h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Speaking as a pathologically pessimistic peson I rather suspect that might be fallacy. I would suggest that the optimist is a person who is always looking for the opportunity they are sure is coming and thus sees them where the pessimist isn't looking because they no there's no chance of a good thing...

The good thing about being a cynic is that occasionally you get a pleasant surprise. The optimist however, must be frequently disappointed.

I prefer neither cynicsim nor optimism but inebreation.

A sceptical analysis of of most information is a healthy way to go, yes it involves thinking but an overly cynical mindset starts to doubt the character of the delivery bloke before checking to see if the pizza is the one ordered or the wrong one again.

Why store up all that frustration and resentment before something has actually gone wrong?

Nice one Blicky

Novo

Cynics look both ways before crossing a one-way street.

Healthy I'd say.

Interesting thread.

I've always had an instinctive dislike for out and out cynics/cynicism. I mean it's just so easy. We're all going to die and life is full of rogues and painful experiences. But what I love is that despite this lots of people still retain their childlike wonder and joy at the world.

It's bloody marvellous to be alive at all. And just because 'being in love' is nothing more than chemicals in the brain and the feeling will inevitably fade, doesn't stop it being one of the most wonderful feelings in thee world.

And I'll never forget how brilliant it felt on that sunny May morning in 1997 when the long years of Tory rule finally came to an end. Deep down I knew it would most likely all go wrong, but what the heck it felt bloody marvellous. The birds sang louder, it was a beautiful sunny day and people actually smiled at each other out in the streets. Memories like this give life meaning and real pleasure. Dealing with the pain of its loss is also all part of life's rich tapestry.

I'm just so so glad I'm not a cynic.

As Simon Drew put it... although the card is no longer available.
http://www.simondrew.co.uk/designs/designs.htm

Optimist - You are always better off than someone else.
Pesimist - There is always someone better off that yourself.
Cynic - There is always someone else...
German - Always there is someone than yourself better off.

Humble apologies to all Germans.

turvy

The problem with optimists is that, while they're off considering the lilies, some bugger's ransacking their house.

They must also live their lives in a more or less constant state of disappointment. A cynic's life is full of pleasant surprises.

There is an alternative view of may 1997 to that of course.

Ugh, another link. I'm off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjKweo_t1kU&NR=1

How's this Arnie, for september 1997?

And I mean this most sincerely.... only a hardened cynic could fail to be moved.......

Too late, I already unsubbed. I'll not be drawn into you link PING-PONG!!!!!

CURSE YOU!!!

Well all I've got to say on the matter is fiddlesticks!

I do not dare to post, cause I already did a few years ago about the same item.
They would surely shoot from the hips by calling it SPAM!

Cynicism is healthy if you are a cynic,
otherwise it isn't.

Link ping-pong?

Posting on this thread just isn't any use...

That would depend on who you are listening to

Maybe cynacism is the result of the politics of personality espoused by Clinton and Blair. Rather than involving the intellect to build positive reaction to events, its far easier to use hind-sight to destroy the actions of the past.

Lets look at a couple of current news stories.

Firstly Madelaine - a missing child, highly emotive, and surely a one sided story. But the cynic in me asks why did they leave their children alone while they went for a meal ? Why are the British press attacking the Portugese police ? What aren't we being told ?

Secondly measuring our waste. Now from the outside this is a sensible measure to try to combat excessive packaging and the waste endemic in society. However the cynic in me says 'another Brown stealth tax.'