4 ms·

A cynical but rational outlook on life.

chc 13y ago
It is not really all that rational. "A few bad things happened, so obviously the world is crap" is an emotional response of the sort normally associated with adolescents. I have plenty of contrary anecdotes of my own, but they would also not prove a universal truth about the world.
- arjie 13y ago
  True enough, but one must tread carefully. A history of mental illness that demonstrates that you were a threat to yourself or to others is going to impact your residency in the US if you are an alien. A history of alcoholism (and depression may lead to alcohol abuse) with evidence of past harmful behaviour is going to work against you. I am fortunate to be healthy, but if I weren't, would I tell anyone? Probably not. I like the US and want to stay here.
- nknighthb 13y ago
  I can't name a single person in my life who has sought help and not been punished for it. I have, fortunately, learned from their mistakes, and will never seek help myself. I can't see how it isn't rational. I have ample evidence seeking help is bad. I have none whatsoever that it's good. The rational choice is objectively obvious. There's even a doctor in this very thread defending that punishment as "first-rate care"[1]. What other proof should I have before deciding mental health care has nothing to do with caring, and everything to do with punishing and isolating people who are inconvenient? [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7119969 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7119969
Afforess 13y ago
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
- brazzy 13y ago
  No; cynicism is intellectual and moral laziness. It allows you to distill a complex world to a simplified negative caricature that justifies not making an effort yourself (or makes your efforts seem more extraordinary than warranted). My personal counter anecdote: 2 weeks ago, I lost my camera (with a nice new lens on it) in the subway. Worth more than $700. Everyone I told said almost the same thing: "you'll never see it again, someone would have to be stupid to give it back; I would, but I'm stupid." Well, 2 days later I picked it up at the lost&found.
- eli_gottlieb 13y ago
  Cynicism has never been useful to actually helping anyone.

chc 13y ago

It is not really all that rational. "A few bad things happened, so obviously the world is crap" is an emotional response of the sort normally associated with adolescents. I have plenty of contrary anecdotes of my own, but they would also not prove a universal truth about the world.

arjie 13y ago
True enough, but one must tread carefully. A history of mental illness that demonstrates that you were a threat to yourself or to others is going to impact your residency in the US if you are an alien. A history of alcoholism (and depression may lead to alcohol abuse) with evidence of past harmful behaviour is going to work against you. I am fortunate to be healthy, but if I weren't, would I tell anyone? Probably not. I like the US and want to stay here.
nknighthb 13y ago
I can't name a single person in my life who has sought help and not been punished for it. I have, fortunately, learned from their mistakes, and will never seek help myself. I can't see how it isn't rational. I have ample evidence seeking help is bad. I have none whatsoever that it's good. The rational choice is objectively obvious. There's even a doctor in this very thread defending that punishment as "first-rate care"[1]. What other proof should I have before deciding mental health care has nothing to do with caring, and everything to do with punishing and isolating people who are inconvenient? [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7119969 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7119969

Afforess 13y ago

The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it

deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
brazzy 13y ago
No; cynicism is intellectual and moral laziness. It allows you to distill a complex world to a simplified negative caricature that justifies not making an effort yourself (or makes your efforts seem more extraordinary than warranted). My personal counter anecdote: 2 weeks ago, I lost my camera (with a nice new lens on it) in the subway. Worth more than $700. Everyone I told said almost the same thing: "you'll never see it again, someone would have to be stupid to give it back; I would, but I'm stupid." Well, 2 days later I picked it up at the lost&found.
eli_gottlieb 13y ago
Cynicism has never been useful to actually helping anyone.