Pessimism provides reasons not to do something, that’s the real reason it’s popular, it’s intellectual excuses for laziness.
Pessimism is a barrier to progress
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Re: Pessimism is a barrier to progress
#12I've considered myself an optimist for most of my life. But, starting in about 2014 I started to find myself being more of a pessimist more of the time. It got to the point in 2020 where I found myself pessimistic about pretty much everything. You know what I noticed? It takes a lot of energy to be pessimistic and pissed off all the time. So, instead, I'm trying to remain focused and motivated by the wrongs I would l…
What has fundamentally changed since 2014? Or is it the lack of change? Or did you just get older?
Re: Pessimism is a barrier to progress
#13I've considered myself an optimist for most of my life. But, starting in about 2014 I started to find myself being more of a pessimist more of the time. It got to the point in 2020 where I found myself pessimistic about pretty much everything. You know what I noticed? It takes a lot of energy to be pessimistic and pissed off all the time. So, instead, I'm trying to remain focused and motivated by the wrongs I would l…
"People mistakenly see optimism as an excuse for inaction. They think that it’s pessimism that drives change, and optimism that keeps us where we are. The opposite is true. Optimists are the ones that move us forward"
Exactly, it's not binary. Some pessimism is healthy, "the ones that speak truth to power". However, complaining without offering solutions is pointless. Good on you for following up, and trying to be optimistic about some of your solutions.
Re: Pessimism is a barrier to progress
#14Just the opposite, I see empathetic, gushing, ridiculous cotton candy optimisim all over places like LinkedIn and the corporate world. Everybody Smile!
There isn't nearly enough contention, questioning, satire (notice how SNL never really goes for that) etc..
Marc Benioff spends the entirety of his time virtue signalling about how he is saving LGBT refugees from this or that, while superficially that's nice, it's ultra narcissistic PR and self aggrandization to use those people as tools for corporate branding. Nobody calls him out.
On the contrary, I see a lot of dour young people, with kind of a 'lack of faith' in the general sense, which is really odd, and I suggest maybe a new concept in the west.
When I was very young we had the 'Cold War' with nukes starring right at us and we were full of ... gumption, positivity, pride, goodwill, hope etc..
Finally - I don't think positivity/pessimism matters that that much - you have to be a 'strong believer' in some capacity to innovate, the rest is head games.
Re: Pessimism is a barrier to progress
#15You might want to click through a few times on this. Basically this is WEF propaganda saying how billionaires are good for the world, and urge you not to get in their way with criticism or be labeled a doomsayer, negative Andy or 'pessimist'.
That is definitely not what this article is.
Re: Pessimism is a barrier to progress
#16This is why I worry about the doomerism, especially by young people, I see online so often. Thankfully, stepping out of the bubbles that are Twitter and Reddit, it's not nearly as common to see in the real world. Just one more reason not to (unproductively) use these platforms.
Re: Pessimism is a barrier to progress
#17hope for the best, plan for the worst.
Re: Pessimism is a barrier to progress
#18>People mistakenly see optimism as an excuse for inaction. They think that it’s pessimism that drives change, and optimism that keeps us where we are. The opposite is true. Optimists are the ones that move us forward.
Wait, what? Who thinks that way? This part is even highlighted in the article. Even blind optimism is seen as something that gives results. Sure it fails 99% of the time and a pessimist would think he will be part of the 99% but throwing things at the wall to see what sticks is a valid strategy for progress.
I can't be the only pessimist who thinks that most successful people are just lucky idiots who went along with their foolishly risky idea and somehow managed to make it work. Isn't that the most common coping strategy for the average Joe? I can't be a black sheep, right? Optimists get all the chicks, and pessimists are bitter about it.
Re: Pessimism is a barrier to progress
#19> There's an "optimism stigma" that's pervasive throughout society.
Funny, I'd say it's quite the opposite, you aren't allowed to say anything negative or you'd be labeled as a "downer".
Everything nowadays is "amazing" and "transformative".
Re: Pessimism is a barrier to progress
#20You might want to click through a few times on this. Basically this is WEF propaganda saying how billionaires are good for the world, and urge you not to get in their way with criticism or be labeled a doomsayer, negative Andy or 'pessimist'.
That is definitely not what this article is.
Have you read the Gates foundation funded IPSOS reports it references?