optimism groovinkim "optimism is a strategy for building a better future. because unless you believe that the future can be better, it is unlikely that you will step up and take responsibility for making it so. if you assume that there is no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope. if you assume that there is an instinct for freedom, opportunities to change things, there is a chance you may contribute to making a better world. the choice is yours." - Noam Chomsky 990618 ... decoy "The optimist expects the glass to be full, and is disapointed when he discovers the truth. The pessimist expects the glass to be empty, and is pleasantly suprised." -Slim Moon 000123 ... Quiggz Actually, the pessimist whines about it. And the optimist whines about it too. I say, "The Glass Doesn't Exist" 010105 ... ShaggyMaster well actually.........why do people use the GLASS?......because your not supposed to throw stones at people in glass houses. But if the glass does not exist then you would be able to pelt the person with stones......... 010105 ... melvinwang What's optimism? said Cacambo. Alas, said Candide, it is a mania for saying things are well when one is in hell. from Candide, chapter 19 010506 ... m_e for everything i will miss, i will gain something else 010506 ... m_e ok, so i know that i have been gone for quite some time now, but i just don't know what to say. should i say, i miss you guys but i'm really having a fantastic time here, or do i simply tell you the truth: this is awful, wasting an entire summer working and having fun with no one because everyone within a thirty mile radius is either a raging alcoholic or a geeky reddneck (pun intended). i'm attempting to take this opportunity to relax and spend time with my family, but, i promise, that gets old after a few days, let alone the next nine weeks! i cannot wait to go to school and meet decent people. i miss merryland. 010623 ... unhinged what's the use? i mean honestly.... 010623 ... birdmad naivete 010623 ... dB I agree with unhinged. I mean, what IS the point? When you get right down to it, what is the point? I don't want to be sounding heavy or nuthin' but what is the point. 010624 ... yoink when you mix the letters around you get: impotism 010624 ... burden Mimi Pots. I stomp 'im. 010624 ... yoink Stop Mimi!!! 010624 ... Alexander Beetle The 'glass' is made of plastic, you fool. 011029 ... unhinged maybe when i find my way out of here...wait. remember what that did to you the last time? 011112 ... Flowers from Safeway This is the written form of my audioblathe: http://www.geocities.com/safewayflowers/optimism.WMA Sometimes it's awfully hard to stay optimistic. When you have accepted so many karmic kicks to the face, it's all too tempting to point your fist skyward and call out WHY!!?!? Why? Why me? Of course you realize you're not being singled out, and that everyone gets dumped on now and then, but that's what depression does. It makes you feel alone. It makes you feel that no one has ever had it so hard, and it will never get any better. I've always relied on optimism and self-esteem to get me through my depression. I'd say to myself "things will be better soon," or "I can get through this because I'm strong!" I don't know how much this helped, but it's better than listening to the other voice... The one that calls me worthless and stupid and a waste of space. But now I find my optimism slipping. If I lose that, I have no other voice to listen to. It's just me against despair. Like fighting a fire-breathing dragon armed only with a toothpick. If that happens, if I lose my optimism, what will get me out of bed? And then what will get me out the door? And then what will stop me from yelling at every single person that walks by? HEY!!! WIPE THAT FUCKING SMILE OFF YOUR FACE!!!! I can't do that! It's impolite. So the only thing left to do is to try to stay optimistic about my optimism. I don't know if this self-perpetuating theory will pan out. But if I lose my optimism, all bets are off. 030922 ... Bespeckled I enjoyed the audio blathe even more than the written one. Your voice made me smile (even though it wasn't meant for me. I couldn't help it) 030922 ... silentlybroken the audio blather put a whole new perspective on what you had articulated. I enjoyed it very much. Thank you. 031215 ... optimistic realist 040131 ... dudeinanigloo An optimist would say that the glass is half full. A pessimist would say that it is half empty. A peace activist would say that the two halves need to work out their differences, and share the space equally. 040426 ... kookaburra a selfish person (such as myself) just drinks the damn juice, regardless of the peace process going on 040426 ... kookaburra however, i am optimistic when things go well... 040426 ... dudeinanigloo If I wanted to be completely "politically correct," I would say that the water molecules occupy exactly 50% of the glass's volume, and the oxygen/nitrogen/carbon dioxide/methane/argon/neon... etc. molecules occupy the other 50%. 040428 ... dudeinanigloo But then one would say that the two halves are resisting contact, and that the methane, argon, neon, and carbon dioxide are being under-represented. If you wanted to compare this to the modern world, nitrogen would be the United States, and oxygen would be Canada. 040428 ... kookaburra ooh! can i be a lead molecule? we get a ton of those in our water in dc... 040428 ... Smurf My water is pure, god I hate the country 040429 ... realistic optimist to the water in the glass analogy, again i say it is well balanced. 040429 ... dudeinanigloo Lead molecules are SOLID, but sure, whatever floats your boat, kookaburra. 040501 ... gja Someone up above (up the page that is) said naivety - as if it equates. Tonight, here, it is palpable. Leftists - nay centrists - won the election. For this time - at least - people are happy to hope again. Hope. 071130 what's it to you? who go blather from