Are you a cynic or an idealist?

[Swede]

Poll question: Are you a cynic or an idealist?

On a scale of one to ten. I suppose a cynic would call an idealist naive. Not sure what an idealist would call a cynic.

[Forkboy]

1. Each causes the other in me.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Neither. I'm a Realist.

Still idealistic, but understand limits.

[Swede]

3. That would be a 5 on my poll?

Just asking.

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Not certain it can be measured by gradations of two standards.

I'm not necessarily cynical when I know I/we can only go so far.

[Posteritatis]

4. I'd always found it telling that there is no antonym to "cynic" that isn't some kind of insult

At least these days. Idealist, naive, optimist, pollyanna, whatever, they all carry "your thinking is bad" overtones. It bothers me.

[ixion]

5. I am a cynical idealist.

:evilgrin:

[Warpy]

10. That would be me

I'm always tilting at windmills but realistic enough that I don't expect anyone else to join me but delighted when they do.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. In my youth,

back in the Dark Ages, I was very much an idealist. These days I'm as cynical as they come.

[KansDem]

8. You and me both...

There's something about age and experience that enables us to metamorphosize...

[TheKentuckian]

9. I took #5 or in other words-Yes

I give everyone enough rope to hang themselves, hope they don't use it that way, but often expect them to.

[dorkulon]

11. A cynic is just an idealist who pays attention for a few years.

The worst cynics start out as the most hopeful idealists.

BTW, an idealist would call a cynic "a cynic." A cynic would call himself a realist.

[Fresh_Start]

12. I've thought that cynics were disillusioned idealists

counting myself as one with that history.

[TexasObserver]

13. I believe in using carrots, but I can't help it that some people don't like carrots.

Sometimes you have to kick some ass.

I'm a cynic when it's deserved, an idealist when I can afford to be.

[Land Shark]

14. Cynics are hurt idealists who protect themselves by KNOWING instantly how it'll go...

This "knowing" attitude is a protective shell that keeps them from getting hurt again, protects them from involvement via responding to the needs or calls of others, and yet also allows them to have it both ways because by saying, e.g. "everyone's corrupt" it implies the ideal that one ought not be corrupt, while also adding the knowing fatalistic touch above as a protective measure. It's clear that this "knowing" attitude exists with cynics, and that since it is typically immediate it is not possible for it to be based on any real investigation in most cases.

cynics can be perceived as cool because they "know" so much, especially if they can combine the knowing attitude with some actual information that's part of the picture.

Basically I think the Beatles were in part singing about cynics in Let It Be, when they sang

When all the broken-hearted people, living in the world agree
There will be an answer, Let it Be.