5 ms·

This is quite a thin article. Not really much to go on in either direction. I'd be interested in some better reading on the subject if anyone has any. Personal

This is quite a thin article. Not really much to go on in either direction. I'd be interested in some better reading on the subject if anyone has any. Personally, I think I see a lot more toxic negativity than toxic positivity in the world and I've rarely heard the phrase "toxic positivity" used in a justifiable situation. Not to say that toxic positivity can't exist but quite often articles discussing it come across to me as justifying a defense mechanism people use when challenged over their toxic negativity.

BlargMcLarg 4y ago
A lot of people just want to be modest and realistic. They don't like decorating things, telling half-truths or flat-out lying about the truth. Both being overly positive and being overly negative do this. However, from personal experience, most places which affect one's personal life and cannot be reasonably skipped (unless you wish to live close to a poverty wage, and even that is questionable) emphasize being more positive than need be. Negativity can more or less be skipped by just unplugging social media. Take the classic "why did you leave your previous job" question in job interviews. Most people leave jobs over something which cannot be interpreted as anything else but negative. Bad bosses, bad managers, no growth, no opportunities, too little pay to support future goals. Yet negativity is a no-no (as is "greed" and a bunch of other things). So yes, most people are decorating or lying about the actual reason. And no, this question doesn't exactly indicate any kind of job performance, it's more like a hazing ritual. Same goes for other questions. It's a weird kind of dystopia for people who are primarily logic driven and/or horrible at selling themselves, and don't have a skillset so in demand they can ignore those barriers. Let alone those who are vulnerable to this kind of behavior (people who are too modest for their own good and anxious to boot come to mind).
- orwin 4y ago
  I quit my job because I was a bit bored, my new job isn't better, but at least I have 10 weeks of vacations, and my 35h a week allows me to enjoy my life without sacrificing either sleep or family when I'm not traveling. Is this toxic positivity?
  - BlargMcLarg 4y ago
    Obviously not. However, most people would be flagged by the interviewer for saying "I was a bit bored", and subsequently discarded unless their skillset is hugely in demand. Modesty is only appreciated when decorated with a dose of positivity.
    - JackFr 4y ago
      “Why did you leave?” A better opportunity presented itself. Or, “Why are you looking?” Exploring better opportunities more suited to my skills and personality. It’s fairly easy to not lie and present things in a favorable way.
      - sojournerc 4y ago
        That's exactly GP's point. You're not expected to tell the truth as it is, instead offering some euphemism is the "right" way to get hired.
  - cgrealy 4y ago
    Sounds more like a humblebrag to me.
    - orwin 4y ago
      It is. Actually I'd rather not spend at least ten hours a week waiting for administrative bullshit and just work and not have the 35h work week.
- noodleman 4y ago
  Firstly, job interviews are difficult but they are not dystopian. Secondly, your claim that you can skip negativity by unplugging from social media is ludicrous. While I understand the point you're making, it is obvious why negativity is a no-no. A negative disposition makes you hard to work with and if you can't find the effort to present yourself in a positive light during a job interview, then you probably can't maintain good working relationships. Greed is a no-no in a job interview because everyone wants more pay. How does "I want more pay" differentiate you from the next applicant? I do not see this as toxic positivity - just positivity.
saturnaga 4y ago
People can do whatever they want, I will continue to be positive toxic. When someone asks me how I am doing I am always "great". If anything it is a form of self hypnosis to boost my own mood. Of course there is a contagion when it comes to individual mood both positive and negative. Twitter of course is not reality. I mean this in the context of the really real world.

BlargMcLarg 4y ago

A lot of people just want to be modest and realistic. They don't like decorating things, telling half-truths or flat-out lying about the truth. Both being overly positive and being overly negative do this. However, from personal experience, most places which affect one's personal life and cannot be reasonably skipped (unless you wish to live close to a poverty wage, and even that is questionable) emphasize being more positive than need be. Negativity can more or less be skipped by just unplugging social media. Take the classic "why did you leave your previous job" question in job interviews. Most people leave jobs over something which cannot be interpreted as anything else but negative. Bad bosses, bad managers, no growth, no opportunities, too little pay to support future goals. Yet negativity is a no-no (as is "greed" and a bunch of other things). So yes, most people are decorating or lying about the actual reason. And no, this question doesn't exactly indicate any kind of job performance, it's more like a hazing ritual. Same goes for other questions. It's a weird kind of dystopia for people who are primarily logic driven and/or horrible at selling themselves, and don't have a skillset so in demand they can ignore those barriers. Let alone those who are vulnerable to this kind of behavior (people who are too modest for their own good and anxious to boot come to mind).

orwin 4y ago
I quit my job because I was a bit bored, my new job isn't better, but at least I have 10 weeks of vacations, and my 35h a week allows me to enjoy my life without sacrificing either sleep or family when I'm not traveling. Is this toxic positivity?
- BlargMcLarg 4y ago
  Obviously not. However, most people would be flagged by the interviewer for saying "I was a bit bored", and subsequently discarded unless their skillset is hugely in demand. Modesty is only appreciated when decorated with a dose of positivity.
  - JackFr 4y ago
    “Why did you leave?” A better opportunity presented itself. Or, “Why are you looking?” Exploring better opportunities more suited to my skills and personality. It’s fairly easy to not lie and present things in a favorable way.
    - sojournerc 4y ago
      That's exactly GP's point. You're not expected to tell the truth as it is, instead offering some euphemism is the "right" way to get hired.
- cgrealy 4y ago
  Sounds more like a humblebrag to me.
  - orwin 4y ago
    It is. Actually I'd rather not spend at least ten hours a week waiting for administrative bullshit and just work and not have the 35h work week.
noodleman 4y ago
Firstly, job interviews are difficult but they are not dystopian. Secondly, your claim that you can skip negativity by unplugging from social media is ludicrous. While I understand the point you're making, it is obvious why negativity is a no-no. A negative disposition makes you hard to work with and if you can't find the effort to present yourself in a positive light during a job interview, then you probably can't maintain good working relationships. Greed is a no-no in a job interview because everyone wants more pay. How does "I want more pay" differentiate you from the next applicant? I do not see this as toxic positivity - just positivity.

saturnaga 4y ago

People can do whatever they want, I will continue to be positive toxic. When someone asks me how I am doing I am always "great". If anything it is a form of self hypnosis to boost my own mood. Of course there is a contagion when it comes to individual mood both positive and negative. Twitter of course is not reality. I mean this in the context of the really real world.