Are you more of an optimist or a pessimist?

[DishLady]

Do you tend to stay positive and see more of the silver lining in things (optimist) or do you tend to fall into a negative slump, seeing only the doom and gloom of things (pessimist)?

Extremely Optimistic

Extremely Pessimistic

More of an Optimist

More of a Pessimist

[MrOracle]

I'm an optimistic realist. Being able to recognize what IS has to be the basis of your thinking, in my opinion. Being overly optimistic or pessimistic about what IS is not sensible or logical. You need to be grounded in reality.

That said, it's rare that I don't believe that things can be better. Even when I'm pretty sure that something probably won't BE better, I am still usually hopeful, but not in a naive way. I believe that most people are mostly good, but I'm not blind to the reality around me either.

[Anonymous]

Optimist. As an aviator, the last thing you wanna hear over the intercom is “sorry folks, we lost the engines, I don’t know what to do and we are all gonna die”.

[DishLady]

😂😂😂 Yeah, definitely need an optimist for that one!

[IslaTheWitch]

I'm a mist... the prefix doesn't matter :D

[DishLady]

😂..

[Lynx122]

I'm optimistic but not extremely. When I was younger it was more of a hinderance, to think about what I could do and believe I could do anything, instead of focusing more and working with what I have. Too much optimism can lead to just daydreaming and that's not actually helpful for your life. That's just my experience.

[DishLady]

Fair and logical for sure. Yeah I’m not a “head in the clouds” sort of person, but I tend to be a “silver lining” optimist… sort of on the low-end of optimism.

[HawkPerception]

I have both positive and negative moments, but I'd say I'm more of a pessimist. Whenever a buddy of mine shoots an idea for a business model, I almost always come up with a way to shoot it down, deeming it to be flawed or unlikely to work. I also tend to have low confidence in my own success in any aspect of my life.

Again, I do have my moments where I'm positive and see the light in things, but I'd say I'm more of a pessimist.

[DishLady]

Ah… “Devil’s Advocate” — you’ve probably saved your friend a whole lot of professional heartache.

[HawkPerception]

Possibly, but there's a saying... dumb people succeed in business. And the reason for that is that they don't think about how good a business model is. They just do it and never give up on it until it they succeed. I wish I could adopt that mindset.

[DishLady]

Sure, that's true sometimes, but other times it's the logical ones who get a better experience over time. As Aesop would say, "Slow and steady wins the race."

[Cynicaldreamer]

I consider myself a "realistic cynic." I'm honest, which most people perceive as "pessimism," because I see things and people for what they are, and not what I wish they could or should be-

Okay so I'm a pessimist, lol. Optimists are too "happy" for me- they tend to see the good in everything, even when they shouldn't.

[Juxtapose]

Your perspective will shape your experiences and will even influence how people treat you. If you think negatively, negativity will come to you.

[DishLady]

Lol. It's fine. in my opinion, we need both for society to end up balanced. Just remember to come up for air and a silver lining once in a while...

[Juxtapose]

I'm optimistic about some things and pessimistic about others. It really depends on context and what the reality of the situation is but I do recognize that staying positive as a good effect on your life. It's almost like you manifest your thoughts.

[DishLady]

Yeah, I hear you.

[Juxtapose]

How do you approach optimism and pessimism yourself?

[DishLady]

I tend to dig as deep into the trenches as possible to spot the silver lining. It’s always been there for me.

[VoyeurGuy]

I was raised with the idea, "the problem you do not forsee, is the problem that will cause the most harm." I still believe that to this day. I try to think of everything that could go wrong in any situation. And believe that whatever could go wrong, will.

[OfMiceandMen]

I try to look on the positive side, so I am an optimist. I also tend to give people the benefit of the doubt, which does not always work so well.

[DishLady]

I hear you... and yet sometimes it does. :)

[SotiCoto]

Fatalist. Things will be the way they'll be and there really isn't much of anything that can be done to divert them from their course.

But I believe that maintaining some sense of peace requires a neutral outlook. Society as a whole tends to be strongly biased towards positivity... but not for themselves so much as imposing it on others. The curse of empathy makes people tend to regard their own mood as the responsibility of others, which is why they expend so much effort trying to dictate what others are or are not allowed to feel. That is the nature of the Positivity Agenda: one where being negative is taboo... socially forbidden...
And that is something I don't tolerate.
So just remember: You don't owe anyone a smile.

[RingOfFire]

I find that I get a lot more out of being a pessimist than an optimist. Most things come out worse than they should, so if I maintain a pessimistic mindset I'm not as disappointed when it actually happens. And when I set a low bar it's more likely that the result will exceed my expectations and make me happy rather than sad.

[ryanrhino]

I have the opinion that we could get to the Star Trek style, where each of us works in the field they are interested in and advance humanity. Also, I am hopeful in the human condition, as we must at least respect each other to survive.

[avery58]

I guess more of an optimist but I do get a bit pessimistic sometimes

[DishLady]

We all have our moments….

[MicahRaine]

Definitely an optimist, although I can see the pessimistic side of things when a situation is really bad.

[DishLady]

Balance...

[Anonymous]

A realist, I know there's no possibilities anymore because life is a zero sum game, and all opportunities for success are gone. So I'm done pretending success is possible, I'd rather stay inside, and drink until I die, which is what I'm doing now. Hopefully my liver will fail before summer gets even worse

[FreyaRed]

I'm appearing optimistic but optimism and pessimism is strongly connected with emotions and emotions don't have much influence in my way of thinking

[exitseven]

More of an optimist but ask me again in a few months

[DishLady]

I hear you 😂. Fair enough.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I’ve found that assuming the worst kind of turns into the worst 99% of the time. It’s never enough to be happy or enjoy myself so being an optimist suits my day to day life much better

[TonyMetal___86]

I'm usually optimistic and only spread the positive vibes but i can't deny that in some certain subjects i'm extremely pessimistic

[DishLady]

I think that’s everyone.

[DishLady]

(At least a little pessimistic when needed, I mean.)

[Nikki1989]

Very optimistic. Think positive thoughts and positive things will happen eventually.

[Ms_Facesitter]

More optimistic, I always try to look for an opportunity when things get rough. If you're pessimistic, you might not see the options because you don't look for them, you may have already given up.

[AviatorTom]

I consider myself a realistic optimist. I almost always look for the positive, often tempered by a dose of raealism.

[electromagnetic]

I think it depends on the situation on hand.

[DishLady]

Fair enough.

[NathanDavis]

definitely a problem solver...

[Anonymous]

realist though that is considered pessimist by delusional optimists

[paledreams]

More optimist - fair pessimist

[Tim2nice]

None of listed options. I’m a realist

[andy530]

I’m generally more optimistic

[Dongie]

Oppto-mesite

[DishLady]

:) .

[mandyfire98]

Extremely optimistic

[Brady]

more of a pessimist

[dougeats]

I'm a realist TBH

[smd_5545]

Mixed of both