Do you ever get sick of cynics/misanthropes?

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Sweetleaf
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03 May 2012, 10:10 pm

Declension wrote:

I strongly dislike a certain type of cynic, which I might call the "George Carlin" type since they all seem to worship George Carlin. These people are just intellectually lazy. They have an unshakeable conviction that they can see through the lies and that everyone else is an ignorant sheep. But when you actually talk to them about the important questions, you discover that they are extremely misinformed about most topics.

According to the definition I don't see how George Carlin or people who like that sort of humour are cynics. It's satirical, people like me think its funny that a lot of people miss the point being made because they take it too seriously. I mean there are bands like this that people get offended by when they are just being satirical. I mean George Carlin probably did not really hate everyone anymore than the members of death metal bands actually brutally murder people, its not for serious.

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abacacus
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03 May 2012, 10:13 pm

donnie_darko wrote:

I guess the reason cynics and misanthropes annoy me is because I think their pessimism is limiting to our species. Like the more cynics there are, the less chance there is at disarmament, or conquering disease, or a variety of problems we could solve if we were a bit more idealistic.

Reality means more than ideals ever will. If reality doesn't fit the ideals, that's tough s**t for idealists.

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Subotai
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03 May 2012, 11:11 pm

UnLoser wrote:

I strongly agree with pretty much everything CrazyCatLord has posted in this thread.

I think what people call cynicism is really just a realistic, neutral viewpoint about the world; seeing things for what they are, not affected by the irrational optimism that most people have. And I don't think cynics hold back positive change either, or at least not all of them.

I strongly agree with pretty much everything posted by CrazyCatLord period

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Subotai
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03 May 2012, 11:15 pm

abacacus wrote:

donnie_darko wrote:

Reality means more than ideals ever will. If reality doesn't fit the ideals, that's tough sh** for idealists.

And what`s more, I feel if we can accept reality for what it is and try to understand it fearlessly we see it`s true raw beauty.

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edgewaters
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03 May 2012, 11:16 pm

abacacus wrote:

Reality means more than ideals ever will. If reality doesn't fit the ideals, that's tough sh** for idealists.

Idealists have been changing reality since forever (not always for the best, either).

Subotai
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03 May 2012, 11:19 pm

edgewaters wrote:

abacacus wrote:

Reality means more than ideals ever will. If reality doesn't fit the ideals, that's tough sh** for idealists.

Idealists have been changing reality since forever (not always for the best, either).

Good point. Idealists are an engine of social change.

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abacacus
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03 May 2012, 11:19 pm

edgewaters wrote:

abacacus wrote:

Reality means more than ideals ever will. If reality doesn't fit the ideals, that's tough sh** for idealists.

Idealists have been changing reality since forever (not always for the best, either).

Only to an extent. An idealist can not change human nature, and human nature is not a pleasant thing.

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Subotai
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03 May 2012, 11:21 pm

abacacus wrote:

edgewaters wrote:

abacacus wrote:

Reality means more than ideals ever will. If reality doesn't fit the ideals, that's tough sh** for idealists.

Idealists have been changing reality since forever (not always for the best, either).

Only to an extent. An idealist can not change human nature, and human nature is not a pleasant thing.

I look at human nature as an extension of the nature of life, choking out the competition to reach the sunlight.
Our core selfishness is a symptom of the driving force behind evolution.

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Vigilans
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03 May 2012, 11:25 pm

Cynicism? That sounds f*cking pointless

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abacacus
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03 May 2012, 11:25 pm

Subotai wrote:

abacacus wrote:

edgewaters wrote:

abacacus wrote:

Reality means more than ideals ever will. If reality doesn't fit the ideals, that's tough sh** for idealists.

Idealists have been changing reality since forever (not always for the best, either).

Only to an extent. An idealist can not change human nature, and human nature is not a pleasant thing.

I look at human nature as an extension of the nature of life, choking out the competition to reach the sunlight.
Our core selfishness is a symptom of the driving force behind evolution.

Precisely. Our drive to survive, at any cost. Human kinds only advantages where intelligence, and a RIDICULOUS amount of tenacity. As a species, we never give up without a fight.

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johansen
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03 May 2012, 11:33 pm

donnie_darko wrote:

SpiritBlooms wrote:

You know, I can think of at least one instance of idealism causing trouble. The paperless credit default swap was voted for in Congress by politicians who never dreamed it would wind up paralyzing our credit system and causing a global economic collapse. Maybe they should have seen that, and if they'd been more cynical and even misanthropic they wouldn't have let that happen. But then maybe I'm an idealist for thinking they had good intentions.

Not an idealist for thinking they had good intentions, a typical skeptic.

or maybe they knew exactly what they were doing.

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