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?

... 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.

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.

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

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

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

Because reading these posts is pretty depressing.

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

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.

YES! That's been my mantra for years.

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

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

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

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

You Bastard.

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

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

I'm naturally curious.

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

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

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. Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia!

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

(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

• 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.