[ralfy]

The article refers to personal events. In which case, one can be an optimist in light of that but a realist when it comes to issues such as peak oil.

Finally, any positive news involving peak oil can only involve more easy oil discovered. And if Birol is right, we'll need good news equivalent to the discovery of one Saudi Arabia every seven years or so in order just maintain current economic growth. To meet the needs of a growing global middle class, we'll need even more positive news.

[Duende]

kublikhan wrote:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')hat doesn't mean ignoring reality and having faith everything will work out ok. That is more like idealism than optimism.

[Cog]

We are currently experiencing the broadest and deepest recession since the Great Depression. I don't think that makes me a pessimist to try to understand why that is so and try to plan ahead to deal with it if it continues or worsens. When I see stock pumpers or cornies say that recovery is right around the corner(just as recovery as always followed past recessions) I have to ask them to show me the evidence of it.

So far, I don't see any evidence of recovery but a continued decline. Is unemployment and food stamp use declining? The numbers don't tell me that. I'd love to see 5% unemployment and the food stamp usage plummet. But its not going to happen for a variety of reasons.

[Alan Cain]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kublikhan', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kublikhan', 'I') dunno about that.

[Plantagenet]

Things will get worse in the economy before they get better, but after a while they'll get worse again.

Everything changes---Heraclitus

[AgentR11]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ColossalContrarian', 'a')s far as I'm concerned my grandma was %100 correct for sending me on my way optimistically.

[The Practician]

Whenever I talk to my girlfriend about peak oil and the myriad other issues that are likely to impact our future, she likes to respond with the line "life is what you make of it". The first time she said this, my first thought was that this was just an empty platitude, a way of shrugging off some very serious concerns of the future. The more I thought about it the more it made sense as part of a sensible approach the future. I may be an arch-pessimist when it comes to the future of a number of current human endeavors, but that's my prerogative. It doesn't mean I have to a pessimist about my own future, because that is just as dangerous a place to be as blind optimism.

[Newfie]

There is personal optimism then there is irrational exuberance.

I think what Pop's was posting about was more of the later.

You know you never meet a grumpy salesman. They are always upbeat about all the good things they are gonna do for you. That doesn't make them right.

OTOH you may meet some grumpy people who give you good advice and who may increase your chances of survival.

In general humans are short term thinkers. And there is a evolutionary benefit to being optimistic. If you were too pessimistic then you are a downer in tough times. There is a pretty clear relationship between optimism and survival.

I think the point is that optimism as a survival strategy aided us for much of our history.

Likely that is about to change.

I'm pretty sure my pessimism and preps is gonna put me in good standing in the future, of that I am optimistic.

[Duende]

Newfie wrote:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') think the point is that optimism as a survival strategy aided us for much of our history.

Likely that is about to change.

I'm pretty sure my pessimism and preps is gonna put me in good standing in the future, of that I am optimistic.

[PrestonSturges]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', 'T')hings will get worse in the economy before they get better, but after a while they'll get worse again.

Everything changes---Heraclitus

[Newfie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Duende', '[')b]Newfie wrote:$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') think the point is that optimism as a survival strategy aided us for much of our history. Likely that is about to change.
I'm pretty sure my pessimism and preps is gonna put me in good standing in the future, of that I am optimistic.

[PrestonSturges]

Mooooo?

You need to read "Dr. Berger's Mental Health Hour"

http://www.wattpad.com/167038-william-s ... lunch?p=48

[Newfie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrestonSturges', 'M')ooooo?

You need to read "Dr. Berger's Mental Health Hour"

http://www.wattpad.com/167038-william-s ... lunch?p=48

[PrestonSturges]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrestonSturges', 'M')ooooo?

You need to read "Dr. Berger's Mental Health Hour"

http://www.wattpad.com/167038-william-s ... lunch?p=48

[Newfie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrestonSturges', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrestonSturges', 'M')ooooo?

You need to read "Dr. Berger's Mental Health Hour"

http://www.wattpad.com/167038-william-s ... lunch?p=48

[fletch_961]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'L')iterally.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') study, published in Nature Neuroscience, suggests the brain is very good at processing good news about the future. However, in some people, anything negative is practically ignored - with them retaining a positive world view...

[Newfie]

Fletch,

If you want to understand the cunundrum we are in between good and bad I suggest you google up Dr. Bartlett.

The video is called "Arithmetic, Population and Energy." Pay attention to his chart with the Good/Bad stuff side by side.

[fletch_961]

i believe you just proved my point.

[Newfie]

Not your point that doomers are optimist. But that there are conundrums that will hurt us all. There is no easy way out.

It is kinda like the doomed man saying, "So kill me already!" He is not an optimist, just tired of the torture.