Faith in humanity. - Page 2

Bob The Mercenary · 08-12-2009, 11:17 PM

I tend to try to generate enough faith in humanity to make up for all you damn pessimists.

Actually, my faith in humanity is multiplied by the fact that we have not yet exterminated ourselves. Whenever we absolutely need it, some superman or supermen seem to come along and save the day. Whether it was that Russian guy who saw a computer glitch for what it was and prevented a nuclear exchange during the Cold War, or having the right Generals making the right decisions at the right times.

Mob mentality exists in abundance, but can be extinguished. I think I am a testament to that...or maybe I just joined another mob. But, I trust the good or right people (however you want to define it) to always come out on top in the end.

But you guys, you're all dicks.

Magus · 08-12-2009, 11:31 PM

You do realize that dicks are the ones who come out on top in the end, right?

Mondt · 08-13-2009, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magus

You do realize that dicks are the ones who come out on top in the end, right?

I figure this picture is a good enough reminder.

Amake · 08-15-2009, 03:23 PM

There's one important thing I've learned when it comes to the battle between optimism and pessimism:

Reality is what you think it is.

If you can buy that, you realize that cynics aren't people who know too much, but people who know negative things. Pessimists, and I speak from experience of numerous personal friends here, expect to see bad things, and therefore they see more of the bad than the good. They then go on to believe that their eyes are well and truly open, and they see the world as it really is, and it's full of shit and people doing horrible things.

Which is not only wrong - remember that people are at worst 87% good - but more importantly, inconductive to the development of a healthy growing consciousness, to your mental or physical health or to society at large.

Optimism, the belief that things will work out, that risks are worth taking and that wrongs exist to be fixed, is logical. Not only because it's better for your stomach and heart and will make you happier, but because statistically speaking it's more likely to pay off. It repays you every moment of every day. Not to mention on a quantum level and a psychological level and probably a number of others it actually, physically works in your favor.

There is a price of course. The price is that you have to care about things. You have to get back up when you get knocked down. You have to believe in people even when they let you down. It's not easy. At least ten percent of people probably don't have that courage. It's much easier to surrender to pessimism; to never try because you don't want to fail, to expect to be disappointed so that you can be right. It's easier to wallow in the mud than try to stand up.

This is what I believe. You get out of life what you put into it. And if you live like you mean to, you'll find out what living really means.

Nique · 08-15-2009, 03:37 PM

100% agree. Pessimisim and optimisim are not merely different ways of looking at the world or two sides of the same coin or two different extremes with 'truth' laying in the middle. Or, maybe they are, but only inasmuch as a healthy body is opposite of one infected by cancer.

One is the healthy way to look at life, the other is not.

True optimists understand that simply by being optimists, they increase their chances of success not becuase of luck, but becuase that's how our brains work. That's being realistic; Awknowledging that the world has a lot of low points, but realizing that we're still here and have to deal with it somehow.

Except if you know Mondt. Then you should kill youself.

Amake · 08-15-2009, 03:48 PM

Nicely put, Nique. Totally made my day in fact.

I edited in a couple of thoughts that occurred to me when reading your post, so as to make a more complete manifesto. Hope ya don't mind.

08-12-2009, 11:17 PM	#11
Bob The Mercenary Bob Dole Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bob Dole Posts: 5,606	I tend to try to generate enough faith in humanity to make up for all you damn pessimists. Actually, my faith in humanity is multiplied by the fact that we have not yet exterminated ourselves. Whenever we absolutely need it, some superman or supermen seem to come along and save the day. Whether it was that Russian guy who saw a computer glitch for what it was and prevented a nuclear exchange during the Cold War, or having the right Generals making the right decisions at the right times. Mob mentality exists in abundance, but can be extinguished. I think I am a testament to that...or maybe I just joined another mob. But, I trust the good or right people (however you want to define it) to always come out on top in the end. But you guys, you're all dicks. __________________ Bob Dole

08-12-2009, 11:31 PM	#12
Magus Archer and Armstrong vs. the World Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 7,164	You do realize that dicks are the ones who come out on top in the end, right? __________________ The Valiant Review

08-15-2009, 03:23 PM	#14
Amake Keeper of the new Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: A place without judgment Posts: 4,506	An optimist manifesto There's one important thing I've learned when it comes to the battle between optimism and pessimism: Reality is what you think it is. If you can buy that, you realize that cynics aren't people who know too much, but people who know negative things. Pessimists, and I speak from experience of numerous personal friends here, expect to see bad things, and therefore they see more of the bad than the good. They then go on to believe that their eyes are well and truly open, and they see the world as it really is, and it's full of shit and people doing horrible things. Which is not only wrong - remember that people are at worst 87% good - but more importantly, inconductive to the development of a healthy growing consciousness, to your mental or physical health or to society at large. Optimism, the belief that things will work out, that risks are worth taking and that wrongs exist to be fixed, is logical. Not only because it's better for your stomach and heart and will make you happier, but because statistically speaking it's more likely to pay off. It repays you every moment of every day. Not to mention on a quantum level and a psychological level and probably a number of others it actually, physically works in your favor. There is a price of course. The price is that you have to care about things. You have to get back up when you get knocked down. You have to believe in people even when they let you down. It's not easy. At least ten percent of people probably don't have that courage. It's much easier to surrender to pessimism; to never try because you don't want to fail, to expect to be disappointed so that you can be right. It's easier to wallow in the mud than try to stand up. This is what I believe. You get out of life what you put into it. And if you live like you mean to, you'll find out what living really means. __________________ Hope insistent, trust implicit, love inherent, life immersed Last edited by Amake; 08-15-2009 at 03:53 PM.

08-15-2009, 03:48 PM	#16
Amake Keeper of the new Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: A place without judgment Posts: 4,506	Nicely put, Nique. Totally made my day in fact. I edited in a couple of thoughts that occurred to me when reading your post, so as to make a more complete manifesto. Hope ya don't mind. __________________ Hope insistent, trust implicit, love inherent, life immersed Last edited by Amake; 08-15-2009 at 04:01 PM.