Would you consider yourself more of an optimist or a pessimist?

Optimistic for happiness. =D

People suck, and everything they do sucks. 

Pessimism is viewing the world in it's truest form. If you view life based on the worst case scenarios you can never truly be disappointed. Ironically, I'm an optimist because I'm a pessimist.

The world needs more optimists. It's not that I don't or can't view the world as it is, I just choose to focus on the positives of life and just deal with the negatives when/if they come. Nobody wants to be around someone always expecting the other shoe to drop, that's no fun.

Depends on my mood.

Half full

that kid is not dying, he is just half-alive

Realist.

I'm a realist. I don't see things for anything but what they are. I don't like to think of myself as pessimistic, though.

I am 50% pessimist and 50% realist. So in other words I'm a batsimist.

I'd say I'm more optimistic than pessimistic.

Optimism and pessimism are pretty reaching binaries. Intelligent people tend to fall somewhere in between, as they know that there are times to be pessimistic and cynical and untrusting, and other times when optimism, faith, and seeing the potential for good in their fellow human beings is the best mindset to have.

Im bipolar so both, but mainly pessimist I guess.

I'm a pessimist. I wish I could be an optimist, but I can't be ignorant to the real world no matter how hard I try. I'm sure there is a better word than ignorant to describe an optimist, because it's not a bad thing and saying that sounds really bad. Unaware maybe?

I envy that.

I can sometimes be a bit of both

I can't give a precise answer to this.

Many know me as highly pessimistic, including myself. I acknowledge things others won't whether they are younger, older, or of my same age. Yet I am filled with so many ideas; easily known as imaginative and are incredible to have on one's train of thoughts.

I choose pessimist as optimism has led me no where but down. This is due to my lack of any great capabilities, bad track record in life, the lack of happiness, and my incompatible mind, body and soul.

Optimism only fuels my pessimism.

perspectiveist

cynic

@Yung ANcient One said:

Realist is the stupidest word invented, so your a realist huh. What is everyone else? What is the opposite of a realist? A fake-ist? I always hear it from certain Atheist, and it just screams to me that they have a superiority complex. I just find it annoying, even offensive at times, and I just had to vent for a moment. (+)

A rationalist, meh-ist, or a sh*t happens-ist.

@Yung ANcient One said:

Realist is the stupidest word invented, so your a realist huh. What is everyone else? What is the opposite of a realist? A fake-ist? I always hear it from certain Atheist, and it just screams to me that they have a superiority complex. I just find it annoying, even offensive at times, and I just had to vent for a moment. (+)

Idealist vs Realist really...

pessimist all the way!!!

@ssejllenrad: @KnightRise:

disregard my previous post; rationalist is equally a terrible title name as realist, but I do however like this Idealist title. If i had to choose between the three I'd definitely pick idealist.

(+)

@FalconPuuunch said:

I'm a pessimist. I wish I could be an optimist, but I can't be ignorant to the real world no matter how hard I try. I'm sure there is a better word than ignorant to describe an optimist, because it's not a bad thing and saying that sounds really bad. Unaware maybe?

I envy that.

I prefer the term "naive" to describe optimism (not all optimism, but I prefer it to "ignorant").

I'm not an optimist, though. I prefer to think of myself as a realist.

@JediXMan said:

@FalconPuuunch said:

I'm a pessimist. I wish I could be an optimist, but I can't be ignorant to the real world no matter how hard I try. I'm sure there is a better word than ignorant to describe an optimist, because it's not a bad thing and saying that sounds really bad. Unaware maybe?

I envy that.

I prefer the term "naive" to describe optimism (not all optimism, but I prefer it to "ignorant").

I'm not an optimist, though. I prefer to think of myself as a realist.

Naive. There we go. That's the perfect definition of an optimist.

These words seem to be one in the same, but this is how I look at it.

Pessimists see things as if the glass were half full whereas an optimist is always looking at the bright side of things no matter how rough things tend to get. Realists size of the situation and realize the positive and negative aspects of things.

People think that being a realist or a pessimist is like being a nihilist which is not true at all. Pessimists and realists can be just as nice or accepting as optimists. These labels are just things that define how we view the world and the people in it.

I'm on too much medication to be an optimist.

Expect the worst when it dose not happen be mildly surprised.

I consider myself more a Toblerolo. Its like a Toblerone-Rolo combo. Sometimes I am hard and triangular, but other times I just roll with it. I also can make myself happy whenever I want, a few people who don't me well consider me a pessimist but a few who know me relatively well consider my dreadfully optimistic. I also think the best things to be are the words you make up that most other people don't understand. Like thobonoth and puddlewicks. Though I can't be sure those aren't the names of the Bird People that fly by my window at night. Essentially I think its better to consider than to conclude. Which would you rather eat, a steak or bacon? Who not both, either or none of above. Then change your mind, reverse, flip twist defy and deny it, then reconsider.

@PowerHerc said:

Realist.

Truth

Optimist. The most militant kind.

Pessimistic Optimist.

I assume that everything sucks and never look forward to anything, thus when something is good, I'm extremely positive about it.

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Pessimistic Optimist.

I assume that everything sucks and never look forward to anything, thus when something is good, I'm extremely positive about it.

Hmmm. Very interesting. :P

@Pyrogram said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Pessimistic Optimist.

I assume that everything sucks and never look forward to anything, thus when something is good, I'm extremely positive about it.

Hmmm. Very interesting. :P

I'm an interesting person.

OK, egotistical pessimistic optimist.

@FalconPuuunch said:

Naive. There we go. That's the perfect definition of an optimist.

These words seem to be one in the same, but this is how I look at it.

If you really believe that, then you're painting with a REALLY large brush.

While optimists CAN BE naive, the two terms are NOT synonymous. Most optimists see the world just as clearly as you do with your oh-so-superior pessimism. They just choose to focus on the positive. Notice I say that they FOCUS on the positive. They can see and understand the negative just fine.

I've always hated the "never be optimistic cause you'll never be disappointed" trope. I've been optimistic for things and then been disappointed.

Know what happened the second after that?

I got over it. Cause I'm not a child.

Just cause someone chooses to react to the world in a different way than you doesn't make them any less intelligent or worldly.

I'm an optimistic pessimist!

In other words, I feel like the world is full of complete s##t and terrible people, BUT I feel that change is possible and that with a lot of hard work and enlightenment the world really can be a better place.... of course the pessimistic side makes it so I don't think it's likely to happen lol.

Pessimist.

@TheCowman said:

@FalconPuuunch said:

Naive. There we go. That's the perfect definition of an optimist.

These words seem to be one in the same, but this is how I look at it.

If you really believe that, then you're painting with a REALLY large brush.

While optimists CAN BE naive, the two terms are NOT synonymous. Most optimists see the world just as clearly as you do with your oh-so-superior pessimism. They just choose to focus on the positive. Notice I say that they FOCUS on the positive. They can see and understand the negative just fine.

I've always hated the "never be optimistic cause you'll never be disappointed" trope. I've been optimistic for things and then been disappointed.

Know what happened the second after that?

I got over it. Cause I'm not a child.

Just cause someone chooses to react to the world in a different way than you doesn't make them any less intelligent or worldly.

"They choose to focus on the positive" There you go, you said it yourself. That's the definition of naive. "Natural and unaffected". I never said an optimist couldn't experience or understand the negatives, I just meant to say that they choose to see the good in situations even when it's not there. Maybe artless would be a better word?

At the end of the day an optimist and a pessimist are still human beings who like you said "choose to react to the world in different ways." Of course we are all going to experience hope and hopelessness throughout our lives, it's impossible not to. These labels are simply the generalization of how we normally react and not how we react once in a while. I never said an optimist was less intelligent than a realist or pessimist so i'm just going to ignore that statement.

@FalconPuuunch said:

I never said an optimist was less intelligent than a realist or pessimist so i'm just going to ignore that statement.

Oh yes. I forgot that you changed your description from "ignorant" to "naive". Not much better, but whatever.

I'll agree that "artless" would be better if you must give them a label. At least "without guile or deception" is better than "showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement".

I'm more of an optimist but there are times that I am a pesimist.

I've actually been diagnosed by some psychologists as a contrarian. No matter whether the opposing side is wrong or right, If it is the majority view, I always end up arguing against it.

@TheCowman said:

@FalconPuuunch said:

I never said an optimist was less intelligent than a realist or pessimist so i'm just going to ignore that statement.

Oh yes. I forgot that you changed your description from "ignorant" to "naive". Not much better, but whatever.

I'll agree that "artless" would be better if you must give them a label. At least "without guile or deception" is better than "showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement".

I already explained myself in my very first post that I didn't know what word would be best to describe what I felt an optimist was. Don't know why you're being so crossed about it, but whatever.

For a pessimist, I'm pretty optimistic

I've been feeling real pessimistic lately.

Pessimist. And I can sense your presence.