NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13176767

It has been known for a long time that optimists see the world selectively, mentally processing positive things while ignoring negative ones, and that this outlook helps determine their health and well-being.[...]

These individuals were biased towards positive images and away from negative ones. By contrast, those who had either a long and a short version of the gene, or two short versions (and thus, presumably, more serotonin in the junctions), did not have such protective biases. In other words, the optimists really did see the world differently.

Does this mean that optimists see the world falsely, and that it is as cocked-up we cynics believe?

wouldn't an optimistic scientist see the results he wants to see then?

paradox ahoy!

wouldn't an optimistic scientist see the results he wants to see then?

paradox ahoy!

An optimistic scientist would want to see results that indicated that optimists could cheer pessimists-up; alas, the tests show otherwise.

wouldn't an optimistic scientist see the results he wants to see then?

paradox ahoy!

You can't see what's not there. What he would do is put the best available spin on what he did see.

EDIT: You can't see what's not there, unless the drugs are areally good.

Yay they finally found the stupidity gene :D

An optimistic scientist would want to see results that indicated that optimists could cheer pessimists-up; alas, the tests show otherwise.

maybe hes an evil optimist?

You can't see what's not there.

creationists? (yes but I'm just saying)

maybe hes an evil optimist?

So he believes the world is wonderful, and enjoys it, then tries to ruin it?

So he believes the world is wonderful, and enjoys it, then tries to ruin it?

is an optimist who wants to see the world burn still an optimist?

i sure as hell don't have that gene :(
*grump grump grump*

is an optimist who wants to see the world burn still an optimist?

Does not the optimist already think the world is perfect and to his taste?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM7-tSJaIIw

i sure as hell don't have that gene :(
*grump grump grump*

just look on the bright side at least you can enjoy emo poems :p

Does not the optimist already think the world is perfect and to his taste?

maybe he really enjoys destruction? :p

but back to the topic isn't it rather pessimistic to view yourself as the defective one?

just look on the bright side at least you can enjoy emo poems :p

I cannot, so why can he?

maybe he really enjoys destruction? :p

Then he is not an optimist, because he sees the world as it really is.

but back to the topic isn't it rather pessimistic to view yourself as the defective one?

Defective is relative: according to the study, the optimism gene is excellent for one's health.

Great, now no one will want my genes. *grumbles*

Optimism and cynicisms are both equally bullshit.

Optimism and cynicisms are both equally bullshit.

Humans are motivated by the desire to do whatever makes them feel good.

At this time, no matter how fine the world is for you, there is unbelievable suffering in many countries that far outweighs the happiness elsewhere.

Evil, combined with intelligence, leads to extraordinary success.

This is not "bullshit".

there is unbelievable suffering in many countries that far outweighs the happiness elsewhere.


When you try to quantify this and make a judgement, it immediately becomes bullshit.

When you try to quantify this and make a judgement, it immediately becomes bullshit.

Many of the greatest and most intelligent persons of the world have done this; perhaps it is merely "bad" in the typical human frame work.

But this aside, you are guilty of the same crime you accuse others of, except you are just applying the opinion to philosophies rather than the world.

Then he is not an optimist, because he sees the world as it really is.

no he isn't stop being an angst ridden teenager

Defective is relative: according to the study, the optimism gene is excellent for one's health.

depends on how you look at it (heh) everyone knows being optimists is good for you

At this time, no matter how fine the world is for you, there is unbelievable suffering in many countries that far outweighs the happiness elsewhere.

suffering doesn't last you can't make people miserable all the time (like a plant cracking through concrete or something)

Many of the greatest and most intelligent persons of the world have done this; perhaps it is merely "bad" in the typical human frame work.


But not in a chest thumping "huurrr durrr look how realistic I am!!" kind of way.

no he isn't stop being an angst ridden teenager

I cannot say that the world is unpleasent?

depends on how you look at it (heh) everyone knows being optimists is good for you

Naturally you know of the saying "The only person who is truly happy is the village idiot".



suffering doesn't last you can't make people miserable all the time (like a plant cracking through concrete or something)

No, but they suffer most of the time. If happiness is 10% and misery is 90%, I would say things are lacking.

But not in a chest thumping "huurrr durrr look how realistic I am!!" kind of way.

What in hell are you talking about? I am merely noting that the world is wretched--is there someone wrong or "special" about that?

What in hell are you talking about? I am merely noting that the world is wretched--is there someone wrong or "special" about that?

If you base all of your opinions on this value judgement, then yes.

If you base all of your opinions on this value judgement, then yes.

My opinions are of the sort that favor making world less wretched. My judgments are of the sort that tend to excuse human faults.

I cannot say that the world is unpleasent?

someone once said to Voltaire, `Life is hard.' To which he replied:
'Compared with what?

^that^

No, but they suffer most of the time. If happiness is 10% and misery is 90%, I would say things are lacking.

but its not is it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satisfaction_with_Life_Index)

and things are getting better :) (http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/happiness-rising-around-world-16789.html)

but its not is it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satisfaction_with_Life_Index)


Fuck Denmark

someone once said to Voltaire, `Life is hard.' To which he replied:
'Compared with what?

^that^

"Hard" is not descriptive. Life does not contain much happiness, from 0% to 100%.



but its not is it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satisfaction_with_Life_Index)

It looks as if the red and orange outnumber the green and blue.

and things are getting better :) (http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/happiness-rising-around-world-16789.html)

It has been doing that for thousands of years--what is your point?

What about people who lean towards optimism but still realize people have the capability to fuck up anything that's going well? Do we have a gene that's 3/4 as large as the full-blown optimists? The last thing I need is a case of gene envy.

Fuck Denmark

clearly what the world needs is more Danish beer

"Hard" is not descriptive. Life does not contain much happiness, from 0% to 100%.

have you ever thought that you might have depression? hell leave me alone in a room with some toy cars and I'm perfectly capable of making my own happiness

maybe your just hard to please :tongue:

It looks as if the red and orange outnumber the green and blue.

O_o its mostly purple even with the size Russia to population

It has been doing that for thousands of years--what is your point?

every thing is gonna be alright? happiness is taking over the world?

soon we will live in a dystopian sociaty of happy people :eek:

Optimism and cynicisms are both equally bullshit.
Meh. Nobody is "purely" optimistic or pessimistic. Most people believe some combination of the two. I support whatever point of view advocates that sometimes things work out fine and sometimes they don't, rather than the points of view that claim things always work out fine, or things never do.


every thing is gonna be alright? happiness is taking over the world?

soon we will live in a dystopian sociaty of happy people :eek:

that would be an interesting society. probably without much relation to preexisting happy dystopias, i.e. "You are being happy now! This is an official statement from the Commissar of Public Happiness! Fail to be happy and you will be deported to work in the salt mines until you die! Also, the Party office is distributing free vodka. Sign up as a member to get it!"

have you ever thought that you might have depression? hell leave me alone in a room with some toy cars and I'm perfectly capable of making my own happiness

"What good intelligence if one cannot discover a useful melancholy?"

-Ryunosuke Akutagawa

maybe your just hard to please :tongue:

I am virtually impossible to please, though I am not going to flaunt my wrath because the world has failed to help; I am on mission to make my life as great as it can be.

O_o its mostly purple even with the size Russia to population

According the color index, purple does not count as happiness.

every thing is gonna be alright? happiness is taking over the world?

"Alright"? We are all going to die! so I suppose you are correct.

soon we will live in a dystopian sociaty of happy people :eek:

Alcohol has been called God's greatest gift to man by more than a few.

http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13176767



Does this mean that optimists see the world falsely, and that it is as cocked-up we cynics believe?

No, it just means that while optimists selectively see the positive, the cynic selectively sees the negative.

No, it just means that while optimists selectively see the positive, the cynic selectively sees the negative.

They do not mention a gene for cynicism--but let us not confuse it with pessimism, which does not have a gene, either.