Are you a Cynic or a Realist?

[panthers55]

http://www.michaelteachings.com/cynic_attitude.html

 

Many people on this board when accused of negative attitudes say they are a cynic or a realist.  Here is an article which discusses both and where they differ. Yeah it is a little esoteric and touchy feely but it describes the categories well. 

 

In a nutshell Cynics are negative, argumentative and believe that like Murphy, whatever can go wrong will go wrong.  They focus on the attitude that :if you are going to do it at least do it in the way that you can least screw it up.

In its best form cynics are the devil's advocate always pointing to the exception to the rule. They love to bicker and argue and contradict everything.  They enjoy causing friction and going against the rule.  In its negative form they can be destructive sadistic and hurtful.  They have few friends and often enjoy that since they sneer at popularity. Their biggest fear is being led along the primrose path.

 

The complement of the  cynic is the realist. Realist don't try to interpret things or find fault they accept things as they appear for what they are. Cynics are quick to point out the flaws in others while realists aren't. Realists are innovative and creative while cynics aren't. They go along with others, living life as it occurs without extreme comment or interpretation. Realists are more likely to say it is what it is. (I put that in there)

 

If a cynic and realist are discussing something the cynic will be brief and negative, the realist will be verbose and positive. Where cynics see what is  wrong with the world, realists simply see what is there.

 

How does this relate to the huddle and football?  Most of the negative posters here are cynics who  see the negative and enjoy the bickering and fighting. Contrary to what they believe, they are not realists who are typically positive and accepting.  A  cynic says the offense sucks  and it is Shula's fault, the players fault, Rivera's fault and it won't get better. A realist says we scored 7 points, ran the ball for 100 yards but made mistakes and turnovers. They don't place blame or overly evaluate. They tend to see things from many sides and perspectives. They remain open to the idea that things will change and invite it. Cynics are liked primarily by other cynics but not by most  other posters here. They are often called trolls.  Realists tend to stick with facts and form opinions based on facts according to an evolving point of view.  Cynics have an agenda, realist's don't.  Cynics view the world through their negatively colored lenses. Realists allow the world to color their perspective. 

 

 

While no one is 100% one way or the other, which side do you fall on most of the time??  Btw, if you argue with the definitions or try to find exceptions to these, you are a cynic. 

 

[nosuchthingasapanther]

i'm a black man

[Udogg]

More realist than cynic.  However I tend to become argumentative when I see something I think is unjust.  Especially the cherry picking of stats, articles, pictures and videos.

 

 

 

Now I'm thinking does this post make you a cynic because you believe argumentative people must be cynics? Or are you just a realist for pointing it out?  Or maybe because you are a cynic that you think other cynics are at fault?  Hmmm..

 

 

Does the fact that I question your post make me a cynic?  Or am I a realist because I'm pointing it out? 

 

 

Or just maybe it's 1am, and I'm kind of high an am thinking about this too much..........

 

 

[CPcavedweller]

No such thing as a realist. Things are more black and white because the future is not real. There are many different paths that could happen yet only one that ultimately does happen. this makes being a realist nearly impossible. anyone who ckaims to be a realist who predictscthe future is full of poo. Just a pessimist or skeptic.being a "realist" more of a convenience for coming out after the fact saying "i told you so."

I'm cautiously optimistic.

[Seal (SmittyIsOurSavior)]

I like to argue but I wouldn't say I'm cynical. I'm not a realist or an optimist either though honestly. I'm like the kind of person who realizes the negatives, but doesn't necessarily believe them. As in I don't generally think things will go wrong, but at the front of my mind is always the "but what if..."

[chef17]

Please explain how disagreeing with a definition makes someone a cynic

[carolina-chuck]

I guess with that then I'm a cynic. But I def don't enjoy arguing. I give my opinion about the flaws and only in a forum will one get eaten by a pack of realist huddlers.

[top dawg]

I am a realist who reserves the right to be cynical, especially when history, truth,  and/or the reality of a situation compels me to speak out and/or act against injustice and/or unbridled negativity.  

 

:sword:

 

Edit: Some people label others cynics as a means to justify the status quo, lull them into a state of apathy, or manipulate others to keep their opinions to themselves (which is basically a means of control and/or peer pressure).

[IGSaint]

I'd rather be an optimist. I hate pessimism.

[KJ89]

I guess with that then I'm a cynic. But I def don't enjoy arguing. I give my opinion about the flaws and only in a forum will one get eaten by a pack of realist huddlers.

It doesn't help that your opinions suck.

[panthers55]

More realist than cynic.  However I tend to become argumentative when I see something I think is unjust.  Especially the cherry picking of stats, articles, pictures and videos.

 

 

 

Now I'm thinking does this post make you a cynic because you believe argumentative people must be cynics? Or are you just a realist for pointing it out?  Or maybe because you are a cynic that you think other cynics are at fault?  Hmmm..

 

 

Does the fact that I question your post make me a cynic?  Or am I a realist because I'm pointing it out? 

 

 

Or just maybe it's 1am, and I'm kind of high an am thinking about this too much..........

As I said at the end of the postnmost folks are not 100% one way or the other butthey tend to be more one than the other. Questioning the validity of the article makes you a cynic. On the other hand being cynically at times keeps you from being gullible. The realnissue is do you question everything and enjoy pointing out the negatives or are you generally an accepting person who sometimes goes contrarian

[panthers55]

I'd rather be an optimist. I hate pessimism.

Optimists tend to be realists.

[panthers55]

I am a realist who reserves the right to be cynical, especially when history, truth,  and/or the reality of a situation compels me to speak out and/or act against injustice and/or unbridled negativity.  

 

:sword:

 

Edit: Some people label others cynics as a means to justify the status quo, lull them into a state of apathy, or manipulate others to keep their opinions to themselves (which is basically a means of control and/or peer pressure).

No you are not a realist by the definition above. You by the very nature of what you wrote you are a cynic.

[panthers55]

I guess with that then I'm a cynic. But I def don't enjoy arguing. I give my opinion about the flaws and only in a forum will one get eaten by a pack of realist huddlers.

You guess you are a cynic but you don't like to argue????