Is optimism foolish? I think I found one who said so. It was quite discouraging.
they're depressed.
there's a really awesome link that i *think* happypuppy posted to an nlp write-up on meta-programs. one of them was "away from" vs "toward." it's the best definition of optimism i've ever seen.
away from is this negative consequence program. you sort according to what could go wrong, what obstacles are in the way, what you don't want to happen, etc.
toward is the opposite. you have a goal in mind. you are moving toward the object of desire. you sort for positive outcomes rather than negative ones.
the advantage of toward as a general outlook, to me, seems well-documented. at least in the sense that you'll be happier. you should thank the away from folks who, rather than just getting you down, deal with some of the shit/contradictions/refuse that you don't want to deal with. at the same time, both perspectives are absolutely necessary for accurate cost-analysis. for implementation. for predictive success (which is the best definition for intelligence, why understanding is important, and ultimately what the brain does). as an extremely slanted away from person, my two favorite friends are an entp and an enfp. the air feels lighter and is easier to breathe. possibilities fall like snowflakes. it's very cooling and comforting. i believe in the future. spring will come, etc.
away from is critique. identifying problems. toward is creativity. moving past them.