Does being a pessimist cloud one's vision?

Generali

Slightly OT but in the same vein as the OP.

A study was done of people suffering from depression and those that were not. Each person being studied was asked to guess the probability of a negative life event occuring within a period of time (eg job loss or fatal illness being diagnosed).

The depressives produced guesses that were:

i. Much more negative than the control group
ii. Much more accurate than the control group.

Make of that what you will.

Phirefly

I definitely think optimism and pessimism has a profound effect on the outcome of peoples lives regardless of outside factors.

I'm eternally optimistic, I can't help it. Even when I get knocked by the biggest wave (which thankfully isn't that often) and I'm dying to slink away, lick my wounds and feel sorry for myself, theres always this little dynamo inside that kicks in and before I know it I'm seeing the opportunity in the situation and falling over myself to take advantage of it in spite of myself. People are fetching round the sympathy cake to find I'm not in because I'm already off on my next venture.

I think others have touched on the important aspect of all this, braveness vs. fear. I'm not a reckless risktaker, but I'm pretty fearless. I think self-belief is a big factor too, that you'll cope whatever the outcome. Others have been through far worse in their lives than me, but I suspect that surviving a near-death accident and living though family breakdown have contributed to this faith.

And I also agree with Carol; no doubt when the Phirelets come along, it'll be a whole new ballgame, but for the time being I find that the cliche is true that the things you worry about are never the things which actually trip you up.

Conrad

m00m00 wrote: »

no more than being overtly optimistic blinkers people


people should take note of the evidence available to them, and apply it to their own particular circumstances.

Ah ha, the evidence!

But who's evidence?

The optimist will point to the fact that even the tumultous 1970s didn't kill us off, despite all the pessimists evidence that Japan, HK and Taiwan would steal all our industry.

In 1979 /80 the evidence would have pointed in favour of the pessimists camp, but the optimists won out, and those optimistic fools that bought houses in the terribel 1970's were perfeclty fine - life went on.

Whos evidence.....:rotfl:

slipthru

Wouldn't the optimist even after losing at something, still be optimistic?

Phirefly

slipthru wrote: »

Wouldn't the optimist even after losing at something, still be optimistic?

Yes, probably, but when optimism is tempered with realism, they will take the lessons learned from the loss and use them to progress

mewbie_2

Conrad wrote: »

terribel 1970's.. perfeclty fine... Whos evidence.....:rotfl:

I wonder if you are optimistic or pessimistic about your near term job prospects?

slipthru

Phirefly wrote: »

Yes, probably, but when optimism is tempered with realism, they will take the lessons learned from the loss and use them to progress

I saw what you posted above and that sums it up perfectly.

Conrad

Doozergirl wrote: »

Starting back at square one doesn't frighten me. It's all about the journey rather than the destination after all. I'll always rather do it for myself than for someone else.

I agree, best to work for yourself, but I admire the fact you dont fear losing everything. That seems to be a key traite amongst those I've met that have achieved great wealth.
For many of us, myself included, the fear of loss of money tickets is accute.

Your sentiment that it's all about the journey, doesn't work for me, in fact, I'm the complete opposite, it's all about the destination! I'd hate for years of hard grind to come to nowt. In this respect I'd rather a destination which is comfortable but not necessarily rich (rich means different things to each of us - my definition of comfortable would be say £1m+ in the bank, no mortgage and not have to downsize to a cheaper home, whereas rich would be say £3m+ and the house)

MissMoneypenny

Conrad wrote: »

In 1979 /80 the evidence would have pointed in favour of the pessimists camp, but the optimists won out, and those optimistic fools that bought houses in the terribel 1970's were perfeclty fine - life went on.

I bought a house in July 1980 and house prices were rising.

Conrad

Phirefly wrote: »

I'm pretty fearless.

The last thing a pessimists needs is any financial loss, so I suspect some jealousy is harboured agianst fearless types, which is felt accutley when the 'less academically intelligent' person achieve 'lucky' hpi - how can it be that a graduate finds themselves in rented digs, when those oiks that left school at 16 are now sitting on £250k equity!