# Optimist, pessimist, or realist: what are you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 2, 2005, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445 "2005-10-02T13:53:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/1 "2005-10-02T13:53:19Z")
I tend to be a realist, which most people mistake for pessimism. I can look at a situation objectively and figure out what’s gonna happen. Despite the teachings of Monty Python, I don’t always look on the bright side of life. Being a realist, I tend to be less disappointed when things don’t go the way I’d like them to. What about you? ---
**Author:** ![singlefile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f475e1/32.png) [@singlefile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singlefile)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/2 "2005-10-02T22:26:08Z")
I think I am a little of all three. I tend to look at life as an adventure and can’t wait to see what it’s gonna throw at me next, but in some areas, like relationships, I try to deal with reality, because the truth is, I haven’t had much luck there. However, because I AM such an optimist, I have thrown the men into a blender and made a lovely batch of lemonade. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/3 "2005-10-02T22:41:14Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > I tend to be a realist, which most people mistake for pessimism. All pessimists think they are realist. Of course so do all optimists. (Me? I’m a realist. Of course.) ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Side_of_the_Floyd)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/4 "2005-10-02T22:44:34Z")
Pessimist. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/5 "2005-10-02T22:47:44Z")
None of the above. I’m a sasochist. The world is quite evidently going to hell with or without handbasket if left to its own devices, but it won’t be left to its own devices if I have any say so about it. ::rolls up sleeves:: ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/6 "2005-10-02T22:50:39Z")
Realist with a bit of pessimism thrown in. ---
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/7 "2005-10-02T23:34:39Z")
Mainly realist, leaning to optomist and pessimist in certain situations. I try to be as apathetic as possible though. ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/8 "2005-10-02T23:38:04Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > None of the above. > > I’m a sasochist. The world is quite evidently going to hell with or without handbasket if left to its own devices, but it won’t be left to its own devices if I have any say so about it. > > ::rolls up sleeves:: Admirable sentiment, indeed, but I can’t find a definition for “sasochist.” What does it mean? ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/9 "2005-10-02T23:50:33Z")
I’m a “Dont give a Shitist.” Then again I’m an old fart. ---
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/10 "2005-10-03T00:14:03Z")
I used to be a real pessimist but I have worked on changing. I used to think if I became more optimistic I would be disappointed by reality all the time, but the good thing about being optimistic is that even when things don’t turn out like you’d hoped, you feel optimistic that they could have turned out worse and it will get better before you know it. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/11 "2005-10-03T00:21:49Z")
> [@flamingbananas](#): > > Realist with a bit of pessimism thrown in. That’s pretty much where I am, except that second part is more than just a bit. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/12 "2005-10-03T00:43:54Z")
I’m a pessimist, and getting more so all the time. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/13 "2005-10-03T01:03:29Z")
I want to say realist, but honestly, probably more towards pessimistic. But, when you’re a pessimist, you’re either always right or pleasantly suprised. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/14 "2005-10-03T01:26:40Z")
Well, I’m a realist. But you guys are probably just gonna’ label me pessimist anyway; So screw you guys. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/15 "2005-10-03T01:39:08Z")
My advice : be a pessimist. Always expect the worst. You’ll frequently be right, you’ll never be disappointed, and when you’re wrong it’s great. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/16 "2005-10-03T03:26:00Z")
I’m an optimist, but I can be a realist when necessary. I don’t understand pessimism. > [@Peter Morris](#): > > You’ll frequently be right Funny, that’s how I feel about optimism … but I also believe a little bit in self-fulfilling prophecies: expect the worst and that’s what you’ll usually get. I’d rather be disappointed or wrong sometimes than negative all of the time. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/17 "2005-10-03T04:09:54Z")
I have the optimistic belief that I will somehow survive whatever shit life throws at me. I am pessimistic; I fear that life will surely throw shit at me. I remember the song in Mel Brooks’s _The Twelve Chairs._ “Hope for the best, expect the worst.” ---
**Author:** ![Sengkelat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Sengkelat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sengkelat)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/18 "2005-10-03T06:12:08Z")
I thought maybe I could become an optimist…but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I’m a bit of each. I’m definitely less of an optimist than some, though; I can’t stand folks who refuse to look at what might go wrong. Equating pessimism with realism is cynicism…which is just realism anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/19 "2005-10-03T07:08:04Z")
I’m an asshole. But I do not drive a BMW. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimist-pessimist-or-realist-what-are-you/324445/20 "2005-10-03T07:10:19Z")
I’m an optimist.