# My extreme cynicism and negativity **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 25, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382 "2009-02-25T16:56:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/21 "2009-02-25T18:58:40Z")
I’ll be happy to try to out-cynic you, **Ogre**. I’m 42 and I’ve been floundering _my entire adult life._ Everything important I ever applied myself to has made me miserable - work, love, all the grown-up stuff. I do okay messing around with trivial things (private interests, bulletin boards, you know) and putting up a front for the world, I can’t hold my head up high enough to make friends or connect to anyone. Wanna despair-wrestle? Maybe we’ll both learn something. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/22 "2009-02-25T19:02:13Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Thus my OP, you ignorant mooseknuckle! Then what are you doing here now, you formerly brilliant but now not so much dunderhead? Speaking of which, would you kindly point out just where in your OP you pointed out that you thought it was the Dope that was responsible for your misanthropy? Unless you managed to brilliantly encouch it in mundane words that we, the hoi polloi, believe to have other meanings, I don’t believe you ever 'splained that. Nor did you comment on it when you answered my original question. Frankly, I’m sensing both intellectual dishonesty and the inabilty to recognize (or appreciate it, if so) when someone is trying to be helpful. Can’t say I’m all that impressed with you, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/23 "2009-02-25T19:05:34Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Then what are you doing here now, you formerly brilliant but now not so much dunderhead? > > Speaking of which, would you kindly point out just where in your OP you pointed out that you thought it was the Dope that was responsible for your misanthropy? Relax, **Artist**. The “ignorant mooseknuckle” thing was intended to be so over the top that you couldn’t help but realize I was joking. I was joking. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/24 "2009-02-25T19:07:21Z")
:smack: Oops! Sorry. I’ll try to omit my previous glurge. Gah, too late! I apologize both for not recognizing that you were making a joke (fallout from the new code going on around here, I suppose), and for my over-the-top retaliation. (See? This place is getting to me, too.) ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/25 "2009-02-25T19:14:02Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > :smack: Oops! Sorry. I’ll try to omit my previous glurge. > > Gah, too late! > > I apologize both for not recognizing that you were making a joke (fallout from the new code going on around here, I suppose), and for my over-the-top retaliation. (See? This place is getting to me, too.) No harm. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/26 "2009-02-25T19:14:45Z")
Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/27 "2009-02-25T20:28:39Z")
So take **DtC** ’s advice on the Dope and try to take it for off the Dope too. I find most of the time, if I type out a heated or arrogant post that in rereading I catch myself. Not a luxury I have with my mouth IRL. I have a bad rep for being too sarcastic and caustic. It outweighs my better points apparently. My wife gets annoyed at me for ranting and being negative. I try not to be and I think I mostly avoid doing so on the Dope. Oddly, I think the Dope has helped me be more relax IRL. I think I know what you mean by Short Fuse. Not that you are prone to violence but you are prone to angry outbursts. My brother and I are both this way. You’re a good guy **Ogre**. You are very quick to come to the support of a friends as I have seen on the Dope. You appear to be loyal. You have a caring side as you showed in the threads about your music and the [Dragonfly Buddy](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=439807). So just try to catch yourself and be less negative if that is what you want. Something I need to do myself. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/28 "2009-02-26T07:08:56Z")
I’m trying, **What Exit?**. I appreciate the kind words…and that’s another thread I’d forgotten about. It’s nice to know that not everyone has. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/29 "2009-02-26T07:15:48Z")
Pfft, you call this cynicism? I’m not buying it. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/30 "2009-02-26T15:18:45Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > I appreciate the thought, but as long as I’m being all emo, I might as well fess up. I’m pretty sure that my “superiority” is at least partially due to insecurity. . Of course. The only one’s who don’t have insecurity are megalomaniacs. I have a problem with arrogance, myself, at times. And I’m not in a doctorate program. I’m an under/unemployed baccalaureate. And the toilet I installed last night has water all over the floor this morning. Fuck. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/31 "2009-02-27T03:29:46Z")
Honey, I think you’re feeling the Febrrrrrruary winter doldrums, coupled with being overwhelmed and burnt out with all the studies… That makes one cranky. I’m right there with ya, lately. Plus, if ya care about the world and keep up with politics, it’s more damn cranky making. Reaching middle age helps to amplify that, too. I know you know good music…crank the cranky up and listen/play loud, that’s a great release. Are you getting any good fieldwork in? Getting outside much to the good Real World that I see you lovin’ too? Springs comin’, I can hear the first frogs peepin’ tonight, got the window open, even if my fingers are COLD typing this, just gotta hear their music. Trout lilies are coming up, too. Take a good walk in yer cedar glades to get some perspective, Ogre. Rest your heart. When we get tense and overworked, there’s no energy left for positive outlook. It’s hunker down mode then, and reactions are negative. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/32 "2009-02-27T15:34:52Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I hate that. As if they have some special lock on realism. What they fail to grasp is that you create your own reality. Your attitude, be it negative or positive, becomes manifest. Have you been reading “The Secret”? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/33 "2009-02-27T15:45:57Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > I > I hate that, but I’m not sure what to do about it. two words serenity now ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/34 "2009-02-27T20:05:08Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > I hate this about myself. Over the years, I have grown more and more cynical and negative about, well, everything. I’m a snotty elitist about food, music, politics, everything. I’m pretty convinced that I’m the smartest motherfucker in any given room - online, or in real life. Ninety-nine percent of the time that’s probably an accurate assessment. IIRC you are some sort of environmental scientist and have the advanced degrees needed to enter that field. Non-smart people generally don’t do that. Your comment on Insane Clown Posse shows that you know and have opinions about something besides your field, which I think is a positive. I know nothing at all about ICP except that their name vaguely frightens me. There’s nothing wrong with strong opinions based your having actually listened to or watched something. And people here have been griping about Ed so much that, if we were a country Ed-griping would be our national pastime. ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/35 "2009-02-27T20:13:41Z")
I don’t know you, Ogre, but so far, I think you’re pretty cool. Recognizing a fault is the first step to correcting it, they say. But since I’m more like you than not, I have to say that it hasn’t helped much. Just don’t beat yourself up. Life will do that, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/36 "2009-02-27T22:57:41Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > I hate this about myself. Over the years, I have grown more and more cynical and negative about, well, everything. I’m a snotty elitist about food, music, politics, everything. I’m pretty convinced that I’m the smartest motherfucker in any given room - online, or in real life. > > It seems like my recent posting history has been a litany of crap like this. Seriously, what the fuck? Comments like that don’t contribute anything. They certainly don’t make anyone’s experience around here any better. Why didn’t I just skip both those threads? > > I’m sarcastic and pessimistic. I’ve been trying to change, because in real life, I’m thoughtful, polite, I’m silly and playful with my wife and pets, I love my friends. I can relate strongly to all of this. I fight it constantly. I cannot bring myself to even pretend to like movies, books, or television shows that I feel are just churned out for the masses without much artistic merit. Over the holidays I watched _Elf_ with my wife’s family and at the end they asked me what I thought. I sat there thinking “say something nice. say something nice.” for a minute, and then when I opened my mouth, what came out was something like, “it was probably the worst movie I’ve ever sat all the way through.” I literally could not stop myself from saying something negative about it. And, it’s so embarassing to admit this, but I’m exactly the same way about being convinced that I’m basically the smartest person in the world. I can yield to someone’s superior knowledge on a particular subject, but as soon as I feel threatened that they might be smarter than me in general (whatever the fuck that means), I start redefining “smart” in my head in ways that make me come out on top again. It’s absurd. Luckily, I’m also with you in that in real life, I’m generally pretty thoughtful, polite, silly and playful with my wife and pet, etc. We’re having our first child any day now, and I plan on trying to carefully discourage these traits in him, so maybe he doesn’t turn out as fucked up as me. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/37 "2009-02-28T02:53:33Z")
Honestly **Ogre** , you may not be as cynical and negative as you think. You at least have a wife; all I have is an elderly and somewhat aloof cat, and elderly and occasionally meddlesome parents. And you apparently have ingratiated yourself enough to have at least left a footprint on the SDMB (if **What Exit** ’s comments are anything to do by). I, OTOH, have contributed little but drive-by one-liners and weapons-grade self-pity in my 4 1/2 years on the Dope. Top _that_, brother! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/38 "2009-03-01T17:01:51Z")
> [@elelle](#): > > Honey, I think you’re feeling the Febrrrrrruary winter doldrums, coupled with being overwhelmed and burnt out with all the studies.. That makes one cranky. I’m right there with ya, lately. Plus, if ya care about the world and keep up with politics, it’s more damn cranky making. Reaching middle age helps to amplify that, too. > > I know you know good music…crank the cranky up and listen/play loud, that’s a great release. Are you getting any good fieldwork in? Getting outside much to the good Real World that I see you lovin’ too? Springs comin’, I can hear the first frogs peepin’ tonight, got the window open, even if my fingers are COLD typing this, just gotta hear their music. Trout lilies are coming up, too. Take a good walk in yer cedar glades to get some perspective, Ogre. Rest your heart. When we get tense and overworked, there’s no energy left for positive outlook. It’s hunker down mode then, and reactions are negative. I’ve definitely been in Cabin Fever, hunker down mode, for sure. I feel better now, though. I was able to take my class on a good, long hike on Thursday, and that really helped straighten me out. I’m sure that’s part of it. I can just feel Spring right around the corner, waiting to pounce. I’m a Southern boy. I need blistering heat and humidity. All this cold really messes me up. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/39 "2009-03-01T17:05:40Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I can relate strongly to all of this. I fight it constantly. I cannot bring myself to even pretend to like movies, books, or television shows that I feel are just churned out for the masses without much artistic merit. Over the holidays I watched _Elf_ with my wife’s family and at the end they asked me what I thought. I sat there thinking “say something nice. say something nice.” for a minute, and then when I opened my mouth, what came out was something like, “it was probably the worst movie I’ve ever sat all the way through.” I literally could not stop myself from saying something negative about it. > > And, it’s so embarassing to admit this, but I’m exactly the same way about being convinced that I’m basically the smartest person in the world. I can yield to someone’s superior knowledge on a particular subject, but as soon as I feel threatened that they might be smarter than me in general (whatever the fuck that means), I start redefining “smart” in my head in ways that make me come out on top again. It’s absurd. > > Luckily, I’m also with you in that in real life, I’m generally pretty thoughtful, polite, silly and playful with my wife and pet, etc. > > We’re having our first child any day now, and I plan on trying to carefully discourage these traits in him, so maybe he doesn’t turn out as fucked up as me. To be perfectly honest, I think SDMB attracts people like us. There’s a culture here which follows Cecil’s example of aloof sarcasm and superiority. Fortunately, we’re all fundamentally self-assured of our own awesomeness, so I think we’ll probably be OK. 🙂 > [@Beware Of Doug](#): > > And you apparently have ingratiated yourself enough to have at least left a footprint on the SDMB (if What Exit’s comments are anything to do by). I, OTOH, have contributed little but drive-by one-liners and weapons-grade self-pity in my 4 1/2 years on the Dope. That’s not true. I know your name very well, and I generally stop to read your posts. Funny how this is a big ol’ community, yet sometimes it feels like we’re all alone. Just like real life. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382/40 "2009-03-01T20:25:08Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > I hate this about myself. Yeah, seriously, dude. Fuck you. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-extreme-cynicism-and-negativity/487382.md?page=3)