Points of Interest, 5/9

So I started last week with the resolve that I will not post any further Points of Interest until it naturally fills itself with all categories. I refuse to dig for the treasure I share, but will give freely of my abundance. This will assure that reports of my romp through cyberspace will remain a labor of love and not simply labor. The odd thing is, this post wrote itself, and a day early. Sticking to my guidelines, here is the no longer weekly, but however long it takes to have the goods to share version of my points of interest, coming in just six days.

Optimism vs. Cynicism, which is more untrue?

The classic differentiator between optimism and cynicism is the half glass of water. It takes a neutral fact and adds a judgement that tells us much about the observers life view, half empty or half full. I think it is possible for either view to overstep its bounds, be it Pollyanna type platitudes or cynical misrepresentations of the motivations of others leading to prejudice and division. One popular truism in the cynical worldview is that it is the same people doing both, that the dreamer is always destined to become the cynic. I do believe this is a possibility and a danger, but I question the underlying assumption. Are optimists just fooling themselves? Do they become cynical when they face up to the truth? There is a certain school of thought, ascribing cynicism to realism with a certain self righteousness about “keeping it real.” Is this valid?