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Take a moment and consider this quote by the late Amos Tversky about his view on pessimism: "When you are a pessimist and the bad thing happens, you live it tw

by Dowwie 7y ago

Take a moment and consider this quote by the late Amos Tversky about his view on pessimism: "When you are a pessimist and the bad thing happens, you live it twice,' Amos liked to say. 'Once when you worry about it, and the second time when it happens." This is a rational explanation for why anyone ought not succumb to pessimism.

reportgunner 7y ago
This is not black and white. Often we are optimist and we ignore the suffering of the ones closest to us because we simply don't believe they are suffering.
- Funes- 7y ago
  That doesn't have anything to do with being optimistic, as far as I can tell. Dismissing others' suffering is caused by a lack of empathy or by selfishness--the two go hand in hand. It can certainly seem to a depressed person that an optimistic one is oblivious to their suffering, but it is not always the case. I think the best you can do with negative people is make it absolutely clear that you acknowledge their pain while getting them to progressively come out of it.
  - michaelt 7y ago
    If another person's internal mental state isn't visible, so we have to work it out from things that are visible, there might be a wide range of possible guesses and so being optimistic or pessimistic might produce very different results. Has my friend Joe stopped coming out with us because he's busy with a great new girlfriend he just hasn't told us about yet - or because depression means he can barely get out of bed in the morning let alone leave the house?
Phenix88be 7y ago
> 'Once when you worry about it, and the second time when it happens." I have solve that long ago. Something bad will happen. If I can prevent it, I will and only live it once. If I can't prevent it, why should I be worried ? I make preparation for after it happen.
jfengel 7y ago
Tversky was big on measuring things, and I wonder if he ever measured this theory. Measuring happiness is difficult, but I don't necessarily buy the idea presented here that it's simply a matter of totting up the number of negative events. I have arrived at what I consider a rational level of pessimism about some things. When they occur, it bothers me, but not for very long. I shrug and don't dwell because for me, it was just what I expected. Sometimes good things happen, and I can't quantify that those outcomes are "better" for being unexpected, but I wonder if Tversky would.
vl 7y ago
This is incorrect. When you take realistic (some people call it pessimistic) view on situation, you are disappointed initially, but when it finally happens, you are already fine - "told ya so!" and move on.

by Dowwie 7y ago

reportgunner 7y ago

This is not black and white. Often we are optimist and we ignore the suffering of the ones closest to us because we simply don't believe they are suffering.

Funes- 7y ago
That doesn't have anything to do with being optimistic, as far as I can tell. Dismissing others' suffering is caused by a lack of empathy or by selfishness--the two go hand in hand. It can certainly seem to a depressed person that an optimistic one is oblivious to their suffering, but it is not always the case. I think the best you can do with negative people is make it absolutely clear that you acknowledge their pain while getting them to progressively come out of it.
- michaelt 7y ago
  If another person's internal mental state isn't visible, so we have to work it out from things that are visible, there might be a wide range of possible guesses and so being optimistic or pessimistic might produce very different results. Has my friend Joe stopped coming out with us because he's busy with a great new girlfriend he just hasn't told us about yet - or because depression means he can barely get out of bed in the morning let alone leave the house?

Phenix88be 7y ago

> 'Once when you worry about it, and the second time when it happens." I have solve that long ago. Something bad will happen. If I can prevent it, I will and only live it once. If I can't prevent it, why should I be worried ? I make preparation for after it happen.

jfengel 7y ago

Tversky was big on measuring things, and I wonder if he ever measured this theory. Measuring happiness is difficult, but I don't necessarily buy the idea presented here that it's simply a matter of totting up the number of negative events. I have arrived at what I consider a rational level of pessimism about some things. When they occur, it bothers me, but not for very long. I shrug and don't dwell because for me, it was just what I expected. Sometimes good things happen, and I can't quantify that those outcomes are "better" for being unexpected, but I wonder if Tversky would.

vl 7y ago

This is incorrect. When you take realistic (some people call it pessimistic) view on situation, you are disappointed initially, but when it finally happens, you are already fine - "told ya so!" and move on.