I get very uncomfortable whenever I'm around too many people who agree with me. The only way I know to dispel the discomfort is to play devil's advocate. Put me in a room full of Bush supporters, and I'll be making the case for Kerry in no time.

Apropos of nothing in particular, I finally had an epiphany about that tendency. It's not any praiseworthy instinct towards critical thinking or even a healthy contrarianism. (Contrarianism is generally overrated, as it leads too easily to mindlessness of its own.) Rather, it's a misguided superiority complex, manifesting itself as a disrespect for other's views and beliefs.

I'll try to do better. So from now on, if people want to try to make the case for Bush, I won't stop them.