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Pessimism vs optimism and ASD

Trainspotter

Hi all

This is a bit of a rant and it is not referring to Pessimism to the extent that it causes great anxiety, but to the pessimistic vs optimistic character.

I am constantly labelled a "Pessimist".  I prefer the term "Realist"  Constantly having people supposedly jolly all the time around me I can find annoying. 

I hate this 'glass half empty' thing.  I have told people when they say I'm the 'half empty' person that it depends whether the glass is being emptied or filled..  Example: Do you want a top up.  Answer: No, my glass is only half empty.  That to me is not being negative.  However, if the glass has just been poured and stopped before it is filled:  Why is my glass  only half full? That to me is a negative.

Imagine a news story: "Good news, there was a very bad train crash today but only five people were killed!"  People would be horrified at the insensitivity of that, yet it is the 'optimistic' point of view as many more could have met their demise.

I'm sure there are 'optimistic' people with ASD as well as pessimistic ones.  But why do people insist on putting labels on people and then using it as criticism.  We are what we are!  Some of us try to consider that there may be a downside to some things instead of 'everything will turn out ok'.  Considering that there may be a downside is surely better than being led down an alley with no thought as to what awaits you at the end. 

My 'pessimism' is me and no amount of negative criticism from optimistic people will stop it or 'cure' it!

Parents

  • All this seems to show that it is not a given situation that is good or bad but how it is managed.

    It seems hard to imagine what it's like to be without modern conveniences such as vacuum cleaners, fridges, washing machines and the like, yet not so long ago many people did not enjoy the benefits of these things but, nevertheless, got on happily enough with their lives because they had to accept the way things were.

    When I was a kid I remember playing tennis in the road using imagination to create a 'net' and a 'court'. The same thing with football: all you did was use some coats for 'goalposts and got on with it. In a way, modern devices have deprived kids and adults alike of having to use their imagination in a creative way because it's all done for them and I sometimes wonder whether this has led to a dissatisfaction with life because we have been given everything and not had to 'make do' and 'pretend' which can be as enjoyable and satisfying as being provided with every convenience.

    This might feed into the discussion about optimism/pessimism in that we expect other people to provide our needs instead of having to provide them ourselves and tend to become a bit defeatist and pessimistic about things when we find we are on our own and have to 'do it ourselves'.

Reply

  • All this seems to show that it is not a given situation that is good or bad but how it is managed.

    It seems hard to imagine what it's like to be without modern conveniences such as vacuum cleaners, fridges, washing machines and the like, yet not so long ago many people did not enjoy the benefits of these things but, nevertheless, got on happily enough with their lives because they had to accept the way things were.

    When I was a kid I remember playing tennis in the road using imagination to create a 'net' and a 'court'. The same thing with football: all you did was use some coats for 'goalposts and got on with it. In a way, modern devices have deprived kids and adults alike of having to use their imagination in a creative way because it's all done for them and I sometimes wonder whether this has led to a dissatisfaction with life because we have been given everything and not had to 'make do' and 'pretend' which can be as enjoyable and satisfying as being provided with every convenience.

    This might feed into the discussion about optimism/pessimism in that we expect other people to provide our needs instead of having to provide them ourselves and tend to become a bit defeatist and pessimistic about things when we find we are on our own and have to 'do it ourselves'.

Children
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