# Optimist or Pessimist?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632>\
**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:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/21 "2001-04-21T12:38:14Z")

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Another realist checking in. I use to be the world’s worst pestimist, always regretting the past and worrying about the future. I finally realized that there are only two types of situations: Those you can control and those you can’t. I was always worrying about this I couldn’t control. Hey, it either will or won’t happen and when it does, I’ll deal with it.

A half-empty glass can still be drunk and refilled, you know.

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**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/22 "2001-04-21T13:02:28Z")

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I’m an optimist.

As darkly as I see things sometimes, I can’t help but be a hope addict.

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**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/23 "2001-04-21T13:17:02Z")

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When the glass is half empty it is time to order the next Guinness!

I am a realist, with optimistic tendencies. When I’m up to my armpits in alligators, I can usually see that this, too will pass, and look beyond the current sucky situation. Usually.

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**Author:** ![Davidbw1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7993a0/32.png) [@Davidbw1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davidbw1)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/24 "2001-04-21T17:10:16Z")

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Well…I’m a cynical realist…so I’d probally say that the glass is probally neither, since it would be nearly impossible to measure out the exact amount to fill the glass halfway.

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**Author:** ![dodge\_this](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@dodge\_this](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dodge_this)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/25 "2001-04-21T18:23:39Z")

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I’m optimistic for other people, but a real pessimist when it comes to myself…erm does that make sense?

Probably explains why people like to come to me for help with their problems. And why I never seem to be able to get over any of my own.

Just thinking aloud here.

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**Author:** ![JZStone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@JZStone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JZStone)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-or-pessimist/62632/26 "2001-04-21T22:05:03Z")

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I think I can exert some minor influence on my future. I have to be an optimist so I can give myself something to look forward to.

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