I've seen the pictures of similar processes I think, I wonder what the byproducts could be.

I think pessimism is negativity to the point of holding someone back from trying.

That would include investigation, which I think is far more commonly a result of skepticism.

Personally, I think that contradicts with my definition of pessimism. Is pessimism not negativity to the point of not caring to try? To the point that it holds you back from facing that negativity?

I think "realistic optimism" is a better term for what you describe.

That certainly doesn't fit my caricature of it. I guess we really will have to consider the difference between pessimism and skepticism/criticism more closely!

Hmm. But the piece wasn't encouraging regular old pessimism, but "hopeful pessimism", no?

And pessimism?

A little mania does a society wonders.

My thoughts exactly. I think realistic optimism would be a better term for what they describe.

Isn't that skepticism, not pessimism?

Blind faith/optimism as you describe is bad, but full-on pessimism is if anything, blowing up in their faces at the moment.

It isn't proving to be anymore of a viable solution as "eternal optimism" is.

Mhm.

I'm not talking about that right now, I'm talking about how they treat their fellow man when they ask what's going on.

The pessimism that leads them to brush off their curiosity and escalate conflict.

Small scale efforts are showing the kind of compassion and good will you claim to have for world/societal issues to the common man around you.

It's integrity.

Behold, a prime specimen: A pessimist gives up before even trying to understand what confuses him.

Not on the small scale. I would've listened.

But apparently I just wasn't worth the effort. Better to talk down to me and act like they've won the argument without even trying.

Leave it to a pessimist to make that assumption on so little.

Thank you for portraying my argument against encouraging pessimism for the rest of us.

When did I say that?

I'm optimistic enough to try and communicate with a lot of pessimistic/political fellows, yet they're often too pessimistic to see communicating back as anything but a waste of time.

They assume failure without even really trying. We've had too much pessimism lately imo.

>Your comment above made no mention of health

It most certainly did.

>There's a healthy balance.

If you've read it, then you could surely differentiate the article's hopeful pessimism from my "realistic optimism".

Well? What's the difference?

Why is it pessimism and not skepticism to you then?

But is it usually unhealthy to use too much pepper as opposed to salt?

That doesn't sound like pessimism, rather than the fruits of skepticism/criticism.

I said a healthy balance, I didn't say it was guaranteed to sit well with the lightweights.

This is so sad. No, I'm just experienced.

Get your head out of your ass and grow up, do some things with your life before you latch on to some weird ideology. You're just being a weird fanatic at this point.

Not meant to be an insult, just concerned advice.