What's so bad about optimism?

I'm an optimist. I refuse to let things get me down. I always look on the bright side, even when there's not much light in the first place.

Yet it seems like in today's day and age, this isn't a widely taken stance, nor is it really looked upon as a good trait. There seems like an awful lot of pessimistic doom and gloom around most people these days, and it's quite annoying. People seem to enjoy making life harder for themselves by letting it get to them, rather than strain a little bit to hope for the best, and make it a reality. I'm not about to say I've had a terribly hard life, but it sure isn't simple. We all have our share of struggles, and our share of accomplishments.

What's so hard about being positive?

Originally Posted by Notsil

I'm an optimist. I refuse to let things get me down. I always look on the bright side, even when there's not much light in the first place.

Yet it seems like in today's day and age, this isn't a widely taken stance, nor is it really looked upon as a good trait. There seems like an awful lot of pessimistic doom and gloom around most people these days, and it's quite annoying. People seem to enjoy making life harder for themselves by letting it get to them, rather than strain a little bit to hope for the best, and make it a reality. I'm not about to say I've had a terribly hard life, but it sure isn't simple. We all have our share of struggles, and our share of accomplishments.

What's so hard about being positive?

Because pessimism is another word for realist.

;p

Originally Posted by Nietzsche

Because pessimism is another word for realist.

;p

Meh, there's a difference between accepting that life sucks sometimes, and getting over it and simply moping around waiting for things to get better while feeling sorry for yourself.

Realism is a very important trait to have, I drift into it from time to time.

I view pessimism is the only way change will take place. People will think negatively and want change to occur. If people were always thinking that things would get better on their own there would be no change for us to move forward. Though this may a distorted view on things.

I'm definitely a realist. I'm not an optimist, but I'm no Debby Downer. I personally think that's the way to go. Being overly optimistic can lead to being gullible and not being prepared. On the other hand, being pessimistic is bad for morale of yourself and others, and keeps you from seeing the joy in life.
Realism is where it's at.

I prefer to look at things at a pessimistic point of view. I see the bad and terrible things of something. I then can find a way to better improve that thing. Besides looking at the glass half empty just means I am closer to my second drink

Still if I were to look at everything in a positive light and try and look for the brighter side, I would feel I could not better grasp at the negative part. If I can not fully examine the negative part I can not begin to recreate it or make something better.

Bah, I'm probably a realist, but it never did me any good. Just made me neurotic.

I'd be more optimistic if my pessimism wasn't so loud.

Originally Posted by Notsil

I'm an optimist. I refuse to let things get me down. I always look on the bright side, even when there's not much light in the first place.

You know, there's a personality disorder associated with this outlook when taken to an extreme nature --- I believe the nickname for it is Pollyanna Syndrome.

:XD

People seem to enjoy making life harder for themselves by letting it get to them, rather than strain a little bit to hope for the best, and make it a reality.

I'm more of a pessimist than an optimist, but I would hardly say that I make life harder for myself.

What's so hard about being positive?

I think you can be positive without being "optimistic." My expectations are that there will always be hurdles --- but that with careful planning and such, you can make it through with less bumps and bruises. Is that classic optimism? I don't think so.

Originally Posted by Nietzsche

Because pessimism is another word for realist.

I used to think I was the only one who says that.

the only thing wrong with being optimistic is the dissapointment that follows

dont kick me for that

Originally Posted by Notsil

Yet it seems like in today's day and age, this isn't a widely taken stance, nor is it really looked upon as a good trait. There seems like an awful lot of pessimistic doom and gloom around most people these days, and it's quite annoying. People seem to enjoy making life harder for themselves by letting it get to them, rather than strain a little bit to hope for the best, and make it a reality. I'm not about to say I've had a terribly hard life, but it sure isn't simple. We all have our share of struggles, and our share of accomplishments.

I completely agree. There is an annoying shortage of optimists in today's world. You have to hunt to find them, and even when you DO find one, they're seldom ready to admit it- all the optimists I know say, "oh but I'm so cynical" and "but I'm not as happy as you think I am!" I don't know where the shame is in it.

It seems the world today is hooked on engativity. We live in a world where sarcasm is a sacrament (despite being the lowest form of wit?) and irony is mass-produced on t-shirts. Nearly all forms of intellectual wit you see- especially in blogs- are angry, cynical. New studies about the environment that show that we've destroyed the world, or trans fat that show we are eating ourselves to death bring before us an apparent impending doom that will kill us all in the end. So I guess some people just wonder, "what's the point in being optimistic with the obvious consequences like that?"

Here's an interesting statistic...

Originally Posted by CNN.com

In its study, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at 2.4 billion drugs prescribed in visits to doctors and hospitals in 2005. Of those, 118 million were for antidepressants. (source)

America, the most affluent nation in the world, is also the most depressed- to the point that antidepressents are the drug prescribed by doctors above all others. Pessimism isn't just a prevailing state of mind- it's a disease that people feel the need to pop the pill to fix, whether they need it or not. Citizens of the western world are so impressed with the ideal lifestyle- through the media, television, advetsiting- that their own semi-charmed lives just aren't enough. Success is engrained in the psyche, and especially the American one (after all, America was the land of opportunity- and although some of the American ancestery came for religious and political freedom, most came to make money) so when it is not achieved to the standards of media's picture-perfect expectations, there's no hope and no success.

So what do we do? We pop a pill, and then we moan about how awful our "sub-standard" lives are, groaning as an afterthought that it doesn't really matter, because we're all going to burn from UV radiation or eat ourselves to death anyway.

Originally Posted by Lly

America, the most affluent nation in the world, is also the most depressed- to the point that antidepressents are the drug prescribed by doctors above all others. Pessimism isn't just a prevailing state of mind- it's a disease that people feel the need to pop the pill to fix, whether they need it or not. Citizens of the western world are so impressed with the ideal lifestyle- through the media, television, advetsiting- that their own semi-charmed lives just aren't enough. Success is engrained in the psyche, and especially the American one (after all, America was the land of opportunity- and although some of the American ancestery came for religious and political freedom, most came to make money) so when it is not achieved to the standards of media's picture-perfect expectations, there's no hope and no success.

So what do we do? We pop a pill, and then we moan about how awful our "sub-standard" lives are, groaning as an afterthought that it doesn't really matter, because we're all going to burn from UV radiation or eat ourselves to death anyway.

I take antidepressants for my anxiety disorder, not because I feel bad because my life doesn't match up with the standards of my country's ideological perfectionism. It's my own perfectionism that comes with my Asperger's Syndrome, along with childhood exposure to mental abuse that got me where I am.

So, don't generalize. Antidepressants have a variety of uses, some for what you mean, others for coping with psychological illnesses from family problems and the like.

As for Optimism, it pretty much means naivete if the meaning is coming out to you guys like it is me. I am optimistic as far as I try to keep my cool by focusing on the good things, and yet I have the outlook of a pessimist. If you expect nothing, you will never be disappointed.

I love optimism. There is nothing wrong with it. Seeing the bottle as half full, counting your blessings, and pursuing virtuous things really makes life meaningful. Optimism is addicting as well. You can't help but smile when you encounter carefree people. ^_^

Anyone remember that song at the end of Life of Brian? :XD

I take antidepressants for my anxiety disorder, not because I feel bad because my life doesn't match up with the standards of my country's ideological perfectionism. It's my own perfectionism that comes with my Asperger's Syndrome, along with childhood exposure to mental abuse that got me where I am.

So, don't generalize. Antidepressants have a variety of uses, some for what you mean, others for coping with psychological illnesses from family problems and the like.

Aspergers Syndrome? Then of course you need them. If you have an anxiety issue or something, then there's nothing wrong with taking them. I'm sorry if I implied that. I'm sure there are many people that dotake them with excellent reasons- but I'm somewhat skeptical that all 118 million are in the same boat.

Obviously, some people need them with disorders, etc. But doctors give them away way too freely. According to an online diagnosis quiz, my answers "reflect the presence of significant depressive symptoms" and I should get pills from my doctor right away. (this online diagnosis was a quiz, and I answered "sometimes" to every question, such as: "do you find yourself feeling blue?" and "Do you find yourself tired when you shouldn't be?") It's just silly. Everyone feels sad sometimes.

so, I'm sorry if I implied that all people who take antidepressants are stupid escapists or whatever. I didn't mean to imply that no one has a right to take them. But according to online diagnosis, I need to run out to the doctor and get them simply because I sometimes feel sad. Which is ridiculous.

I would say pessimism is gloomy and annoying (I admit I'm pessimistic myself.) and it's good to be optimistic all around. If you always think you won't be able to do something due to the pessimistic nature of the individual, chances are, they won't accomplish the task. The optimistic one would have a greater chance because they are willing to do the task with a better attitude. There are times when pessimism is needed and other times optimism needed.

Originally Posted by Lly

Aspergers Syndrome? Then of course you need them. If you have an anxiety issue or something, then there's nothing wrong with taking them. I'm sorry if I implied that. I'm sure there are many people that dotake them with excellent reasons- but I'm somewhat skeptical that all 118 million are in the same boat.

*Eye twitch*....Can't...Stop...Fingers...

Sorry that is so very very very very wrong. Not everybody with Aspergers is Clincly Depressed and needs medication, that is an even worse generlization then what you wrote before. That is so very wrong. Very wrong, and insulting to those of us with aspergers.