When did you lose your last large chunk of Idealism?

Probably during my teenage wangsting period, then I figured out, cynics are just a bunch of whiners who do it because "everyone else does it". Then I went on to being idealistic again because people will always need idealists while cynics are in far too much surplus.

BEST. QUOTE. EVER.

edited 21st Mar '11 8:26:48 PM by Usht

Hmm, that depends on your definition of idealism. If it means a belief that people are good and everything is going to be rainbows and unicorns - then early childhood.

But if it is not an opinion about present state of affairs but an ideal against which it is compared - then this one never lost it. Actually, gained more as the time went.

Note that this one is rather pessimistic, suspicious, distrusting and fond of gallows humour. But it has nothing to do with cynicism, and idealism has nothing to do with optimism.

This one is not overly optimistic about the present state of affairs. But she believes that it can - and ought to - be better. And that we are something more than toys of fate and circumstances. That just because most people set aside their principles for convenience does not make it excusable. That there are some people whom circumstances cannot break.

edited 21st Mar '11 8:33:25 PM by Beholderess

@Usht Sounds like a quote based on a generalization to me.

It was made by a comedian, so yes, yes it does have some generalization. Then again, it also holds more than just a grain of truth.

EDIT: Look at this way: cynicism from most definitions I can find is usually rooted in distrusting the motives of others. If you were to do that for every single person you ever meet, nothing will ever get done because somewhere along the line, you'll need someone else. Idealism on the other hand, trusts other people and even if not everyone can be trusted, you'll at least forge better partnerships and stronger friends by learning to work hand in hand.

edited 21st Mar '11 8:41:51 PM by Usht

I have never lost my idealism. It is very stubborn. Small pieces of it fell off in high school, and perhaps some more of it will continue to fall off in the next few years, but I am determined to hold on to the majority of it.

Hence why you should have a balance between the two.

@Usht That problem is solved by being a realist; you can be cautious of other people, but not being so stubborn to the point where you have to become a hermit due to terrible trust issues.

Thus why I will always lean hard on idealism. Granted, it's just foolish to go full out idealistic when the world does obviously have problems, but I tend to find people want idealistic leaders, a position I fall into a lot.

I've been praised for my ability to lead people and actually get shit done. I am torn between my like of having control and my hatred of having to deal with such things...Stupid people...stupid group projects...LEAVE ME ALONE.

Heh, this one has huge trust issues, or so she's been told. But again, that has nothing to do with idealism.

You don't need control. Just a firm enough hand on their backs to remind them you're there if they need help but not so firm as to tell them that you don't trust them to get the work done. However, squeeze harder if they aren't getting the work done.

No I don't need absolute control, but it's lovely. Mmm...control...CONTROL. BOW TO ME, GOD DAMMIT.

Granted, cynicism is pretty insufferable when it's a fad.

The worst kind of cynicism is, for lack of a better term, commercialized cynicism. The type which trolls on every issue and talks down to the universe in a ploy to appear like 'one of us'.

But I'm understanding of cynics, too. It's a defense mechanism — perhaps a necessary one — to endure the realities of life. The trick is not to let that fact paralyze you. (I admit I haven't fine-tuned that last part just yet).

I think I'm both very cynical and very idealistic. Also both optimistic and pessimistic.

So you... have mood swings?

I never lost my idealism, but then I'm very young. I've had a good life, and my future looks decent, so if I do lose my idealism, it will probably not be because of a personal experience, but rather me losing that veil of denial about the conditions in Third World countries, the war and suffering and poverty that's constantly present.

Of course, I know about it now, and that knowledge is enough to motivate me to do what I can to help. But what happens once I know it, once some experience makes the horror come crashing down on me all at once? If that ever happens, then will I be motivated to get up and make things better or will I just break down and hate the world? I'd like to say the former, but I can't tell you how I'll do on a test I never took.

edited 21st Mar '11 10:10:25 PM by OnTheOtherHandle

I HAVE MOOD SWINGS :D

Never have, and I never will. I've dealt with a lot of crap in my life, but that won't stop me. I love life and humanity far too much to give it up.

edited 21st Mar '11 10:32:52 PM by Nimitz

My idealism took a huge beating after my divorce and the aftermath (long, complicated and full of ...stuff), but it seems to be sort of making a comeback.

Still have all the idealism I ever had. Although I don't see what the actions of humanity have anything to do with anything.

I used to be not idealistic at all, but then I got brainwashed by shounen anime and now believe in the power of friendship, love and everything else that is good.

I'm still very prone to believe the most cynical view of any situation, though. But those most cynical views have been proven to be wrong so many times, that I seriously should get rid of that habit.

I'm not really capable of holding ideals

I shot the source of my bad ideals with a Nerf gun to kill imaginary, fanciful ideas. I shot my harmful idealism in the face with all six darts till it exploded like that guy in Akira trying to protect the smurf like kid. My helpful idealism is represented by that smurf kid.

Does that answer your question?

Hmmm, thinking back, I think I might figured it out where.
I started looking at the FLOSS community, Ubuntu worked quite nicely.
But after looking a bit it became more and more glaring that there existed issues that was perfectly solveable, but they did not get fixed. If they did get fixed, it would take several ages, even for the most practical of them.
This stacked up, quite a lot. It existed for roughly every single project, except the few with a competent leader who was more or less a evil dictator.
Even those projects has problems. Major ones.
And then I at some point realized that it tended to be the worst solution that won wars of what broke trough, that nobody would be able to mantain a proper application, and worse.
People did not care. People are stupid and ignorant.
If people where not stupid and ignorant, there would be a reason for being idealistic.