Nor is optimism a sign of naiveté.
I find that there are a lot of people out there passing themselves off as brilliant and insightful simply by being cynical.
Cynicism is so seductive. It’s usually based on a really compelling story, a grand conspiracy theory, the dark side of human nature…
It takes great imagination to be cynical. I’ll give them that. But because one is able to imagine some fantastic alternate motive for an act of humanity or kindness does not make it true.
Isn’t it better to live in a world where you take people at their word and expect the best of them (and have the courage and self confidence to be wrong once in a while) than to live in a world where you want to be first to discover the nefarious motive for the very same act?
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Kerry Lauerman
Joan Walsh
Salon.com
Comments
No one chooses to be a cynic. Cynicism is thrust upon individuals and even entire social groups; it's the result of the pressure of social structures that move against mythology.
Gen X tends towards cynicism because the myth of the American dream directly contradicted the unstable post-industrial political economy. That's no conspiracy.
Though I believe there is more and more cause of cynicism in the world I do not believe it can be thrust upon individuals. Individuals can give in to it but they can also choose to be and think above it.
Optimists exist in places in the world whose lives are far more troubled than those of the Gen Xers.
The one thing I would say in defense is that you removed an essential element. I think the contradiction between how things are and how things are promised to be was the more important element of my point.
I suppose we will continue to disagree about whether cynicism is structural or subjective. However, I admire those who make the case for agency!