Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan In reading another thread, filled with a lot of grim economic indicators and the like, Jim in Merced joked "I don't know how you people get out of bed in teh morning." And I think he has a point. I think one has to be optimistic in order to survive in this world. I don't mean ostrich-in-the-sand optimism, completely detached from reality. But rather, optimistic that in spite of challenges individuals or the country itself will get through it and be just fine. There is every reason to give up, to think there are nothing but bad times on the horizon, on just about any given day. When enough people get into that mindset, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Anyway, maybe I'm all wet. Does it matter to be optimistic? Or, is there a value of pessimism I may be missing? What do you think?
Originally Posted By Jonny626 You may be "all wet" but thats just the way you are. lol j/k I would have to say it is important to be optimistic but the thing to remember is that anything can be over done. I personally use Disneyland as my "escape" from reality. It keeps me sain.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper If you can't be optimistic about life then you might as well call Dr. Kevorkian.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj I think there is greater value in just being pragmatic. I don't think it's pessimistic to evaluate the facts and determine that future outcomes may not be all that rosy. It is pessimistic to say that there is nothing that can be done about the future. A pragmatist figures out how to adapt and change based on what lies ahead. I don't have much use for optimism that isn't based on reality. Put your best foot foward and be hopeful for sure, but if you aren't prepared to face reality you might as well not have any hope at all. I'd like to think we can honestly assess the future without looking through rose colored glasses that bias our outlook. So, maybe there are storm clouds on the horizon? Buy an umbrella! But don't get out the suntan lotion and pretend you aren't going to get wet!
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka <<If you can't be optimistic about life then you might as well call Dr. Kevorkian.>> Sure!
Originally Posted By Jonny626 I tried to hook up my ex-fiance on a blind date with Dr. Kevorkian but he doesn't have much "free time" lately. j/k
Originally Posted By DlandJB I think there is greater value in just being pragmatic.>> That was my thought -- I'm optimistic, but I'm also realistic. Things are not going to get better by themselves, but I believe people do step up to the plate when they have to more than not. Where I get most concerned is with complacency -- the idea that the world's problems are someone else's problems. We joke about the government wanting to listen into our calls or read our mail, but we need to be vigilent about our Bill of Rights too. We may not be in agreement as to the cause of temperature shifts and polar icecaps melting. Might be our fault, might be a cycle -- but we still need a game plan for how to deal with the possible outcomes. Ditto on Iraq. I don't care how we got there or why we are there at this point -- I want to know what we plan to do next.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Maybe pregmatism is the word I was looking for when I said "not ostrich-in-the-sand optimism." But I still think that approaching things with an optimistic attitude can shift circumstances, and help you look for solutions from a whole different angle. For example, being in a sinking rowboat, you might be pragmatic and realize that, yup, you're going to sink. One solution would be to go ahead and drown yourself, since that is one possible outcome. But trying to look at that situation more optimistically, perhaps you can salvage some of the wood from the rowbat and make something to float on, or to hang on until you can reach shore or are rescued.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan And in business, people surely are drawn to companies that present more upbeat attitudes among their employees and sales staff. Maybe a friendly face is simply being pragmatic in business, I dunno.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj I know the businessman that sold me that leaky rowboat was sure upbeat about selling it to me!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I believe in optimism. Sure, you need to be aware of reality, but you should not be limited by it.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA It's interesting -- my wife and I are considered to be 'positive' people in our very small circle of acquaintances. Often times, people give us the 'oh, aren't they naive' look -- as if we're either stupid, or we just don't know enough to be hyper-critical and pessimistic. I think being negative is easy. You can kvetch about everything traffic, service at a restaurant, the rising cost of health insurance, the crappy return on your 401k, the amount of taxes you have to pay, the Iraq war, the dumb President, the stupid neighbor who doesn't take his trashcans in -- everything. It's much more difficult to keep a positive optimistic outlook on life. Which is why I try to do it. I'm not often successful, but I have a terrific wife who is a role model on this type of positive optimistic behavior.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>I know the businessman that sold me that leaky rowboat was sure upbeat about selling it to me!<< LOL!
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess I am the eternal optimist. I've learned to be this way as a coping mechanism--honestly. (When it comes down to being a matter of laughing or crying, I've chosen laughing as much as possible.)
Originally Posted By avromark <<Where I get most concerned is with complacency -- the idea that the world's problems are someone else's problems. We joke about the government wanting to listen into our calls or read our mail, but we need to be vigilent (sic) about our Bill of Rights too.>> Dl sure just beat me to the punch! Optimism is a good thing, as is keeping busy. I find it's easy to be pessimistic if you're not doing anything. That's why playing games (board, video, party, team, lone participation), reading (books,Internet,magazines,trade journals, etc), having hobbies (whatever it may be: theme parking, model railroading, restoring a car, canning, knitting, painting), having a steady job, being social, getting out in the world (whether it's mall-walking, mountain biking, spelunking) is important. But other people may see differently. If you always have a goal, and you're shooting for it and reaching it you feel optimistic. Stepping stones of life for example from parents house to the first apartment, to the quaint first house, to the home you raise your family, to that really awesome adult-only golf community you retire in. Volunteering -> you see optimism every day, just ask a certain LPer here about the tireless hours she puts into it. I would love to be the Optimistic Futurist, but Ray Bradbury beat me to it. I would love to be the entertainment Visionist, but Uncle Wally beat me to it. But I can be optimistic about my life, and the world. For example the Sisters of St. Joseph here are building a new hospice, it's a "green" building, that's part of the environment, Ford put a "living roof" (grass field) on their plant by our Inspector 57, The North London pool is built into a hill to conserve energy. The world is becoming a better place We have a Mosque, several churches, and 2 synagogues all sharing the same street. The Leafs beat Boston only 10-2. I may have the nerve to have an LP meet and scare some LPers. Who knows. End total random post.
Originally Posted By Dave >>>I think there is greater value in just being pragmatic<<< WHOA!! At first glance I thought JB said she was pregnant! Wow! (thought I was going to faint!)
Originally Posted By DlandJB I'd faint first!!!! No babies, thanks. Been there, done that. Still raising them. And I'm very optomistic about that!!
