You get to work sitting down.
You do not have to go out in all weather to attempt to draw information from the inarticulate and the hostile. That's what reporters are for.
While it is against our code to comment openly on the lapses of others (except among fellow copy editors), you will have the quiet pleasure of identifying people's shortcomings as writers as you make the necessary fixes. And during the ceremonies when the awards are being handed out to reporters and columnists, you can stand to one side, nod, and murmur, "Uh-huh."
While editing is best done sober, you can drink as much coffee as your bladder will stand.
You will be anonymous, free from vulgar desire for public recognition. And no one, including many of your reporter-columnist-assigning editor colleagues, will understand exactly what you do at work. In the unlikely event that a civilian, a member of the public, wonders what you do, you can quote what my wife used to say: "He's kind of an English teacher for the newspaper," which indicates something of the work and identifies the personality type involved in it.
It's all over when your shift is over, and you can go home for a strong drink and a book. Other people will be getting the complaints from readers and sources.
You get to work with other copy editors: smart people with mordant senses of humor.
Editing is about as much fun as you can have legally.
