A seasoned reporter, Jim Wright, once heckled the complaints of cub reporter in his first weeks on the job. The youth had written about a controversial court case that had drawn fire from both the defendant and prosecutor, each claiming he was more favorable to the other side.

“In my experience, if no one is mad at you, then you aren’t doing your job right,” said Jim as we sat in the Chenango County court press box.

“When no one’s happy, now that’s a really work of art,” he added, chuckling at my personal torment.

He was right.

In my conversation with Jim and in my last few years of personal experience, I’ve learned that people expect you to only tell their side of the story, not scrutinize it.

The polarized forum of the courtroom drama tends to embody this more frequently than others, but the concept is applicable to any conflict with opposing positions.

Even the most solid of arguments has holes on both either side – some obviously more than others. Sitting from the press box I’ve watched a dozen or so trials, including two murders, and on occasion I’ve felt as if I was watching a recorded football game after a friend had accidentally blurted out the score.

At other times, I sweat with the anxiety of indecision and find relief in knowing I’m not the one who has to decide anything.