Pessimist vs. Optimist - the Divide

Sawell

Sawell

Sawell

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Pessimist vs. Optimist vs. Realist - the Divide

It's always a great debate, but which do you think you are, and which do you think is a better mentality to have? To always be prepared and almost expecting the worse, or to always aim high and wish for the best?

I've always been an optimist, right from the start. I am a bit of a sociopath and I do have a tendency to self-deprecate but I think they're both defence traits rather than my actual core beliefs.

My girlfriend is the complete opposite, to the extent that sometimes drives me crazy. I do however think it's a good thing in relationships to have differing perspectives, although I do wonder how parenting would go down!

I think sometimes I probably need to be grounded a little, but other than that I think being an optimist has kept me sane. I went through a lot as a young'un and if I were different I might have been sat here with nothing to show because my past was holding me back, but instead I went out and pushed myself. I got a mortgage when I was 18, got a good job and stuck with it and have come out doing just fine (for now). How about you?
 
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Gilly said:
I'm a realist.
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Funny that, I'd have you down as a complete and utter pessimist :p

You always seem to think the worst of people and have a very low tolerance, plus you've got a pretty big negative opinion and like to wave it around a lot!
 
I'm an optimist and I usually don't have many complaints.

When it comes to work/photography/anything creative I'm the biggest pessimist on my own abilities which either destroy me or I conquer.

My girlfriend is an over exaggerating pessimist but says she's a realist, makes me laugh which she doesn't like.
 
I agree with realist. I'm a very logical person, don't let emotions make my decisions for me (though it would be impossible to ignore them completely). probably about 75:25 Optimist to Pessimist in practice, but it depends on the individual situation.
 
Sawell said:
Funny that, I'd have you down as a complete and utter pessimist :p

You always seem to think the worst of people and have a very low tolerance, plus you've got a pretty big negative opinion and like to wave it around a lot!
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Not really. I am opinionated, in that I don't mind sharing my opinion at any point no matter who may be present or may take umbrage at it. Whether that be positive or negative.

I am far from pessimistic, I look at any given situation logically and objectively. If experience has taught me that the majority of times a given situation has been negative, then I'll approach the situation negatively ;)
 
Neither. In my work I have to be dispassionate and objective and try to take the same atitude in my personal life. On the whole things go quite well for me but that's because I take steps to make sure they do rather than any optimism paying off.
 
Skidder said:
Neither. In my work I have to be dispassionate and objective and try to take the same atitude in my personal life. On the whole things go quite well for me but that's because I take steps to make sure they do rather than any optimism paying off.
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I don't think being an optimist is defined as sitting in your seat waiting for someone to give you a million pounds, nor a pessimist crying about the fact they haven't got a million pounds. It's an outlook, the actions you take are defined by your willpower and determination, your outlook is purely the mentality that surronds those personal decisions you make. You still make them, pessmist or not.
 
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