Optimism vs Pessimism

[Shikamaru-sama]

Which one is the best view on life?

Personally i think there will always be a sliver lining, but ultimately, whats the point?

[Heldensheld]

OBVIOUSLY OPTIMISM. Pessimism would easily led to depression and depression could lead to suicide. Optimistic people look at life openly and happily, making their lives happier. If you are a pessimist, people will think you're strange and keep away from you.

Optimism all the way!

[Jedi Mind Tricks]

I'm definetly try to be the former. I don't like the idea of looking at life in a cynical fashion, I did many years ago but it didn't help at all; just made me an angry person, which got me into a lot of trouble.

Again, definitely optimism. :P

[Shikamaru-sama]

Some people would say that pessimism is a more 'realistic' look at life, as things generally turn out to disapoint

[Raistlin-sama]

None of them.

It's better to be somewhere between them. If you are completley optimistic, you are a fool. If you are completley pesimistic, you close out all happiness.

[dont_look_back]

i find that if you are too optomistic things will be against you but i somtimes pretend to be pessamistic so as not to jynx it

(quite silly realy but it works unless im being stupid)


im not paraniod tho

or am i ???






1 post till 100

[explicitkarma]

The pessimist complains about the wind.
The optimist hopes the wind will go away soon.

The realist adjusts the sails.

[Minh]

I suppose Optimism would be the way to go.. yeah.... right on >.>

[PyRomantic]

Optimism. I, however, am rather pessimistic, though I can't help it. There really is no "best" outlook on life, but looking on the down side all the time isn't exactly a pleasant way to live... often times I see no point in getting out of bed in the morning, which isn't exactly a healthy way to live. But life is what you make it, if you choose to look at everything negatively then your life won't be a very happy one. If you look on the bright side all the time, even if you're wrong, you're still happier. Ignorance is bliss, as they say. One shouldn't really be completely optimistic or completely pessimistic... it's not very realistic if you are completely one and not the other. There's a time to be sad and a time to be happy. Don't go to a funeral smiling and laughing and don't go to your birthday party sobbing and sullen. A person can't always help how they look at things... I can't help being negative all the time, but that's why my shrinks give me happy pills :D Hurray for Xanax and Lexapro! ...sorta.

[HinataFanBoy]

optimism i guess...but im a pessimist

[road_rash]

If you see the glass as half full, fine, stay thirsty the rest of your damn life, if you see the glass as half empty, fill it up and quit bitching. That's my view on this.

[Killenator]

Neither. Realism is the only way to go. Things will happen as they have happened, and it doesn't matter if they are good or bad, only that you maximize on them.

[Negative-Ion]

If you see the glass as half full, fine, stay thirsty the rest of your damn life, if you see the glass as half empty, fill it up and quit bitching. That's my view on this.


This is the best example, but ive heard it a bit different.

Get a bottle of water thats is half full. Then ask a friend of yours about the bottle. Ask him this.

Is the bottle half full, or is it half empty. by that you will see if someone is pessimistic or optimistic.

[Scorpio3.14]

Realism. Although I prefer optimism over pessimism.

[Yak]

Well, yeah, realism is the better one of those two but that wasn't asked here. But I personally tend to pessimism, simply because I'm usually dark and gloomy deep down inside and when you already expect the worse-case scenarios you are more positively surprised when something turns out to be better, like in all my former math-exams. :D
So, a pessimist expects the worst and hopes for the best, yeah. :D

[minnatrix]

I choose neither, we should try to see things as the way they are without being pessimistic or optimistic.

[Aldredian_Sahn]

I choose neither, we should try to see things as the way they are without being pessimistic or optimistic.
But the way we see things depends if we're pessimistic, optimistic or in between.

I go with optimism to a sense of realness. What could be better than always having a positive outcome even on the worst of situations. That's what I think.

[Lorii]

made by yakkun
[QUOTE]when you already expect the worse-case scenarios you are more positively surprised when something turns out to be better

yeah being pessimistic has it's surprises but then u can't always dwell on the down side of life but then it's sooo unrealistic to be always so pessimistic, it's like nothing gets u down, even if bad things happen around your always got a sunny disposition...quite annoying really...but a realist now that's realistic

[Cthulhu-versailles]

if you look at life to happy, iit will kick your ass and stomp all over you some cynasim is needed to be sucessful. Anyway the answer is neither you should derive your own view on life not limited it to a simplistic good or bad. Honestly can anyone always look at eveything as either optimistic or pessimistic...

[Cornuthaum]

Neither.

Realism it is. Always expect things to turn out worse than they should, then you'll get surprised in a positive way. It works, at least for me it does.

[tahaha]

Whats the thing that goes too much or too less or anything is bad?
Too optimistic then you'll snap out of reality and too pessimistic and you'll just be some depressed fool. In the middle is where I walk :)

[Smooth Jazz]

optimism, although sometimes you cant help be pessimistic.

[Jester12]

If your a pessimist your ready for anything because you know what could happen ans are always ready for it. But you also have to have a bit of an opitmistic side every now and then for fun...

[Twizted]

I think that for the most part I'm pessimistic, and when good stuff does happen it seems all the better. That being said I don't let it myre me too much.

[masterdan]

the more you focus on being unhappy the more likely that will be the result.

Optimism always is better, but people who arent ignorant have a hard time being truly optimistic.

[Fairady]

I go with pessimism. If you always expect the worst then the only surprises you'll have are pleasent ones. And being pessimistic doesn't automatically mean you're depressed or unhappy. I'm quite happy the way I am, but then I have a twisted sense of humor that lets me laugh at all the bad things in the world.

[Balance]

Disappointment doesn't bother me too much these days, so optimism's for me.

But I guess it depends to which extreme you take either side. Sometimes being only slightly pessimistic can lead to a pretty "eventful" life.

[DragonHeart52]

realism > total optimism > total pessimism

I'm a realist who continues to hold out hope for the best. I'm either very good at finding silver linings on every dark cloud or incredibly lucky. I guess that makes me either an optimistic realist or a realistic optimist. Works for me.

When things don't turn out like I expected or aren't what I expected, I learn from the mistake and try to do/judge better the next time. I've had my share of depressing experiences over the past few years, but it seems that after the grieving passes, I pop back up to the surface. I guess I'm naturally buoyant.

A balance of optimism (hope and innocence) and pessimism (despair and cynicism) seems the most powerful way to view things, IMHO. Too much to either extreme and you're either a fool or such a "downer" that no one will want to associate with you.

[Orumitzu]

Bah. I am totally Happy-Go-Lucky!

Everything will work out!


...I hope.

[Rocklee88]

both are inherent emotions of the human condition, so you can't always be one-sided. A healthy balance is good.

[Kabuto_o]

This is what I think, sometimes pessimism can be as good as optimism, but it's not healthy to always be a pessimistic. People are making you a pessimist, every being is naturally optimistic.

[Sakata no Kintoki]

Just want to point out that pessimism, while it does mean things will probably turn out better than you expect, doesn't let you enjoy those positives.

[Neptune]

i tend to be overly optimistic about things and then end up being disappointed when reality sinks in, somewhere in the middle is probably best

[AbnormallyNormal]

i think that optimism is better because of the idea of a self fulfilling prophecy

[|)/-\\/\/|\|]

Optimistic all the way. Why do you need to be pessimistic?? Instead of spending your time worrying spend it with joy, it won't affect the outcome.

[Hwon]

Optimistic all the way. Why do you need to be pessimistic?? Instead of spending your time worrying spend it with joy, it won't affect the outcome.

Its called expectations. Optimistic view points are often met with disappointment. I enjoy being a pessimist. Every day I wake up and see the world hasn't ended and it makes it a good day for me.

[|)/-\\/\/|\|]

Its called expectations. Optimistic view points are often met with disappointment. I enjoy being a pessimist. Every day I wake up and see the world hasn't ended and it makes it a good day for me.

Well you can be optimistic and still not bother if things turned wrong: I'll be optimistic all the way and if things didn't work I'd say: "well, it seems that was not meant to happen anyways". You can be ready for things not working and at the same time be optimistic that they will.

[Fiasco]

Pessimism isn't really a bad thing but in the long run it would breed negativity.

[abstract]

optimism:amuse


optimism is the prerequisite to progression.

truly, it's in our nature.

[Coteaz]

Did anyone notice the epic thread-o-mancy that happened here? :lmao

...
I'm a realist with hopes for the future on the outside, and a complete nihilist on the inside. Gotta keep those appearances up.

[parker pyne]

I get a perverse joy from pessimism. I find it's very closely linked to reality.

I mean, if one wasn't critical or cynical of oneself and everything around them, nothing would get done. Nothing would advance. Embrace your flaws my arse. It's this type of blind optimism that restricts improvement.

Not to mention the pessimistic, satirical outlook has produced some of the most interesting fiction to date.

[abstract]

I get a perverse joy from pessimism. I find it's very closely linked to reality.

I mean, if one wasn't critical or cynical of oneself and everything around them, nothing would get done. Nothing would advance. Embrace your flaws my arse. It's this type of blind optimism that restricts improvement.

Not to mention the pessimistic, satirical outlook has produced some of the most interesting fiction to date.


But what is improvement, really? Can you honestly label a certain path of progression "improved" ? On what grounds?


Optimism is my favorite trait of humanity. To me, it's evolutions way of making a mental note in the human psyche. To, no matter what, keep on going. Time heals all wounds(while creating some new ones perhaps, but that isn't relevant to my point haha).


You discredit the human spirit too much, taters:amuse

And as you already know I completely agree with the bolded statement. But at the same time, optimism has played a huge role in some of the greatest works of the 20th century.

[Idun]

Murphy's law: If anything can go wrong, it will.
I kind of enjoy pessimism and satire. It's much funnier to listen to then optimism.

[Yakushi Kabuto]

We need both kinds of outlook in order to function, but either extreme is bad. I think being a pessimist wins over just for the sheer weight it gives to preserving oneself (I believe I can fly + Icarus = ain't good). But on the flip side, too much caution because of thoughts about what negative things could arise would mean a halting of progress.

[iiTohsakaxx]

optimism. but pessimism is good sometimes. . . sometimes :oh
but I'd rather see things realistically.

[parker pyne]

But what is improvement, really? Can you honestly label a certain path of progression "improved" ? On what grounds?


Optimism is my favorite trait of humanity. To me, it's evolutions way of making a mental note in the human psyche. To, no matter what, keep on going. Time heals all wounds(while creating some new ones perhaps, but that isn't relevant to my point haha).


You discredit the human spirit too much, taters:amuse

And as you already know I completely agree with the bolded statement. But at the same time, optimism has played a huge role in some of the greatest works of the 20th century.
Scenario tiem

John and Anne were stranded on a far-away island.

John, an extreme optimist, had complete faith in someone rescuing them. He considered all the positives. "People are sure to find us! I mean, considering how advanced our search teams are, we'll be out of here no sweat." He sat around making daisy chains.

Anne, an extreme pessimist, began to think realistically. "No one will find us here, John, this place is far too secluded." Anne went off deep into the forest to forage for food, water and shelter materials.

Guess who perished a week later? :|

[Jello Biafra]

I prefer cynicism. The point is to not mistrust the future, but those who would seek to exploit or dominate you.

[abstract]

Scenario tiem

John and Anne were stranded on a far-away island.

John, an extreme optimist, had complete faith in someone rescuing them. He considered all the positives. "People are sure to find us! I mean, considering how advanced our search teams are, we'll be out of here no sweat." He sat around making daisy chains.

Anne, an extreme pessimist, began to think realistically. "No one will find us here, John, this place is far too secluded." Anne went off deep into the forest to forage for food, water and shelter materials.

Guess who perished a week later? :|


dude.

i think you are over stating the lines of "optimism" and "pessimism" just a bit.

you can't just relate optimism and hopelessness like that. im sure that if some one were stranded on an island, optimistic or pessimistic, the first thing they would do would be to walk their happy ass over to some twigs and start a fire.

a year later is when the traits of optimism or pessimissm would show face. ie-

the optimistic person would still probably keep up with s.o.s signs and what have you on the hope that one day they would be saved...

...while the pessimistic one would have succumb to the fact that they are stuck on the island, and probably already have a long term plan set in place to survive on the island.

[Hyde]

Pessimism? Reality?

Cynic, reality is what you make it...

[Darklyre]

Optimists see the glass half full.

Pessimists see the glass half empty.

Realists see thirst-quenching water.

[adee]

Depends on the situation. Moderation is the key by the way. Don't go either way too much or that will be bad.
Overoptimism is usually the effect of overconfidence and over-pessimism is usually the effect of underconfidence both of which are bad.

[Purgatory]

As of now, pessimism, because I'm depressed.