Aargh, Inarticulacy

Part of it may be testosterone, but part of my near-silence over the past year or so stems from nothing more than this: I am so tired of self-righteousness, sanctimony, and smugness that I find myself reluctant to make a strong statement on any issue or subject whatsoever for fear of sounding like One Of Those People. It's like I once said to a recovered addict ex-friend who had found religion in a big way: No, I don't feel the need to invite God into my life, but unlike you, I've also never felt the need to get a janitorial job in a doctor's office so I could steal liquid Valium to shoot up. (I've since had my own adventures with addiction and religion, but I still try not to judge the one or force the other on people.)

I'm not a bad guy, really. I'm glad beyond words that your politics/religion/twelve-step program saved your life/health/sanity. Just please keep it the FUCK out of my face.