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Calling All Pessimists (but what's the point?)

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BrainSewage from that one place Since: Jan, 2001
#1: Jun 28th 2012 at 9:14:29 PM

Any and all nihilists, Nietsche Wannabe tropers, cynics, pessimists, and misanthropists, report in. Dump your revelations here, since the ignorant masses have probably already rejected them. I'll start:

Today at work, I had to endure the misguided populist ramblings of a certain customer. He was going on about What's Really Going On and Where We're Headed and all that noise. I won't go into details, but despite his faulty logic, he ruined my previously-great day by reminding me yet again that there really is no way to clean up any of the shit in the world. Look man, I know there is no hope for my nation. I know I'll probably be starving by the time I'm 30. Why can't you just let me forget it for now and at least enjoy the time we have left?

Yeah, that's how I've been living the past six months. I still an for the long term of course, but I still can't shake the feeling that I must do everything I've always wanted in the next eight years.

Anybody else?

How dare you disrupt the sanctity of my soliloquy?
Muramasan13 Since: Nov, 2009 Relationship Status: Not war
#2: Jul 2nd 2012 at 4:43:47 PM

... Yes. I suppose.

I'm a bit hesitant to self-describe as a pessimist because I'm not making a conscious decision to look at the worst-case scenario. It's more... just seeing everyone else as wearing rosy shades, and opting for realism over fake happiness.

Smile for me!
BrainSewage from that one place Since: Jan, 2001
#3: Jul 4th 2012 at 11:17:11 PM

That's the thing a lot of people don't understand- pessimism isn't always a choice. Sometimes it's as natural and inalterable as eye color.

How dare you disrupt the sanctity of my soliloquy?
sabrina_diamond iSanity! from Australia Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: LET'S HAVE A ZILLION BABIES
#4: Jul 21st 2012 at 10:07:27 PM

I'm a bit of a pessimist lately, so I'll join the club. (is currently on a medicinal 'high' right now...)

edited 21st Jul '12 10:19:19 PM by sabrina_diamond

In an anime, I'll be the Tsundere Dark Magical Girl who likes purple MY own profile is actually HERE!
Carciofus Is that cake frosting? from Alpha Tucanae I Since: May, 2010
Is that cake frosting?
#5: Jul 22nd 2012 at 1:17:37 PM

A wild optimist appears!

OK, kidding aside: not really a pessimist here, but hello. Here's to things getting better!

edited 23rd Jul '12 5:12:07 AM by Carciofus

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
saintbraeburn Saint Braeburn: from Dysfunctional California Since: Jun, 2012
Saint Braeburn:
#6: Jul 22nd 2012 at 3:45:39 PM

[up]

I'm seriously considering hijacking this thread and filling it with as much optimistic stuff as possible.

Because reading these posts is pretty depressing.

Everything is Possible. But somethings are more Probable than others.
Muramasan13 Since: Nov, 2009 Relationship Status: Not war
#7: Jul 23rd 2012 at 12:42:32 PM

Do and I will, in no particular order, vomit and begin posting prevalence statistics on rectal prolapse.

Smile for me!
Savato from Dusk 'till Dawn Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Singularity
#8: Jul 23rd 2012 at 1:00:09 PM

[up][up] Don´t even try to. Though then again it´s meaningless what you do anyways and I won´t be able to stop you from doing that, which is another proof, that our fate is inevitable.

This thread shall stay pessimistic!

Yeah, I´m a pessimist myself. That way at least you aren´t disappointed.

BrainSewage from that one place Since: Jan, 2001
#9: Jul 25th 2012 at 10:44:47 AM

[up] YES! That's been my mantra for years.

Pessimism: Either you're pleasantly surprised, or you're right.

How dare you disrupt the sanctity of my soliloquy?
Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#10: Jul 25th 2012 at 11:28:21 AM

I think the thread is funny myself, but then that is how I react to many things that would depress me otherwise. Laugh.

And then determinate even if it's stupid to do so.

My girlfriend provides our pessimism!

I do have moments of "Oh my god the world is horrible..." but those tend to be filled with hatred to myself for not being able to do more, pity for the world, and then drive to keep being optimistic because...

Because. I can't save the world, but I can struggle pointlessly in the name of it.

My expectations and standards for life and humanity in particular are rather low, but I'm highly hopeful because life has what I view to be potential to not be complete shit. Which makes me optimistic even though the odds are very highly stacked against what I believe in. Things will work out because I'll make them work out and if they don't then we will try again or at something different.

I do worry a lot about "worst case scenarios" but this is fueled by my anxiety disorders...I tell it to stfu.

edited 25th Jul '12 11:33:34 AM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
julyjack73 Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not caught up in your love affair
#11: Jul 27th 2012 at 12:10:20 AM

I'm a pessimist for a different reason then most: Set your expectations low, and you're always in for a treat.

Confusion shall be my epitaph
saintbraeburn Saint Braeburn: from Dysfunctional California Since: Jun, 2012
Saint Braeburn:
#12: Jul 27th 2012 at 4:44:24 AM

[up][up][up][up][up]

Out of curiosity, I just Google Imaged "rectal prolapse".

You Bastard.sad

Everything is Possible. But somethings are more Probable than others.
Carciofus Is that cake frosting? from Alpha Tucanae I Since: May, 2010
Is that cake frosting?
#13: Jul 27th 2012 at 4:51:34 AM

[up][up] I don't really understand this line of thinking. It's not like cake tastes better if I expect to be punched in the face instead of being offered a slice: if anything, being perpetually worried about the possibility of someone attacking me out of the blue would keep me from enjoying the cake.

As I understand it, optimism is not like expecting everything to always go precisely as one wants, or disappointments never to happen; it's about trying to keep some perspective when things go wrong, and spending more effort on solving problems than on complaining about them.

edited 27th Jul '12 4:52:43 AM by Carciofus

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
Muramasan13 Since: Nov, 2009 Relationship Status: Not war
LoniJay from Australia Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
#15: Jul 28th 2012 at 2:34:33 AM

[up][up][up]Why did you image search it? If you were curious as to what it was, you could have just looked it up on Wikipedia. You deserve all you get =P

Be not afraid...
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#16: Aug 13th 2012 at 8:40:21 PM

[up]

I'm naturally curious.

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
terlwyth Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
#17: Nov 30th 2012 at 2:11:36 PM

I consider myself an optimistic cynic,usually taking a pessimistic view only with academics for the same reason julyback stated.

If the control is mine or nothing is at stake,life is awesome

If someone else determines everything,well since Humans Are Bastards or Morons with limited exceptions,then life sucks.

Also Carc,there is a flip side,pessimism puts things in perspective when you start to think everything's the greatest it's ever been. It's a viewpoint better prepared for when something apparently good has a catch 22. If optimism isn't never expecting a disappointment,pessimism isn't always thinking nothing can be good.

If optimism is better at dealing with rock bottom and getting out,pessimism is better at dealing with the tippy top and staying there.

A balance is therefore necessary,I find a slight tad more optimism is better with cynicism as the tool to avoid the pitfall of ideals.

edited 30th Nov '12 5:21:27 PM by terlwyth

Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter
NESgamer190 Hello! from a NES cartridge Since: Sep, 2012
Hello!
#18: Dec 2nd 2012 at 7:00:31 AM

Well, since you did call for a pessimist...

I'm but a cynical pessimist... If someone hopes for a lack of snow, I'll basically snark "We're in for 5 feet of snow."

Going with a revelation here, a trope would best describe physical education, which escapes me for now, curse my bad memory!

Why is that, you ask? Simple... Everyone else can sprint the mile run, while I can't... Everyone else cheats, while I must play it legitimately... The students are jerks... and the teacher's a jerk. Unless somebody somehow has an exception, I'd not want to hear of it. (Didn't help that the field track stunk in late spring.)

edited 2nd Dec '12 7:00:54 AM by NESgamer190

"If you have any beefs with Santa, do remember to SETTLE IT IN SMASH!" Quote by Edveed
nitelyechos nitelyechos Since: Mar, 2011
nitelyechos
#19: Dec 4th 2012 at 7:36:55 PM

are there any "life is shit" tropes out there? ideally i'd like to find a pessimistic comedy about how life is shit and the characters have to deal with it. ideaideaidea Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia!

edited 4th Dec '12 7:37:39 PM by nitelyechos

MobileLeprechaun In Perpetual Finality from Grayrock, TX Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
In Perpetual Finality
#20: Dec 8th 2012 at 10:19:58 AM

(Optimist ducks in.)

Curb Your Enthusiasm can be like that sometimes, though usually it's about how the main character's actions make life suck for him and others.

Oh, and for tropes, Crapsack World would be a fine place to start. :D

(Optimist ducks out.)

edited 8th Dec '12 10:21:03 AM by MobileLeprechaun

make it through this year if it kills you yet | 2001-2019
Ringsea He Who Got Gud from Fly-Over Country,USA Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
He Who Got Gud
#21: Jan 28th 2013 at 8:34:57 PM

  • Sigh* I could post here, but whats the point?

Pessimist seem to often be on the debate team, which is the only place I can be met snark for snark.

The most edgy person on the Internet.
sabrina_diamond iSanity! from Australia Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: LET'S HAVE A ZILLION BABIES
#22: Nov 1st 2013 at 7:02:31 PM

I'm a logical realistic Idealist... I see the glass as half empty in my rarer mood downturn moments.

In an anime, I'll be the Tsundere Dark Magical Girl who likes purple MY own profile is actually HERE!
Kookje you spilled my diet soda from Parts Unknown Since: May, 2013
you spilled my diet soda
#23: Nov 2nd 2013 at 10:10:04 AM

I'm a pessimist for a different reason then most: Set your expectations low, and you're always in for a treat.

Same goes for me. Who knew pessimism has its perks... well it does - for me, at times. Expecting the worst-case scenario prepares you for the bad crap which may or may not be coming your way. So, there.

xxxxxxWelcome to paradise. Now go to hell.
KnightofNASA Since: Jan, 2013
#24: Nov 2nd 2013 at 11:56:04 AM

Even if I have several degrees from Caltech, the probability of me starving to death is still very high.

BaconManiac5000 Since: Nov, 2013 Relationship Status: Baby don't hurt me!
#25: Nov 5th 2013 at 10:59:10 AM

Huh. I fit in here.

what do you mean I didn't win, I ate more wet t-shirts than anyone else

Total posts: 27
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