There is a difference between being realistic and being cynical. They are not interchangeable terms.

And you say they see them as 'real' but your depiction of 'real' is always a downer. Do you honestly see life as that much of a sh*thole?

Many cynical people are negative. So, her description works.

(( singme ))

And I'm not putting anyone down here .. please make note of that, just sayin life is really better than that.

That's all ..

I'm sorry you see it as being a "downer", but that is your choice, and I can respect that. I, on the other hand, can NOT see the world as an oyster, because realistically, it clearly is NOT. It's NOT a perfect place out there. Not everything always falls into place all the time. It's just the way of life, and I can recognize that. When I refer to blinders, I refer to those who have an over-abundance of optimism when it's a fallacy to do so. Nothing is perfect, nothing has ever been perfect, and nothing will ever be perfect. It's the difference between recognizing it and dealing with it, or denying it and trying to see it for something it's not.

Saying someone is negative isn't necessarily putting them down. Many people are always looking for what's going wrong in life. Or what bad thing will happen next. You pointing out that people are doing that isn't a put down.

I agree, though. Life can be much better than that.

No, my depiction of 'real' is just that -- real. It's not my fault it is what it is. I never said I "saw life as that much of a sh!thole". Again, you're doing like so many others are doing -- you're confusing negativism for cynicism.

Fade....in your example of the car breaking down.....

A cynic doesn't necessarily expect it, but he does acknowledge the possibility.

That doesn't mean that the cynic ' knows ' or ' feels ' that it's gonna happen.

Keep in mind, I don't know you. The only thing I know about you is what you post here in the forums.

To me, you come off as being very negative. Perhaps that's just the way you type things. But, from what I see, much of what you say is negative. Perhaps you see it as being realistic, but you can be realistic without seeming so negative. You keep talking about people who are overly optimistic, but some people just like to enjoy life. Sure, bad things happen, but I'm not going to wait for them to happen. If they do, I deal with it and move on.

Not saying it's bad. You can certainly live your life the way you want. I just couldn't be like that.

Re-read some of what you've written here today. Maybe you can see it the way some of us have been seeing it.. pretty negative.

Of course there's always a possibility of a car breaking down. It's part of life. If it happens, deal with it. Until then, live your life.

You know, you're a real piece of work. You've been trying to lock horns with me all day. You try and make it look like I just sit around all the time waiting for bad sh!t to happen. It's obvious you don't get the point. I see it AS it's happening. I certainly don't have to WAIT for it to happen. I have many reasons for being cynical. Perhaps you don't, and more power to ya. I just can't understand the point of arguing the obvious. I KNOW for a FACT that the grass is green, yet there are others who will argue with me 'til the end of time that it's purple. Just because I'm a cynic does not make me an asshole, or a liar, or negative, or any other label you'd like to slap on me. You don't know me, you've never spoken to me, you've never met me in person, you've never spent any time with me on a personal level, and you sure as hell have never walked a mile in my shoes, so don't sit there and try to tell me how I should feel.

Keith I could go back to where you said life sux. I'm not confusing anything hon.

No but in the skeptical perspective, awaits it.

I'll save you the trouble. I said, "Life DOES suck, by and large." This does NOT infer that I meant EVERTHING in life sucks.

Relax. All I said was that you seemed very negative. Sorry if that offended you, as it was just an observation.

I don't see everything as perfect, I just choose not to let it get me down. I am a survivor Keith. No matter how bad things may look for me, I bounce back after anything, no matter how devastating, because I choose to do so. I WANT to have a thankful grateful and appreciative heart because it is healthy to do so. It makes me SMILE and smiling faces make you happy

Guys, we're going through the same circular arguments here to the point where we're attacking each other. Let's just quit while we're ahead and put this thing to rest.

People are cynical, pessimistic, they chew bubble-gum, blah blah blah. It's all getting really old.

Good idea.

WELL .. I'm very glad you feel that way