View from the Cheap Seats

December 5-11, 2016

By William O. "Bill" James

Be a skeptic

There is nothing wrong with doubting. It is not the doubting that is the problem. The problem is what you do with the doubt. The problem is doubting and doing nothing about it when there is something that can be done.

In the same way, there is nothing wrong with refusing to believe something without proof. There is, however, a problem with refusing to believe something without truly considering the validity of the premise.

Both situations highlight the difference between being a skeptic and being a cynic. A cynic doubts or dislikes something for the fun of it and neither tries to make things better or considers that things are not as they interpret them to be.

They look at the glass as half empty and refuse to look for a way to fill it up. What they want to do is complain and add nothing positive to the situation.

It is easy to be a cynic. All you have to do is see the worst in everything without the pesky urge to make things better. The complaining is also a bonus.

The truth is, there is a little of both in all of us. Just like two wolves fighting for control of your attitude, the one you feed is the one that will be dominant.

There is a lot of cynicism in the world. We need more skeptics. Skeptics that will refuse to adopt an idea “just because” and, at the same time, look for ways to improve the world rather than complain.

Look for ways to feed your skeptic. Look for ways to improve without simply falling in line with the popular thought of the day. Don’t accept the way of the cynic. After all, who needs the aggravation of hopelessness? Not me.

Happy Birthday Princess Blair

I mentioned last week that my youngest boy just turned 18. This last week, my daughter, who is the youngest, turned 17. Even though she is the only minor living in the house, she may have a better grasp on what she wants than the rest of us.

Her beauty and intellect are unmatched and I expect nothing but great things from her in the future.

The only bad thing about her is that, in many ways, she is a lot like me. There is only so much you can do with genetics! That is true for everyone, especially those of us way up in the CHEAP SEATS!

Bill James is a criminal defense lawyer and confounder of the James Law Firm with offices in Little Rock, Conway, and Fayetteville, Arkansas. He may be reached at Bill@JamesFirm.com.