I agree that cynics sometimes bring us to earth. But you have to question their motives too. Here's a good post on that: http://lesswrong.com/lw/ym/cynical_abou

I agree that cynics sometimes bring us to earth. But you have to question their motives too. Here's a good post on that: http://lesswrong.com/lw/ym/cynical_about_cynicism/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/ym/cynical_about_cynicism/ I'm especially on guard against cynicism because it seems to be a standard corruption of rationality in particular. If many people are optimists, then true rationalists will occasionally have to say things that sound pessimistic by contrast. EDIT: I don't mean to imply anyone here is a cynic or that I know their motives whether they are or not. But I wanted to make the general point.