Does being a pessimist cloud one's vision?

BTLNEWbie_3

carolt wrote: »

That said, I don't supposed you managed much of an education, so what else could you do?

No I just went out to work so that I could pay into the kitty to make sure others who are clever enough get the chance to study further.
It is such a shame when they waste it though.

BTLNEWbie_3

carolt wrote: »

I do work, but in area I enjoy - education. Not very well paid,

Just worked out what you do, Childminding, well done, worth all those extra years of education.

mewbie_2

BTLNEWbie wrote: »

it doesn't bear repeating...

These little posts of yours are such a window into what passes for your mind.

Conrad

lostinrates wrote: »

You know, I really, really miss working. I miss the challenge, I miss the buzz..most of all I miss using my mind.

I cant wait to retire, and there is plenty to occupy my mind;

Volunteering for the local wildlife trust
Volunteering for childrens charities - espcially overseas
Attending scientific / philisophical talks
Traveling
Learning to wave board
Parachuting
Camping in Namibia under the stars

It's endless


Work is merely a pointless task for me, just a conduit to provide capital

Conrad

Jonbvn wrote: »

A lifetime of happiness! No man alive could bear it: it would be hell on earth. (GBS).

Having worked all over the world since 1985, I have come to realise that I rely on work for more than income. In some ways, it defines me as a person. However, I do realise that other people in perhaps more mundane jobs may only see work as a means to an end.

It's not about aquiring a lifetime of happiness, although the Dalia Lama would sya otherwise. It's about recognising the possibilities.

Job as a MA isn't fulfilling, although it is my own business and has provided comfort.
Having said that, almost no job would be fulfilling in the sense they are merely occupiers of a robotic mind, that equates fulfilment with respect.

For me what really matters are the big questions - how does a single cell contain ALL the information required to build an entire Human being?
How does that cell tell certain cells to become the 'top' of my left index finger, yet another cell somehow knows to become the bottow right of the same digit?
How does another cell know it needs to become closer packed and thus trasmute into bone, and how does it know how much space to leave between each cell?
How is in every one of us there are around 1 million cells that once resided in the body of Shakepear (honest)

How did the cells in my left retina once reside inside a star (remember my cells are merely collections of atomic elements that ALL came from space). Why do those atoms chose to be my retina for a while - why not float off and be a piece of rock for a while.


These sorts of questions make notions of rushing about fulfilling oneself to be say the boss of a Hifi company (Mr Sugar) seem completely inane and pointless. In a thousand years no one will know Alan Sugar - who gives a !!!! that he ownes lots of money tickets. In a billion years his existence will be utterly meaningless.

ANYWAY - SORRY TO GO OFF TOPIC ON ME OWN THREAD!:rolleyes:

Conrad

m00m00 wrote: »

money allowed me to take a career break to do a DPhil in Philosophy, which enables me (and not many others I suspect) to actually have a clue what conrad is waffling about (it's existentialism 101)

Hey, I'm glad you have an inkling into what I'm prattling on about. Let me know:o
I probably come accross as a bit introspective and anal, sorry about that folks.

Back to pessimism;

In terms of buying a house, I think it is likely the pessimists will leave it too long again, and some will for a second time find themselves left behind.
In this sense those of an overly pessimistic disposition can cloud ones vision.

m00m00

actually conrad I find your off topic ramblings to be close to my areas of interest as you flit between psychology and philosophy, my two specialist areas. Certainly you could spend some useful time reading about Sartre (I'd avoid his actual philosophy work (Being and Nothingness, how I longed for nothingness half way through), and stick to his literature. Nausea is particularly good as a piece of existentialist literature.

as for the pessimist vs optimist things, I'm sure there are plenty of others like me, who have our own personal 'tipping point' for purchasing a particular property in a particular area, and many people also won't particularly care about future value, only current perceived value.

Conrad

Hey m00moo

I'll check out Nausea shortly.
Are you looking to become a shrink? If so how does one find clients?

m00m00

no, I am very definitely an EX psychologist, I was working in the more 'extreme' fields, which is not a long term career for many, hence I moved over to nice fluffy philosophy.

carolt

BTLNEWbie wrote: »

Just worked out what you do, Childminding, well done, worth all those extra years of education.

No, I'm not, but I'd be extremely proud of it if I was. Childminders do an extremely worthwhile and valuable job. Or maybe you're happy with leaving your kids with any Tom, !!!!!! or Harry. Their work is difficult, undervalued and underpaid.

Not much of a competition as to who makes the most useful contribution to other people's lives? The person who brings up happy, fulfilled children, or the man who borrows some money off the bank to a buy a (probably depreciating :rotfl:) asset and pretends it's a real job!!!!!

Ha, ha, ha - you do make me laugh.....