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One of the first things I learned at college was that nothing is as simple as mathematics and code. You can look at the same problem and come up with many different ways of seeing it. (The trick to amazingly good communication is to first understand the other person's mental model, then use that to convey what you think.)
Here, we're bantering around the definition of a couple of words. You can argue that the definition is one thing or the other, and really, it will be hard to say that anyone won the argument. On the other hand, the information that I'm trying to convey by my argument is not *really* what the definition of "optimist" or "pessimist" is. It probably boils down to a discussion of what can make us happy in our lives.
If we expect nothing, and appreciate everything (ok, that's probably a bit overboard), then every breath of air is a gift, every moment of life is precious, every spoonful of ice cream is wonderful. I do understand that in some ways of defining it, "Expect Nothing" = Pessimist, and "Expect Everything" = Optimist. Again, the irony. We also think of Optimists as been cheerful and happy, and Pessimists as being glum and morose. So we get to the crux of the issue. I would suggest that those who people typically perceive as Optimistic are actually people who expect little, and revel in the joy of getting more than they expect, while those who are typically perceived as pessimists are actually people who come into any situation expecting everything, and who are inevitably disappointed.
Ultimately, I would suggest that optimism and pessimism are probably best described as emotional states rather than as people who state (respectively) expectations of more or less. Hence the suggestion that those who are happy to see a glass half full probably didn't expect it at all, while those who see the glass half empty are bummed because they went into it with the expectation that if the world were "right", the damn glass would have come to them already full.
Anyway, it's a joy to chat with you about this
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Thanks for the elaboration and your time
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As an engineer I can state confidently: the glass is neither half full nor half empty, it is twice as big as it needs to be.
------------------<;,><-------------------
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I am surprised that results are not Gauss Bell like. We are statistically odd...
36. When you surround an army, leave an outlet free.
...
Do not press a desperate foe too hard.
SUN-TZU - Art of War
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Don't worry, after Professor Maunder normalizes the voting results only a couple of CP'ians will be getting A's and the remaining results will create a nice bell curve.
All of my software is powered by a single Watt.
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??? It's a skewed distribution. Where's the surprise in that? On what premise should it be a normal distribution?
Peter Wasser
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I care not for calendars. One day at a time.
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That's soooo yesterday!
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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I dont feel optimistic since the world war 3 is coming this year.
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I do hope Iran are not the instigators.
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Iran should not be harassed
Iran's pro-peace but now Iran is very very powerful and can easily protect himself
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Mohammad Masood Ashrafi wrote: Iran is very very powerful and can easily protect himself
Nothing a bucket of sun can't sort out.
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Mohammad Masood Ashrafi wrote: Iran should not be harassed
Iran's pro-peace but now Iran is very very powerful and can easily protect himself
Whatever it is you're drinking, where can we get some?
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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He is drinking your evil blood.
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My oh my - so touchy!
I didn't realize you and he were dating. You're right, Of course: I should have guessed!
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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North Korea bombs South Korea, US bring in the big guns, China steps in and...
That's when the fight starts.
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Oh yeah its sad when we polute planet earth, oh yeah a population thinner may do this world some good.
Not that I'm an advocate for war but let this year make all people realise what our earth provides we should respect.
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Norm .net wrote: That's when the fight starts
... and ends the world on 21st Dec this year?
Why are you talking like that?
..Go Green..
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Because itstime the human race needs to wake up to reality, we can't go on over populating and destroying this beautful planet.
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I once saw a bumper sticker that said, "Save the Earth, kill yourself!"
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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Have a war to control population - brilliant.
Peter Wasser
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Norm .net wrote: we can't go on over populating and destroying this beautful planet.
And you think a war won't destroy this planet?
..Go Green..
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Norm .net wrote: we can't go on over populating
Do I take it that you are volunteering ? ?
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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