I see. Typically, when you say "this thing" you're referring to the most recent mention of that thing. So "Here's my article. This article is fabulous." is probably not the structure you want. You really should reference the paper or the researchers you're writing about straight away, if that's what you're doing here. Even after skimming your article, that isn't clear.

It's a cautionary tale about "this" really. A tip that has helped my writing is to accumulate a list of words that I tend to over-use that add nothing and search for them in the editing process. Words like "this, really, just, again," and so on.

Calling your own work 'fabulous' is a little unusual.

It's not remotely denialism and it's not at all hiding. Activists are by their nature optimists because they believe change is possible.

But it's only a contradiction if it's saying that extremist version. Unless I claimed that everyone was a pessimist, and only optimists can make progress, then noting that progress has been made isn't a contradiction.

You are reading my comment as saying that 100% of everyone thought it was the end times and also that 100% of all progress is made by optimists. That's not what I think and any person making any kind of attempt at a generous reading would never assume that's what I think.

I'm saying that the person claiming that all of human history was marked by prevalent, toxic optimism is incorrect. That's not the case. Historically, cynicism has always been extremely popular. I'm also claiming that optimists are generally more effective and bringing about progress.

No, that would be a weird over-generalization. I'm just contesting the idea that history was defined by broad optimism, or that optimism has been a constantly, hugely popular position for people right up until the present moment. That's false.

And I'm also saying there's value in optimism.

It's pretty simple. There have always been optimists, and cynicism has always been popular.

Nonsense. Humans have been convinced they are living in the end times at every point in history. Doom and gloom has always been the popular stance.

If people don't believe progress is possible, they won't work towards it.