This may sound strange, coming from an Internet columnist, but my opinion doesn't matter much these days. It's not that I don't have opinions. I do. But there's something less profound or substantive about them than when I was younger. There was a fresh passion about my beliefs or stances. I had some sort of resonating point to my side of an argument. Something has changed, and I'm not sure if it's for the better or worse.

I've found myself keeping it to myself more and more.

Example: I have been on the board of a local community theatre (Classic! Contemporary! Cutting Edge!) for a year now. I have been involved with the place off and on for the last seven years. I've acted, directed and volunteered my time for the space in dozens of ways. It is my theatre home. And yet, I sat there during a board meeting today with an influx of new board members for the new year. They were bright-eyed, excited and eager to place themselves in places of importance. I just sat there. Literally. For three hours, I just sat there and said very little one way or another. It's not that I didn't have opinions or thoughts, but truly, nothing I wanted to express. Nothing I wanted to convince anyone of. Nothing I wanted to accomplish.

Here's another example. I was driving a lady to the airport a couple weeks ago. Before I even knocked on the door, I knew she was a Ron Paul supporter. Her lawn was strewn with Ron Paul paraphernalia. She gave me a Ron Paul bumper sticker as soon as she entered the cab, and I politely thanked her and put it in my backpack. She jabbered on how he would be the next president (so I might as well vote for him). She said she was going to New Hampshire to help him campaign, and drive around with him personally. I have no big beef with Ron Paul. He's pretty much a Libertarian in Republican clothing, and I find those folks both fascinating & bizarre. I know he's not going to win any primaries, I know this lady was far too obsessed with her candidate, and I know I don't have to share this with her. Why should I attempt to burst her bubble? Why should I attempt to be the voice of reason and ruin her cab ride? I mostly just listened and wished her a good safe trip like I do with everyone I take to the airport.

I've been saying No War since we invaded Iraq. How much good has that opinion got me? War continues.

Who's my candidate? It doesn't really matter until after the primaries. I'm an independent voter, and in New Mexico, that means you don't vote for president until the general election. I don't feel like campaigning for anyone. I don't desire to push my opinions on anyone. I don't wish for you to change your mind because of me. My vote is worth one tick (if I'm lucky and not disenfranchised). It really won't come down to one vote even though I was an extra in a movie coming out this year where that occurs. I have my candidate. You have yours. Or you won't vote and it doesn't matter what or if you had a candidate at all.

I'm really not trying to be glum. I don't feel glum. If you say the word 'glum' enough, you start to wonder what it really means. Check the dictionary...yep, it's what I thought it meant.

Do I think this country needs change? Yes. Do I have ideas on how to improve things? Yes. Will I share them with you? Not this week. Please try again next week.

I have found that when I present a different course or line of thinking, the first thing people do is give a rebuttal. It's as if their point of view just negated my idea. Any more points of view you'd like to debate? Anything other beliefs I can trash or discard for you? No thank you. That's quite enough.

All I know is that I don't know...all I know is that I don't know nothing. All I know is that I don't know...all I know is that I don't know nothing.

So off I go into another year of writing this Internet column. I'm sure some sort of passion will emerge. I'll spout off about this, that & the other. I do have the benefit of not getting the rebuttal, except maybe in some e-mail I can easily trash. Strangely, that is comforting.

Thoughts? Opinions? No? Good.

Chris Jungle picks his nose much more than he does a side.