# 2019. Are you feeling Optimistic or Pessimistic? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 31, 2018, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951 "2018-12-31T00:46:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JcWoman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jcwoman/32/2889_2.png) [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/21 "2018-12-31T19:57:22Z")
I’m another one who is always optimistic. My shop continues to do better, me and my family are healthy for the most part and we have a good life. I do worry for the state of our country and governmental system because the current situation there is abysmal. I hope the incoming democrats can fix some things and I hope my fellow Americans learn from this massive mistake. We need intelligent leaders in our government, not buffoons. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/22 "2018-12-31T21:58:59Z")
Why would it get any better? It’s not like someone throws a magical switch at midnight, 12/31, and everything gets better. The year we just spent will continue on in the same vein, except the arguments will get more bitter with the new resistance in government. Trump will continue to throw tantrums and lie to us all, regulations that protect the public will continue to be rolled back, and by 2020 I expect that our government will lie in a smoking ruin. What, too bleak? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/23 "2018-12-31T22:18:37Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Why would it get any better? It’s not like someone throws a magical switch at midnight, 12/31, and everything gets better. The year we just spent will continue on in the same vein, except the arguments will get more bitter with the new resistance in government. Trump will continue to throw tantrums and lie to us all, regulations that protect the public will continue to be rolled back, and by 2020 I expect that our government will lie in a smoking ruin. > > What, too bleak? Not nearly bleak enough, the damage done to our institutions is permanent and catastrophic. We will never recover and we will never be one nation. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/24 "2018-12-31T22:51:02Z")
Pessimistic. Everything of value about the world will be destroyed, the future holds nothing but tyranny, suffering, poverty, devastation and death. The best we can hope for is that the future remnants of humanity will eventually go extinct so that the suffering and cruelty will finally end. I’d say that future history would condemn us, except I don’t expect there to be any historians left to write it. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/25 "2018-12-31T22:56:43Z")
Determined. ---
**Author:** ![owlfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@owlfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlfan)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/26 "2019-01-01T11:06:47Z")
I am feeling pretty pessimistic. I feel that America has been permanently damaged in many ways. I didn’t realize there were so many assholes in the world until this past year. Everyone seems so selfish. I am not really worried about myself because I don’t think things will completely collapse in the years that I have left, but I do worry about my young adult children and what the world will be like when they are my age. ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/27 "2019-01-01T15:41:11Z")
Optimistic for myself personally, pessimistic for society at large. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/28 "2019-01-01T20:15:05Z")
I’m very pessimistic, to the extent that I am fucking glad I’ll be checking out in 30 yrs (hopefully that’ll be soon enough). From the end of the cold war to the election of Obama, and as the son of a WW II RCAF officer, I truly believed that our species was on the right track, albeit with some bumps in the road. But with Trump and today’s GOP with their complete disregard for anything beside themselves; Brexit; total apathy about climate change and the environment; and the sudden, final realization by every disenfranchised wack-job that all you need is a serviceable motor vehicle to kill a bunch of people; I think we’re fucked. Or as I recently heard on a current events show, this is a failure of “the human project.” Someone please explain why or how we colletively decided to disregard our own cognitive powers and hand over control to our basest emotions. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/29 "2019-01-01T20:21:39Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Pessimistic. Everything of value about the world will be destroyed, the future holds nothing but tyranny, suffering, poverty, devastation and death. The best we can hope for is that the future remnants of humanity will eventually go extinct so that the suffering and cruelty will finally end. > > I’d say that future history would condemn us, except I don’t expect there to be any historians left to write it. But other than that? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/30 "2019-01-01T20:23:43Z")
\ Oops just noticed where this was. This is a better fit in IMHO so I’ll move it there. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/31 "2019-01-01T20:28:52Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > But other than that? Free Parking! ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/32 "2019-01-01T22:32:15Z")
I feel optimistic about the upcoming five years (2019-2023.) Not too optimistic about 2019 itself though. A lot of crunching decisions and hard work to do. Probably a sloggy year. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/33 "2019-01-01T22:46:30Z")
Mixed actually. I am generally pessimistic if I stay in my current “trail” but I have plans on jumping jobs and some other things that could really turn things much better for me. ---
**Author:** ![Majestic\_Lee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Majestic\_Lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Majestic_Lee)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/34 "2019-01-01T23:04:11Z")
Pessimistic - shit storms all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/35 "2019-01-01T23:22:43Z")
Next year promises well for me, shitty for the country, hellish for the globe. But hey, there is the possibility that individual-1 will get indicted. Ah, what rejoicing on that great day. Should it come. ---
**Author:** ![Hermione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cdc98d/32.png) [@Hermione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermione)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/36 "2019-01-02T02:51:26Z")
I choose optimism–because optimism can lead to action, and action can lead to change. Even if it risks disappointment…I choose optimism. It’s not denying what’s bad…it’s honoring and trying to increase what’s good. [Jo Walton here](https://uncannymagazine.com/article/too-much-dystopia/) sums it up pretty nicely for me. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/37 "2019-01-02T03:31:42Z")
Professionally I should be doing well. Heading into the last few years of my career with a promotion. Personally, meh. For the world, the pendulum never stops swinging. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/38 "2019-01-02T03:41:33Z")
Slightly optimistic that we’ve turned the corner on the Trump situation. Personally, life is a hellish landscape of doom and despair, contrived by a sadistic god (if one existed). I see no real chance of improvement, but I trudge ahead anyway. That is what one does. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/39 "2019-01-02T04:40:33Z")
I’m cautiously optimistic about the new year. My business is expanding and my wife appears to have a good steady job. My kids are healthy and happy. Of course, it wouldn’t take much to knock us off track since we’re still recovering from our previous bout with poverty. My biggest worry is what will happen to my clients if the economy tanks on one hand people may shift money out of the stock market and diversify into my field or they could sit on their money and try and wait out the storm if its the second i could lose everything I’ve gained and take my new employees with me so that makes me nervous. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951/40 "2019-01-02T10:32:56Z")
Optimistic mostly. I’m worried about Brexit’s effect on the markets, so I’m (again) delaying retirement for several months. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2019-are-you-feeling-optimistic-or-pessimistic/826951.md?page=3)