Optimistic or Pessimistic?

[bryant69]

Poll question: Optimistic or Pessimistic?

I posted something like this a while back - on your outlook on people - but I'm curious about your outlook in general - would you describe yourself as more optimistic or pessimistic?

Bryant

[unpossibles]

1. I consider myself a "cynical optimist"

overall I am optimistic and upbeat, but I also believe that given the chance "bad" things will happen, but we'll just have to learn from and/or deal with them.

On a related note, my wife calls herself an "optimistic agnostic" - she doesn't believe in a Supreme Being, but would like to think that it's possible. :)

[Shadrach]

5. I sort of share

you wife's wanting to believe a supreme being is possible but I would not call myself an agnostic. I'm a skeptical believer. I know, that's an oxymoron but I assume there is a supreme being but that's only an assumption not an assertion that there is one. My optmistic self will "believe" there is a supreme being but I recognize that the existence of this supreme being might be just a wishful thinking on my part.

[SmokingJacket]

2. I believe people are basically good.

There's a small number of exceptions -- psychopaths -- but for the most part I believe evolution has shaped us to care for each other.

When people don't act that way, I think it's usually out of some kind of fear.

I'm an atheist for now -- but if anyone can convince me that there's a God and that God somehow allows things like genocides and so much human suffering... well, I'd be happy to change my mind. "Nature" seems like a much more reasonable explanation for everything I experience.

[bryant69]

3. I believe people (including myself) are basically assholes.

But to each their own.

Bryant

[SmokingJacket]

6. Wow!

I'm not. I'm flawed, sure, but I try hard. So do most people I know.

Get some nicer friends! ;)

[bananas]

8. What kind of asshole are you? nt

[bryant69]

9. the lemony kind

[xchrom]

4. i'm clinically depressed so i can't answer the poll.

but it is interesting to see the votes.

[MistressOverdone]

7. It will take a great undertaker to

remove the smile from my face. Life is good.