balmofgilead

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If you never try, you will never fail. This is certain and reliable in a ridiculous way, sort of like the guy shooting his friend in what was dubbed the world's funniest joke:

A couple of New Jersey hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: "Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a shot is heard. The guy's voice comes back on the line. He says: "OK, now what?"

I like Bert Russell a lot. Reading his Essays in Skepticism makes me go "Yes! That's exactly what I've always felt/thought/said!"

Which makes me wonder, does it make sense to read opinion pieces by people whose opinions you share? What does it do other than make me feel vindicated?

Maybe I should be sticking to reading attitudes and positions I currently disagree with or by people with a different perspective than I have or books that teach me something I didn't know (history, science) or things that are for pure enjoyment (fiction).

I'm not saying I'll actually change my habits, but it's something I've been thinking about.