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monkeylogic42 t1_j2sx9za wrote

Reply to comment by Wilddog73 in Look on the dark side | We must keep the flame of pessimism burning: it is a virtue for our deeply troubled times, when crude optimism is a vice by ADefiniteDescription

Nice, the strawman I predicted you would pull from your back pocket!

How about just admitting that optimism isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread and an acknowledgement that it's not the best way to go about dealing in the world? That's all you have to do, but nah, you look at where all the ambitious optimism has us and decide we need more! Lol....

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Wilddog73 t1_j2syn8a wrote

Blind faith/"toxic optimism" is bad, but so is full-on pessimism.

Realistic optimism seems more like what we should push for, since we know that there's a level of optimism that does well by us before it gets to that point.

Since you think I'm strawmanning, then it's clear you believe I'm arguing in bad faith. I guess I should leave it at this then, unless you wanna try and explain how the heck I was strawmanning... I mean, would you buy a product on amazon with no or terrible reviews?

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monkeylogic42 t1_j2t0tr3 wrote

I do not consult Amazon reviews at all, theyre not verifiable. Realistic optimism isn't a thing. It's just optimism. It's often used like faith, as belief that the best outcome will prevail without evidence. Demonstrate a reason for optimism and we can talk, but declaring now the time for optimism after optimism is what got us to this point is silly. Like I said in the beginning, general optimism is weaponizing you against your own self interest.

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Wilddog73 t1_j2t5qvl wrote

>Demonstrate a reason for optimism and we can talk

Sure! When I've failed at something and then done some preparation to raise my chances at success, I feel optimistic that it'll work when I try again!

And it's a realistic optimism, tempered by the lessons of my failure! So it is a thing.

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>I do not consult Amazon reviews at all, theyre not verifiable.

So you just don't consult any reviews on the internet? That's pretty pessimistic.

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monkeylogic42 t1_j2tals7 wrote

>Sure! When I've failed at something and then done some preparation to raise my chances at success, I feel optimistic that it'll work when I try again!

We haven't even begun to try to change the system, and we have been told for a century that the world is going to choke to death if we keep doing what we're doing. The optimism of the world is just kicking the can down the road.

>So you just don't consult any reviews on the internet? That's pretty pessimistic.

Another demonstration of your bad faith argumentation. I said Amazon, cause reviews are bought and merchandise is fraudulent often. I don't buy anything of consequence from Amazon.

This is the best optimism has to offer? Deceit for the sake of feeling good for another short while until reality calls you back to the fact the world is dying?

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Wilddog73 t1_j2tb25g wrote

You want bad faith argumentation, you didn't even really answer me.

Just as I said, full-on pessimism just leads to an excess of political activist/dismissive dunderhead types.

If you can't even tell the difference between real and fake reviews, you've got a lot of learning to do before you've earned the right to be pessimistic.

Goodbye.

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monkeylogic42 t1_j2tbnww wrote

And lol that you think wasting time deciphering Amazon reviews makes you special.

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Wilddog73 t1_j2tcetd wrote

This is so sad. No, I'm just experienced.

Get your head out of your ass and grow up, do some things with your life before you latch on to some weird ideology. You're just being a weird fanatic at this point.

Not meant to be an insult, just concerned advice.

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monkeylogic42 t1_j2teq60 wrote

Lol. It's easier to con a man than to convince him he's been conned. Sounds like you've latched on to the weird ideology as you want to trust Amazon. It takes being a weird fanatic to bring change, keep being an experienced consumer tho. That's dope.

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monkeylogic42 t1_j2tbi9u wrote

You asked a question that doesn't really have an answer. Like a believer saying well you don't know what caused the big bang so despite the evidence I believe the (insert specific God claim here) did it!

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Trumpfreeaccount t1_j2tod1r wrote

Or maybe, hopeful pessimism? Really seems like you didn't read the article.

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Wilddog73 t1_j2tpmqb wrote

If you've read it, then you could surely differentiate the article's hopeful pessimism from my "realistic optimism".

Well? What's the difference?

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