I have a confession to make: I loathe being opinionated. That is a tough reality for a guy who serves as the opinions editor for The Mass Media, but it’s something I struggle with regularly.

In a position that requires constantly coming up with assertive, provoking takes, I often find myself resisting the very instinct that makes the opinions section what it is. It’s not because I don’t care or lack a sense of perspective — I actually love the fact that an opinions section exists, so journalists can take a step beyond objectivity and touch on subjects they believe warrant greater discussion — but because I believe that it’s okay to be impartial.

Sometimes when you don’t know about something, you don’t have to comment on it. That is why my comfort zone is sports. Most of the articles I write are about sports — a space that is less contentious or divisive in comparison to political or cultural developments. From time to time, maybe I’ll branch out and write about my disdain for LinkedIn or what patriotism means in today’s contentious political climate, but much of my portfolio is dominated by the New England Patriots or the Boston Celtics.

I believe a lot of this comes down to how I am wired. I’ve never felt comfortable forcing myself into having a strong take on something just for the sake of it. There is a certain pressure from our society to always weigh in and pick a side, but more often than not I am hesitant because I am not always sure I need to.

The way in which opinions are constantly shared can turn everything into a debate. Some issues warrant a high degree of passion, but many don’t. Not every hill is worth dying on, and we shouldn’t treat opinionated abstinence as some sort of flaw.

Part of the reason I feel comfortable holding back is because I have come to appreciate the value of living in the grey area. In the opinions section, there’s an expectation to take a clear stance and present something as black and white, but most issues really aren’t that simple. Trying to force them into specific categories can strip away the nuance that actually makes them worth discussing in the first place. There is a level of honesty in admitting you do not have everything figured out, and I think there is immense value in that — even in a space that is built on having answers.

I recognize the irony of an opinions editor saying not everything needs an opinion. Maybe it sounds like I hate my job, but that is not the case. If anything, it’s pushed me to be more intentional about when I step in and when I am comfortable staying impartial. Not everything needs to be broken down into something black and white, and I don’t think every piece has to pretend that it is.

That being said, I am not saying there is anything wrong with being opinionated. Speak up if you have something to say, but you should never feel like you have to. The grey area can be a perfectly good place to be — not because you lack conviction, but because there is a recognition that you don’t always have to pick a side.