The Optimist

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

snip......while others who see mainly bad things in life will act upon that as well and usually not see the point of being good because they see the world as bad already.

Nonsense, pessimists would not be pessimists, if they didn't know the value of being good. They are guarded, cautious and more careful, not bad.

[Perry Winkle]

I think I could best be described as a realist with mild optimistic and weak (classical or pseudo) cynical tendencies, with occasional bouts of idealism.

Optimism can be a shield or a blinder. You can use it to protect yourself so you can continue to do good, difficult work or you can use it hide dark realities from yourself. The shield vs. blinder outcome is probably somewhat based on how strongly idealistic or realistic one is.

If you're optimistic and realistic, your optimism will likely be a strength, whereas optimistim and idealism will likely blind you to the places where ideals don't and can't match reality.

Also, I think these dimensions of mind-frame are influenced by context and personal proclivity. Maybe they can be thought of as two functionally related axes that color a person's cognitive frame.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Nonsense, pessimists would not be pessimists, if they didn't know the value of being good. They are guarded, cautious and more careful, not bad.

Hmmm...you are right. I was thinking of a stereotypical definition at the time.

Originally Posted by Perry Winkle

If you're optimistic and realistic, your optimism will likely be a strength, whereas optimistim and idealism will likely blind you to the places where ideals don't and can't match reality.

Very good take.