Pessimism versus Optimism

[CoCo]

Pessimist or Pessimism:

1. a person who expects the worst
2. negatively colors the perception of life, especially the future
3. given a choice, believes the worst outcome is more likely
4. the feeling that things will turn out badly
5. a general belief that bad things will happen
6. a general disposition to look on the dark side and to expect the worst in all things

Optimist or Optimism:

1. a person disposed to take a favorable view of things
2. a person who expects a favorable outcome.

Interesting to note that the definitions lean heavily towards a view of what is yet to happen, or the future.

Pointing out the shortcomings of certain players or even the team does not make you a pessimist or optimist.

When you start dooming the future, or without historical premise predict great success you're probably leaning one way of the other.

I think the vast majority of posters here have no problem with a reasonable assessment of the present, or the past. Even an opinion of the future.

That doesn't mean the logic may not be whack. Some of it is people. The lambasting of Jason Garrett when we have the 2nd highest ranked offense is just silly. Is he flawed? Sure! Point some out? Fine. But, "we're doomed with Garrett" is over the top. And its a great example of where problems start.

The same happens with Romo, Wade, Jerry, etc.

Solution:

1. Find balance people!
2. Humbly acknowledge that your assessment or prediction is just your opinion and might be wrong. Whether you believe it or not, that is the fact.
3. Leave respectful room in your post for others to disagree.
4. If an exchange is going south, acknowledge the truth you DO see in your opponents view. Most viewpoints have some validity to them. Acknowledging that in a positive manner makes people less defensive.
5. Don't exaggerate or overstate your opponents position. And be willing to confess when you've overstated your own.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

This board with nothing but optimists would be the worst board ever.

Lets all just accept the fact that ALL internet fan forums are exactly like this one. When the team is going good, most of the threads are optimistic, when things are going bad, most of the threads are pessimistic.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Pessimist or Pessimism:

1. a person who expects the worst
2. negatively colors the perception of life, especially the future
3. given a choice, believes the worst outcome is more likely
4. the feeling that things will turn out badly
5. a general belief that bad things will happen
6. a general disposition to look on the dark side and to expect the worst in all things

Optimist or Optimism:

1. a person disposed to take a favorable view of things
2. a person who expects a favorable outcome.

Interesting to note that the definitions lean heavily towards a view of what is yet to happen, or the future.

Pointing out the shortcomings of certain players or even the team does not make you a pessimist or optimist.

When you start dooming the future, or without historical premise predict great success you're probably leaning one way of the other.

I think the vast majority of posters here have no problem with a reasonable assessment of the present, or the past. Even an opinion of the future.

That doesn't mean the logic may not be whack. Some of it is people. The lambasting of Jason Garrett when we have the 2nd highest ranked offense is just silly. Is he flawed? Sure! Point some out? Fine. But, "we're doomed with Garrett" is over the top. And its a great example of where problems start.

The same happens with Romo, Wade, Jerry, etc.

Solution:

1. Find balance people!
2. Humbly acknowledge that your assessment or prediction is just your opinion and might be wrong. Whether you believe it or not, that is the fact.
3. Leave respectful room in your post for others to disagree.
4. If an exchange is going south, acknowledge the truth you DO see in your opponents view. Most viewpoints have some validity to them. Acknowledging that in a positive manner makes people less defensive.
5. Don't exaggerate or overstate your opponents position. And be willing to confess when you've overstated your own.

Pessimist is someone with more facts. An optimist is naive.

 

[bayeslife]

You forgot about "realists".

I swear, I think I see THAT term thrown around more than the other two.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

optimist are also homers.

 

[Doomsday101]

optimist are also homers.

And Pessimist are Eagles, Giants and Commander fans since they seem to have the same hate for the Cowboys. :laugh2:

 

[gbrittain]

optimist are also homers.

We wouldn't want that now would we.

 

[LeonDixson]

Good point about the definitions keying mostly on future outlooks, CoCo.

 

[CoCo]

Good point about the definitions keying mostly on future outlooks, CoCo.

Thanks for catching that.

Not sure I did a good job of focusing the thread in that direction. That point seemed to get lost.

We're more alike than we let on. Much as I appreciate this place it could be so much better if we could get past the conflict.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

optimist are also homers.

alot.......not all, but alot of the optimists have this problem, and I'm not talking about questionable wardrobe either.

 

[LeonDixson]

Thanks for catching that.

Not sure I did a good job of focusing the thread in that direction. That point seemed to get lost.

We're more alike than we let on. Much as I appreciate this place it could be so much better if we could get past the conflict.

Yeah, if we could have rational debates instead of contentious arguments it would be fun.

But that's not possible because some people post things just for the sake of getting a rise out of others and because a lot of people simply don't know how to engage in give and take. They have to be right or else.

 

[Hostile]

Pessimist is someone with more facts. An optimist is naive.

You wouldn't know a fact it jumped up and slapped you in the face.

 

[tomson75]

optimist are also more educated on most subjects than myself.

Truth.

 

[DallasEast]

Pessimist or Pessimism:

1. a person who expects the worst
2. negatively colors the perception of life, especially the future
3. given a choice, believes the worst outcome is more likely
4. the feeling that things will turn out badly
5. a general belief that bad things will happen
6. a general disposition to look on the dark side and to expect the worst in all things

Optimist or Optimism:

1. a person disposed to take a favorable view of things
2. a person who expects a favorable outcome.

Interesting to note that the definitions lean heavily towards a view of what is yet to happen, or the future.

Pointing out the shortcomings of certain players or even the team does not make you a pessimist or optimist.

When you start dooming the future, or without historical premise predict great success you're probably leaning one way of the other.

I think the vast majority of posters here have no problem with a reasonable assessment of the present, or the past. Even an opinion of the future.

That doesn't mean the logic may not be whack. Some of it is people. The lambasting of Jason Garrett when we have the 2nd highest ranked offense is just silly. Is he flawed? Sure! Point some out? Fine. But, "we're doomed with Garrett" is over the top. And its a great example of where problems start.

The same happens with Romo, Wade, Jerry, etc.

Solution:

1. Find balance people!
2. Humbly acknowledge that your assessment or prediction is just your opinion and might be wrong. Whether you believe it or not, that is the fact.
3. Leave respectful room in your post for others to disagree.
4. If an exchange is going south, acknowledge the truth you DO see in your opponents view. Most viewpoints have some validity to them. Acknowledging that in a positive manner makes people less defensive.
5. Don't exaggerate or overstate your opponents position. And be willing to confess when you've overstated your own.

:laugh2: