I'm a cynic whose optimism rests with the young people who are growing up in the most diverse America ever. They GET it, and they are the only ones left who have the mentality to solve this country's -- and world's -- problems.
I manage to not-think about that. A lot. I still work toward a sustainable future but it’s a little game I play with myself. Lord. What we are leaving to the kids. And we knew better.
When I was in my teens and early twenties I was pretty much convinced none of us would see 2000 let alone 2021 (I blame a little too much Camus, Sartre and Plath with a sprinkling of Paul Erlich for turning me into a shaggy, fatalistic existentialist). But here we are. So call me optimistically pessimistic. That’s a thing, isn’t it?
I'm an unsuccessful pessimist* with optimistic hopes and aims.
* I know that I'm kind of eccentric in this, but I define an optimist as one who tries to anticipate up-side outcomes more than is justified by objective probabilities or the probabilities they assess, and a pessimist tries to over anticipate undesirable outcomes.
I am a pessimist by nature. And when you look at what is happening in the world today it is hard to be an optimist. But one of my favorite quotes of all time came from an Italian political philosopher named Antonio Gramsci who was imprisoned my Mussolini for being a "dangerous mind." Gramsci continued to write in his prison cell and one of the fragments includes the line that we must strive for "pessimism of the intellect, and optimism of the will." I believe that he meant that we must fully understand the reality of what we are facing but continue to fight for progress regardless. James Baldwin said something similar: "“I can't be a pessimist because I am alive. To be a pessimist means that you have agreed that human life is an academic matter. So, I am forced to be an optimist. I am forced to believe that we can survive, whatever we must survive.” I try to remember these quotes on the bad days.
I'm a cynic whose optimism rests with the young people who are growing up in the most diverse America ever. They GET it, and they are the only ones left who have the mentality to solve this country's -- and world's -- problems.
That's because you're around young people, isn't it? That's what keeps me hopeful.
Exactly!
Personally, I really fear for my grandchildren. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/triple-jeopardy-children-face-dark-future-climate-disasters-rcna2304
I manage to not-think about that. A lot. I still work toward a sustainable future but it’s a little game I play with myself. Lord. What we are leaving to the kids. And we knew better.
I’m a realist
The fact that trump was able to become president had me feeling pessimistic
The fact that he lost the popular vote twice and the presidency in 2020 had me feeling optimistic
Only the most ignorant of the goofballs that I know are still flying their trump flags and believe it or not that has me optimistic
Some of the biggest goofballs that I know don’t have children and for that I am extremely optimistic
And some people who wanted nothing to do with me during the presidential election are talking to me again has me optimistic
People who wanted nothing to do with me still want nothing to do with me, and that makes me optimistic, if not downright happy.
When I was in my teens and early twenties I was pretty much convinced none of us would see 2000 let alone 2021 (I blame a little too much Camus, Sartre and Plath with a sprinkling of Paul Erlich for turning me into a shaggy, fatalistic existentialist). But here we are. So call me optimistically pessimistic. That’s a thing, isn’t it?
It is now.
I like that, "somewhere on the spectrum of optimism". That's me.
I'm an unsuccessful pessimist* with optimistic hopes and aims.
* I know that I'm kind of eccentric in this, but I define an optimist as one who tries to anticipate up-side outcomes more than is justified by objective probabilities or the probabilities they assess, and a pessimist tries to over anticipate undesirable outcomes.
I think that's a great definition, actually.
I've often found that people use "pessimism" to mean "taking a dim view of each thing."
I am a pessimist by nature. And when you look at what is happening in the world today it is hard to be an optimist. But one of my favorite quotes of all time came from an Italian political philosopher named Antonio Gramsci who was imprisoned my Mussolini for being a "dangerous mind." Gramsci continued to write in his prison cell and one of the fragments includes the line that we must strive for "pessimism of the intellect, and optimism of the will." I believe that he meant that we must fully understand the reality of what we are facing but continue to fight for progress regardless. James Baldwin said something similar: "“I can't be a pessimist because I am alive. To be a pessimist means that you have agreed that human life is an academic matter. So, I am forced to be an optimist. I am forced to believe that we can survive, whatever we must survive.” I try to remember these quotes on the bad days.
I think of myself as a realist who always figures good will out. That may have nothing to do with optimism. I may just be goofy.
I believe there is always a message in the mess, if we have the faith and trust to find it.
Leave it to you to bring this conversation to a higher plane.
😊
I am neither any more. I am a work-towards-love realist.
Great answer.
All of it, totally avoidable.