Is it better to be a delusional optimist or knowledgeable pessimist?

Question

kpk02: Awww, you don't want to play along? ;-( :-(.

Agreed, though. Much better to be realistic as well as open-minded...I think.

Answer 1

We wouldn't have all the material things, technology, etc. if it weren't for the delusional optimists known as inventors.  Henry Ford just knew his 8 cylinder engine was possible even though his team kept telling him it couldn't be done and I'm sure they thought he was pretty delusionally optimistic.  He was right though and his knowledgeably pessimistic team kept working with him in spite of their negative thoughts and lo and behold they created that 8 cylinder engine!

So I think it's better to be a delusional optimist.

Answer 2

be yourself.

love

Pluto

Answer 3

Neither. It's better to remain open-minded as you approach each situation.

Answer 4

Well, I can assure you that a delusional optimist has a lot more fun, so that's what is better. A knowledgeable pessimist would be such a bore.

Answer 5

Delusional optimist, at least I would feel good.

Answer 6

I have found that incompetence is far more destructive, but incompetence may present positively and negatively. I see the full half in a half full glass.

Answer 7

Don't be either, be an optimistic realist! There is good and bad every where we look, so really it is delusional to be a complete optimist or pessimist. We need to look on the bright side, I totally agree with that, because if we don't we could never be happy, but we also need to acknowledge that there are bad things, or else they will never get changed.

I heard a story, I can't remember where, by a man who was in a prison in Vietnam during the Vietnamese War. It was an absolutely terrible place to be, they were not fed properly, they were harassed and sometimes even tortured, they had no idea when they would get out. It was very easy simply to give in and die. The man said that there were three kinds of people. The pessimists didn't survive very long at all because all they could see was what was wrong. The optimists lasted a bit longer, but eventually they gave in too because they were constantly thinking they would get out soon and constantly being disappointed. The ones who survived were th realists. They acknowledged their situation for what it was and didn't have false hope, but they did keep their minds set on the good in their situation.

I think this story is a good example (even if it is extreme) of why it is important to take a realistic view of our lives and the world, yet to still keep our hope, because that is our motivator to keep going. Without seeing the bad, we don't know what needs to be changed, and without seeing the good, we don't see that we can change it.

In answer to your question, though, I think a delusional optimist would be much happier than a knowledgable pessimist, although if they really were knowledgable they would be a realist anyway.