alone in having a tiny voice squeaking doubts into my ear when the sky is dark, the moon goes behind the clouds, and my glass of Jameson is, alas, empty.
I've even thought about giving up being an expert. For one, the pay sucks. And no one listens, no one believes you. And it can get lonely always being the only one who's right. Now that I've bared my soul, as it were, no longer being an expert might be an interesting approach. It would mean [he shudders] listening to what others have to say, even considering if there's a soupçon of truth in their blather.
I suppose I could approach this listening thing gently. Not too much, too often, that'll be my new motto.
So, there you have it. One expert less in this great country, and no one has noticed any crack in the foundation or sad cry of a voice riding a high wind into the distance.
Who knows. I might even read a book.
And that's the truth.
In Jameson Veritas
Article comments
1 - Irene Wagner
This was smart, and smarted.
2 - Jeannie Danna
(like "Whack-a-Mole," where no matter how many times you hit the mole on the head, he pops up from another hole.)ha ha ha has Dave read this?
(We are so fortunate to have so many experts on whom to rely. Why, I myself am an expert in the following areas: domestic policy, immigration, tax, health care, social security, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, all foreign policy areas, including Lithuanian secret service activities, quantum physics, astrophysics, evolution, golf, neurophysiology, economics, psychology, and many more that don't readily come to mind but would if someone raised the issue.)
This is a great description of the comment threads on BC! Now I myself am not an expert in anything :) I just have soo much to bitch about that "one hundred and forty characters" were not enough for me! needed more room...
3 - Dave Nalle
Don't get ahead of yourself, Jeannie. You seem to have misunderstood the article.
Dave
4 - Jeannie Danna
no Dave I understood the article...I was just having fun with you! sorry :) not!
rodiogal(Jeannie)
5 - Jeannie Danna
I'm catching on just fine here....:)
now excuse me while I pat myself on the back!
6 - Mark Schannon
I'd comment on the comments, but, no longer being an expert, I have no idea what to say. Irene, a little aloe will take away the pain. And Jeannie, I actually think we do a pretty good job on BC of allowing all the experts fair time--it's the rest of the world that won't stop shouting.
We just need more people in the politics section--preferably stupid people like me who aren't experts about anything except perhaps...hmm...I'll get back to you.
In Jameson Veritas
7 - Dr Dreadful
Mark, half the fun is watching the experts expertify and then figuring out how to shoot them down.
8 - Mark Schannon
But Doc, doesn't that make you an expert???
(He asks innocently?)
In Jameson Veritas
9 - Irene Wagner
It's like counter-counter-intelligence. :P
10 - roger nowosielski
I answered on the other thread.
11 - Clavos
Doc:
Mark, half the fun is watching the experts expertify and then figuring out how to shoot them down.
Mark:
But Doc, doesn't that make you an expert???
(He asks innocently?)
Irene:
It's like counter-counter-intelligence. :P
Roger:
I answered on the other thread.
Oh the irony! The irony!
12 - Ruvy
Robert Ringer (of "Winning Through Intimidation" fame)used to have a name for the kinds of folks you describe, Mark - "schmucksperts".
Great read,
Ruvy(savoring his schuckpertise" in the mountains of Liberated Samaria)
(Side note to Jeannie - I'll try and get my wife to read and comment on that wonderful article of yours about your mother)
13 - Dr Dreadful
Oh the irony! The irony!
Don't remind me. I spent half of yesterday indulging in irony. Then there was the laundrony, the cleaning-the-bathroomony and the changing-the-sheetsony.
14 - Dr Dreadful
We're all, by dint of our pixellated presence on this website, experts at being members of a free society and exercising our consequent right to exercise our voices. It's debatably unfortunate that we choose to exercise them quite loudly and in some cases obnoxiously.
BTW, you're all wrong about everything unless, of course, you agree with me.
;-)
15 - Mark Schannon
Ah, Doc, see, I'm trying to become a kindler, gentler commenter. I may agree that those who disagree with me are wrong...but I'll no longer say that.
Unless I have to.
In Jameson Veritas