Negativity and the Law: Part 2

I wrote yesterday about negativity in the law. Consider that Part 1. The main message, in case it was not clear, was that we have a great job, are able to help people, and should be happy about our place in life and society. The mini-message, if you will, was that non-lawyers should stop telling us what sucks about our profession.

Today's message is a bit different. It is aimed at bloggers, writers, legal journalists, etc.... Stop being so negative. You know who you are. There are some blogs that are only negative. Complain about this, complain about that, whine about the other thing. As Erin (who would get a link but does not have a website, apparently!) put it in her comment yesterday, if it is that bad then GET OUT!

It is not like you are stuck in one practice area. Those of us who had careers before we became attorneys understand. Try going out to a car wreck and seeing dead, burned bodies. After doing that 100 times, call me and tell me about how bad it is to be an attorney at a firm. Until you have done that, you don't know how cushy you have it. Or try making $12 an hour as a printer or running a small business trying to meet payroll every month. As bad as you think you have it, others have it worse.

And, heck, you are not even stuck with practicing law. Go back to October or November and read my post about alternative careers. You don't have it that bad. Stop your whining and look at the bright side of life. If you don't think you can find it, I am sure that between myself, Bob Kraft and Ben Glass (who have nothing to do with this post, but I am sure will agree) we can come up with current or former clients who have it worse through no fault of their own.

And, please, please, please stop with the book deals. No one wants to read what you have to say. And anyone who does buy your book will probably ask for a refund if it turns out you pulled a James Frye. (Not that anyone expects it, but if life is as bad as you say it is, either you are a moron for staying, you have no self esteem or you are lying.)

I challenge all of my fellow bloggers to write 2 positive posts the rest of this week. If everyone does it, maybe we can start to change the way the rest of the country views our profession.

-------Jonathan