# Optimist or Pessimist? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 20, 2001, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632 "2001-04-20T03:33:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jazzmine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jazzmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jazzmine)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/1 "2001-04-20T03:33:26Z")
Are you a glass half full or a glass half empty? Me? I think I’m a pessimist. Eeyore is my favorite Winnie the Pooh character. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/2 "2001-04-20T04:06:31Z")
I’m a pessimistic optimist: I think things will be OK, despite my pessimism. And that depressed me. Oh, and I just have to share this excerpt from the Devil’s Dictionary, by Ambrose Bierce: > [@](#): > > Optimist, _n._ A proponent of the doctrine that black is white. > A pessmist applied to God for relief. > “Ah, you wish me to restore your hope and cheerfulness,” said God. > “No,” replied the petitioner, “I wish you to create something that would justify them.” > “The world is all created,” said God, “but you have overlooked something - the mortality of the optimist.” ---
**Author:** ![Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/3 "2001-04-20T04:14:16Z")
This brings to mind an old Far Side cartoon by Gary Larson. _Four Personality Types_ “The glass is half empty.” “The glass is half full!” “What was the question?” “Hey! I ordered a cheeseburger!” ---
**Author:** ![Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/4 "2001-04-20T04:15:45Z")
Oh yea. As for myself, I’m pessimistic. Not in a depressing way, though. It’s just that I find that if I always go into a situation prepared for the -worst-, I’m usually satisfied when it doesn’t turn out to be quite so bad. And if it -is- that bad, then at least I was ready for it. Ya know? ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/5 "2001-04-20T04:26:12Z")
I’m an optimist by attitude, but a pessimist by policy (and you thought the name “Balance” was just for looks!) IMHO, there are few things in the world more dangerous than an optimistic engineer. ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/6 "2001-04-20T05:50:25Z")
I’m a hardcore cynic, and that leads me to be pessimistic. My motto has always been, “If you expect the worst and it happens, you’re ready for it. If the best (or something in the middle) happens, it’s a pleasant surprise.” Optimists and morning people scare me. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/7 "2001-04-20T06:19:29Z")
I’m a cynically pragmatic idealist. Figure **that** one out. And yes, I’ve thought about this before, and that’s the standard categorical description I’ve come up with for myself. ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/8 "2001-04-20T06:24:33Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m a cynically pragmatic idealist. > > Figure that one out. I take it to mean you’re an untrusting, overly analytical, opinionated bastard. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/9 "2001-04-20T08:10:37Z")
Pessimistic, glass is half empty, ‘it’s all going to hell in handbasket’ type here. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/10 "2001-04-20T11:16:54Z")
I surprise myself. I’m a realist, but I can be positive and hopeful. I don’t want to go in expecting the worst, but I do sometimes fear that things may easily go pear-shaped. But if you go in hoping for joy and happiness and eternal pleasure, it ain’t gonna happen, and that might depress me. So I’m a realist. Stuff happens. Be prepared for it. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/11 "2001-04-20T11:41:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by soulmurk \* > \*\*… Optimists and morning people scare me. \*\* I’m an optimistic morning person. boo! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/12 "2001-04-20T12:31:14Z")
Pessimist, with unexpected bursts of optimism. For the most part, when I plan or really look forward to something, it usually ends up a disaster or disappointing. If I really balk at doing something and plan on hating it, I usually end up enjoying myself. So I now plan on having a lousy time, and end up having a great time. So, am I an optipest? ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/13 "2001-04-20T13:06:26Z")
I’m a realistic optimist. That means I don’t delude myself to the truth but I ultimately look for the best in people and situations. A bad attitude can often be the cause of a bad result. Instead, I carry a cheerful and hopeful attitude and am rarely disappointed. The world is neither good nor evil. It mainly depends on our point of view and I’ll take a positive attitude anyday. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/14 "2001-04-20T13:20:30Z")
I’d have sex with either an optimist or a pessimist. Ooopps! Not that kind thread is it? ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/15 "2001-04-20T14:43:16Z")
Can I have a smaller glass? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/16 "2001-04-20T17:30:59Z")
Optimist. No one who listens to Cowboy Mouth can POSSIBLY remain a pessimist. Here’s an in-concert quote from the singer: > [@](#): > > _From Fred LeBlanc_ > This song goes out to everyone who every had their broken heart used or stepped on or anything like that. I want you to think of the person who hurt you worst in the world; I want you to think of the person who broke your heart, male or female or otherwise. I want you to think of that person and I want you to smile your ass off. Because that person is **not** the love of your life ANYMORE! It’s great to be alive. Really, it is. But that doesn’t mean an optimist is a fool. If you want to live in the best world you better work for it. That said, I do budget pessimistically. It’s the only responsible thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/17 "2001-04-20T23:00:57Z")
If I didn’t have reason to be afraid of you before, **FairyChatMom** , I do now 😛 JC’s post reminds me of a tribute on a Type O Negative album that follows the same theme, but goes in an entirely different direction. > [@](#): > > This entire opus is respectfully dedicated to all those who have loved unconditionally only to have their hearts unanaesthetically ripped out; base not your joy upon the deeds of others, for what is given can be taken away. > No hope = No fear Forces me to wonder, do naturally optimistic or pessimistic people gravitate to music or artists that mimic their points of view, or does the music/artist influence the person? I personally listen to upbeat as well as downbeat music, but I only seem to relate to the depressing side. Is that just me? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/18 "2001-04-21T00:35:22Z")
I admit, I’ve always been draw to more positive music. Rush, Cowboy Mouth and others really focus on what CAN happen that’s good. They believe in action. Heck, Cowboy Mouth released an album a year ago called ‘Easy’. And the song ‘Easy’ was also the lead single. It has this chorus: > [@](#): > > _From ‘Easy’ by Cowboy Mouth_ > Easy to bitch, easy to whine > Easy to moan, easy to cry > Easy to feel like there ain’t nothing in your life > Harder to work, harder to strive > Hard to be glad to be alive > But it’s really worth it if you give it a try The singer, Fred LeBlanc, says he wrote that song after having an opening band who’s songs we’re all gloom and doom and depression. He heard a 45 minute set that was nothing but complaining. But he never heard anything about **doing** anything about it. And that’s the difference. You gotta be able to get up and move to make those changes! Boy, I’ve been quoting Cowboy Mouth all the damn time on the boards lately. I saw them again 3 weeks ago and that always gets to me. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/19 "2001-04-21T00:36:17Z")
I usually see the glass as buoyant and full, and then gleefully suck it all on down. After awhile, I see that it has become empty, and, hoo boy, do I gotta pee. So I pee in the glass, and it’s again full, but in a less appealing way. Dump it on the ground, and go look for another fount. There’s always another, of course, but after awhile, it gets a bit tedious. So, now, sometimes the glass is half full, othertimes drained down to empty. Always, with gleeful anticipation, looking for rain. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/20 "2001-04-21T06:28:41Z")
“Where’s the other half of this glass! Who drank it?” Cynical, Idealistic Pessimist with Optimistic Tendencies here. “Yeah, life sucks. Yeah, you’ve screwed up. But you are past that part, and now you can either fix it or keep whining about it.” I said that to someone once. They didn’t talk to me much after that. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632.md?page=2)