Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Why are we so pessimistic?

brookings.edu

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

101–110 of 150 posts

Re: Why are we so pessimistic?

#101

Post by cybervegan »

People are pessimistic precisely because they are aware that if we don't do something about the climate crisis, everything will come crashing down. Being optimistic about it, you might say "don't worry, they'll work out a plan" (whoever they are), and then carry on as before, but being pessimistic, you're more likely to think "we'd better do something, and NOW!".

When you realise that Live Aid was one of the earliest reactions to the climate disaster, and that it was OVER 30 YEARS AGO and no real progress has been made: CO2 emissions have continued to rise exponentially, almost unabated.

When you realise that, you realise there is no cause for optimism.

Re: Why are we so pessimistic?

#102

Post by Medicalidiot »

cryptica wrote: post #95
DisruptiveDave wrote: post #35

I have another point of view here - there's power in overcoming adversity. Nearly every movie produced tells you that. But your average American doesn't face real adversity anymore. We are extremely comfortable. Extremely safe. But there's something inside us that needs this adversity, it needs to triumph, to overcome challenges. This is why we run marathons, punish ourselves in the gym, climb mountains. Some of us,…

The adversity is real. Most people have horrible lives. People who are sedated in this so-called "safe comfortable state" are the ones who are being taken advantage of the most. It's like in The Matrix, it's not until you unplug yourself that you realize that the world is worse than it has ever been. Opportunities essentually don't exist at all. Also the argument that "if they don't realize it, then it won't hurt the…

In the Developed world, we don't have to hunt our food. We don't freeze outside. We have comfortable lives in that we have are physiological needs taken care of. Yet, happiness is at an all time low and our psychological needs are neglected. I believe that OP is onto something in that humans are programmed to struggle with something, and if we don't, we start having issues. In my mind this is similar to an autoimmune disease: when our bodies don't have to fight outside pathogens, out white cells start attacking ourselves; this is one theory out there among many of why we develop autoimmune diseases.

Re: Why are we so pessimistic?

#103

Post by pytester »

benj111 wrote: post #99
PopeDotNinja wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But your average American doesn't face real adversity anymore. As a formerly homeless person living in a neighborhood filled with poverty, I'm going to humbly disagree with you on this point.

He did say 'average' American. The article is about why we're unreasonably pessimistic. You are illustrating the point.

Apparently most americans are one paycheck away from the that: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/most-americans-are-one-pay...

Re: Why are we so pessimistic?

#104

Post by caymanjim »

cybervegan wrote: post #101

People are pessimistic precisely because they are aware that if we don't do something about the climate crisis, everything will come crashing down. Being optimistic about it, you might say "don't worry, they'll work out a plan" (whoever they are), and then carry on as before, but being pessimistic, you're more likely to think "we'd better do something, and NOW!". When you realise that Live Aid was one of the earliest…

> When you realise that Live Aid was one of the earliest reactions to the climate disaster, and that it was OVER 30 YEARS AGO and no real progress has been made: CO2 emissions have continued to rise exponentially, almost unabated.

The Ethiopian famine, like most modern famines, was largely a failure of government, not a climate problem. People starved because food couldn't move due to strife, and much of that was intentional. Yes, there was a drought, but droughts happen all the time and all over the place, and in a functioning, non-warring country, it's not nearly as calamitous. Live Aid very probably made the situation worse by funding more conflict.

Re: Why are we so pessimistic?

#105

Post by benj111 »

sonnyblarney wrote: post #65
DisruptiveDave wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This point also confirms my relativity of perception thoughts. Yes, compared to me, the bottom 50% certainly has more adversity. But why stop there? The bottom 50% in America is likely the top 20% somewhere else (I'm making all of this up, of course). Then the bottom 50% of that 20% is likely the top 1% somewhere else. And on and on it goes. I don't believe that thinking about nameless, faceless people thousands and…

"I don't believe that thinking about nameless, faceless people thousands and thousands of miles away is particularly effective " But this is what is implied by the opening statement 'The Average American' etc. etc. , no? The 'The Average American' does face 'adversity', because most people are barely getting by. Imagine middle aged parents without spectacular health care coverage, someone gets a cavity and needs a ro…

"It means no car trip to Myrtle Beach, or no piano lessons for the kids, or worse, having to put it on the Credit Card"

That's your example of facing adversity?

Did you read the article? If you're lying awake at night worrying whether you can afford little Timmy's piano lessons you aren't in the same boat as a cave man that's worried about getting eaten by a lion.

Re: Why are we so pessimistic?

#106

Post by dr_dshiv »

What is the role of the loss of spirituality and ritual practices? We are so proud of throwing off superstition -- as we should be -- nevertheless, a sense of spirituality is a known factor in scientific models of wellbeing.

Our pessimism is protected by our cynicism.

Re: Why are we so pessimistic?

#107

Post by benj111 »

cybervegan wrote: post #101

People are pessimistic precisely because they are aware that if we don't do something about the climate crisis, everything will come crashing down. Being optimistic about it, you might say "don't worry, they'll work out a plan" (whoever they are), and then carry on as before, but being pessimistic, you're more likely to think "we'd better do something, and NOW!". When you realise that Live Aid was one of the earliest…

If most people are pessimistic for that reason, why havent they done anything about it?

If you're worried about the zombie apocalypse, you start prepping, you don't start complaining about how rubbish the world is because the apocalypse is coming and no ones prepared for it.

Re: Why are we so pessimistic?

#108

Post by cortesoft »

cryptica wrote: post #95
DisruptiveDave wrote: post #35

I have another point of view here - there's power in overcoming adversity. Nearly every movie produced tells you that. But your average American doesn't face real adversity anymore. We are extremely comfortable. Extremely safe. But there's something inside us that needs this adversity, it needs to triumph, to overcome challenges. This is why we run marathons, punish ourselves in the gym, climb mountains. Some of us,…

The adversity is real. Most people have horrible lives. People who are sedated in this so-called "safe comfortable state" are the ones who are being taken advantage of the most. It's like in The Matrix, it's not until you unplug yourself that you realize that the world is worse than it has ever been. Opportunities essentually don't exist at all. Also the argument that "if they don't realize it, then it won't hurt the…

What would make a life not horrible? Having to struggle for food and shelter?

Re: Why are we so pessimistic?

#109

Post by nostrademons »

DisruptiveDave wrote: post #35

I have another point of view here - there's power in overcoming adversity. Nearly every movie produced tells you that. But your average American doesn't face real adversity anymore. We are extremely comfortable. Extremely safe. But there's something inside us that needs this adversity, it needs to triumph, to overcome challenges. This is why we run marathons, punish ourselves in the gym, climb mountains. Some of us,…

The Unabomber Manifesto talks about very similar themes. He kinda made a bad name for himself with the whole "killing people" thing, but a lot of his complaints about alienation, the "power principle" and need for struggle, and the feeling that individual freedom is being subsumed under an over-arching technocratic system echo things you might read on HN today.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/unab...

Re: Why are we so pessimistic?

#110

Post by nostrademons »

cryptica wrote: post #95
DisruptiveDave wrote: post #35

I have another point of view here - there's power in overcoming adversity. Nearly every movie produced tells you that. But your average American doesn't face real adversity anymore. We are extremely comfortable. Extremely safe. But there's something inside us that needs this adversity, it needs to triumph, to overcome challenges. This is why we run marathons, punish ourselves in the gym, climb mountains. Some of us,…

The adversity is real. Most people have horrible lives. People who are sedated in this so-called "safe comfortable state" are the ones who are being taken advantage of the most. It's like in The Matrix, it's not until you unplug yourself that you realize that the world is worse than it has ever been. Opportunities essentually don't exist at all. Also the argument that "if they don't realize it, then it won't hurt the…

For most of human history - and in many places around the world today - living a "horrible life" means that it's about to end if you don't actively find food, evade guys with guns, and stay healthy. Being able to waste your entire lives on video games, star wars, star trek, etc. is a privilege of having your entire lifetime basically assured.

That we've evolved for the former situation and seem to be miserable in the latter seems to be the grandparent's point.

Post reply on HN