RoR: Forum

This is so true and it is painful for me to admit how long it took to discover this.

Post 1

Wednesday, March 2, 2005 - 6:26pm

Very true! Reminds me of the quotation -- was it Rand's? -- to the effect that "There's nothing so impractical as a cynic."

Does that ring a bell, anyone? If so, the source, please?

Post 2

Wednesday, March 2, 2005 - 6:40pm

It was that there is nothing so naive as cynicism, and Nathaniel Branden said it on one of his Academic Associates albums.

Post 3

Wednesday, March 2, 2005 - 6:32pm

I'm pretty sure Rand said, "I'm not brave enough to be a coward, I see to clearly the consequences."

Post 4

Wednesday, March 2, 2005 - 11:40pm

I think cynicism is often the result of shame one feels towards ones own sentimentality. If you are very moved by something (it brings a tear to the eye)and then try to suppress the feeling as being ridiculous and soft then cynicism can be a way of disguising the emotions.
In England this has been refined over hundreds of years of "stiff upper lip".
We tend to think of Americans as being more emotionally expressive. One reason for Tony Blair's success has been his ability to avoid expressing this cynicism visibly as opposed to the negative and pessimistic Tory attitude.
Post modernism is essentially cynicism made into a philosophy of life.

Post 5

Thursday, March 3, 2005 - 2:50am

Americans are said to be more emotionally expressive? What about Spanish or Brazilians in that regard?

When I was in Ithaca (f.e.), I found it rather boring and not very emotional at all. There were those middle-class families (I lived there as an au-pair during an exchange) that rather suppressed all their feelings than to live them. I felt that their son wanted to talk, but couldn't because he was expected to function.
I thought it more an illusion of a perfect world, than one where you could express all your emotions.
But perhaps I just chose the wrong neighbourhood ;)

Post 6

Saturday, April 9, 2005 - 3:53pm

Isn't cynicism basically past experience fostering the presumption that YOU will oppose me in all things, as you always have? Doesn't this foreknowledge arm me, against you, in my pursuit of my needs and greeds? Is it possible for a little negative to balance the positive possibly a good thing? Is there any chance that not all the answers are text book nor in your possession? But, yes, I agree Machismo may be an expression of Cowardice.

Post 7

Saturday, April 9, 2005 - 9:42pm

Bruce,

Cynicism may be a result of past experience, but it's a false generalization based on that experience. It basically says "this isn't possible, because I failed before" or "this isn't possible, because no one's succeeded before." Both forms of cynicism are false generalizations.

As far as the thrust of your questions, I'd like to ask: Exactly who is "you"? If your question is, "Isn't cynicism the idea that one will always be opposed in one's endeavors", then the answer is yes, it can be; but are you saying such an attitude is a successful one that will foster achievement? Sometimes there is opposition, yes, but the question should be "Of what importance do I consider this opposition?"

As far as 'a little negative balancing the positive', I'd offer these two thoughts: 1) Do you mix a little ground-up glass in your food? After all, that would be negative, so why not balance the good (a healthy meal) with the bad (a lethal ingredient)? But that's the physical and you're talking about ideas, which are immaterial? Why is spiritual poison to be taken any less seriously than physical poison?

2) I'm not an optimist or a pessimist. I see neither a glass half empty nor a glass half full. I see a glass of water. I'm a realist. It is what it is.

Jason

Post 8

Sunday, April 10, 2005 - 7:34am