Optimism vs. Realism
It seems that all too often when I talk to someone about issues that I have, the tell me not to be so pessimistic and be more optimistic. What they don't realize is that I am realistic. It is neither optimism or pessimism, though taking into account the way most things work out realism sounds a lot like pessimism. Take, for instance, leaving a CD wallet in the passenger seat of an unlocked car in the middle of a crowded parking lot and expecting it to get stolen. That's not pessimism, that's realism. If you are stupid, someone is going to take advantage of you. That's all there is to it. If you expect the best of people at all times, you ARE going to be let down. At the same time, if you expect the worst of people at all times, you are going to lead a sad, sad life. Expect what is likely of the individual person, and don't make generalizations. If you expect what is likely of someone who usually screws up (which is for them to screw up), and they screw up, you aren't going to be let down. But if they do something right, you're expectations are exceeded. The antithesis is true for someone who usually follows through and does things right. It all comes down to learning about a person before you make expectations of them, and then expecting their average behavior. Anyways, I started this sober, took a 7 hour break, and I'm not so sober anymore. I'm gonna crash. Adieu. Josh
posted by Josh at 19:43
3 Comments:
I've been keeping up with your posts, Josh, and its given me a good idea of the kind of person you are. Your opinions portray a very unique and intelligent person. It's too bad you aren't one. Everything you write is cliche in its 'uniqueness', and you're just a parrot who sits on the shoulders of people who are smarter than you. In fact, I have a new word for you to repeat to yourself, it'll make you sound really smart, since that's what you want: pretentious. Do you want to know what the funny thing is about being an elitist, Josh? To be one you only have to THINK you are intellectually superior. If you think I'm just throwing this out there to be a prick: try me, I would LOVE to hear from you my friend.
PS How old are you?
Personally, I think that anyone who so much as ventures out more than the limits as defined by society will indeed find themselves to be Realists. I agree with the whole, "everything in moderation" approach. Most people who are content to stick with an overgeneralized label such as optimist or pessimist, deserve to be regarded as such mindless peons of the human race. Hey, someone needs to do it, and it might as well be them. Anyways... what I mean to say: People who are content with what's spoonfed to them suck, those who seek out the answers themselves rock. And so I say unto thee, good to see others searching for themselves and finding their own philosophy of life as opposed to mindlessly following one written in a popular monotheistic book. That's all.
~Cataschism
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