Cynics: what do they know?

[Macoy]

I've heard various descriptions of cynics:

'Always see the bad, never the good.'

'Scorn religion and religionists.'

'Seen it all and got the vinyl'.

If governments should want to rid the world of such, they should disband armies, and not supply support for the industrial-military complex (wherever based), acknowledge that western capitalism is facing it's greatest challenge ever, and see about deforestation, pollution, global warming, overpopulation, famine, pestilence, nuclear proliferation, poverty, equal opportunities, corruption, fascism, racism, religionism and others.

I am looking forward to the UN resolutions that are are going to set these balls in motion!

Cynicism is certainly not a route that I would like to head down.

[Limbo]

Cynics suck.

[krazyKemist]

I've heard various descriptions of cynics:

'Always see the bad, never the good.'

'Scorn religion and religionists.'

'Seen it all and got the vinyl'.

If governments should want to rid the world of such, they should disband armies, and not supply support for the industrial-military complex (wherever based), acknowledge that western capitalism is facing it's greatest challenge ever, and see about deforestation, pollution, global warming, overpopulation, famine, pestilence, nuclear proliferation, poverty, equal opportunities, corruption, fascism, racism, religionism and others.

I am looking forward to the UN resolutions that are are going to set these balls in motion!

Cynicism is certainly not a route that I would like to head down.

Cynisism suppose a certain level of (rather dark, true) humour. In a sense, when you're cynic about something you're laughing about something sad or unjust to avoid tears or rage. It is different from plain pessimism.

We had a humor band in my place long ago who called themselves "Les cyniques" (The Cynics). Their brand of humor was rather engaged, promoting the liberation of people from instutional state religion, changes in politics, putting value in our mother tongue (french:)), ect. using dark humor.

Of course people who'd like to impose their values or morals on society or are in power dislike cynics : they glaringly point out what's wrong with them in the most devastating way.

I think we need our cynics. The first step in correcting a wrong is being made aware of it in a way that we can't ignore, even if it has to be annoying. Doing away with them is doing away with your critics. It's a first step towards totalitarism.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

I have been accused many times in my life of being a cynic. From inside my head I can't evaluate whether this is really true or not.

However, being a cynic means that one is rarely disappointed about the outcome of an event and sometimes very pleasantly surprised. Keeps me going. :D

[Rasmus]

I'd reply, but what would be the point?

[Elizabeth I]

You would say that.

[Fnord]

I'd reply, but what would be the point?

That somewhere, somehow, someone might be interested in what you have to say ... not that it would actually make any difference, of course.

;)

[ServiceSoon]

I am not a cynic, I am a realist.

[Tsukasa Buddha]

It's weird how cynicism has diverged from it's definition in most conversational uses of the word.

Cynicism is the belief that everyone acts solely in their own self-interest, and there are no selfless acts.

People seem to confuse it with nihilism and apathy.

[Complexity]

I'm a cynic.

Thanks, TB.

[porch]

I am not a cynic, I am a realist.



Haha, the mark of the true cynic. Note that no optimist ever claims, "I'm not an optimist, I'm a realist."

[Apathia]

I'm a Cynic.

[JoeTheJuggler]

I'm a Cynic.
I was just about to note that there's a difference between being a cynic and being a Cynic.

[Complexity]

Cynics suck.


Yes, I do, and I used to be quite good at it.

[tuc0]

A cynic is a realist who doesn't like bad surprises.

[Hokulele]

Cynics suck.


... and naifs swallow.

[six7s]

...and woos blow

[Macoy]

I'm a Cynic.

That's fine, though I'm a little put off by having to live in a barrel and all that public masturbation.

[westprog]

Cynicism is certainly not a route that I would like to head down.


Me neither, but let's face it, cynics will always be around.

[Beerina]

I've heard various descriptions of cynics:

'Always see the bad, never the good.'

'Scorn religion and religionists.'

'Seen it all and got the vinyl'.


cynic : n Someone who sees the world as it is, not as they wish it to be. -- Ambrose Bierce, professional cynic and lexicographer



If governments should want to rid the world of such

Cynics? :)

[GreyICE]

Cynicism - the opinion that things have always been bad, things will always be bad, so the things I am doing to make the situation worse don't matter.

[Limbo]

Are there any skeptics around here that AREN'T cynics?

[Boo]

It would seem to me that the very nature of skepticism relies on an individual being cynical to a large degree.


The classical cynic was someone who scorned "modern" conveniences, mores and comforts along with the chase after social status and wealth. Instead they advocated a life closer to nature and self reliance. Much of the philosophy evolved into the stoic movement and ascetics, including early christians.

Today the definition of cynic is one who questions the motives of everyone. The popular perception is of someone who scorns the idea that people are actually altruistic and good for the sake of being good. Cynics see themselves as realists and often use sarcasm or irony to make their points.


If we accept that a cynic is someone who questions the veracity of everything looking for the ulterior motive then it could be said that it is a stepping stone on the path to critical thinking and skepticism. After a while it becomes not enough to question just the motive but the truth of a statement and how the information was obtained.


It's easy to see why many within the skeptical movement are perceived as cynics. Most people don't want to take off the rosy glasses and would prefer not to know that it's not cake under the icing. Because the truth is often dark cynics then become pessimists in the eyes of others, doing nothing but blaring 'doom and gloom'.


An optimist tells you the glass is half full. The pessimist says the glass is half empty. The cynic tells you that someone has been drinking out of your glass.



Boo

[Mobyseven]

Are there any skeptics around here that AREN'T cynics?

Why do you want to know?

[Achán hiNidráne]

Cynicism is only realistic way to view life. A cynic realizes that human beings--with very, very, very, few exceptions (i.e. most of the people who post here, for instance)--are lying, cheating, and/or deluded wastes of animal protein who are going to screw up things for the rest of his fellow lying, cheating, and/or deluded wastes of animal protein. The cynic understands that religion and politics, despite their flowery promises of heaven and heaven on Earth, are nothing the tools the greedy and the tyranical use to wrest our money and freedom from our grasp.

A cynic doesn't entertain the inane impossibly that maybe Sylvia Browne and John Edward are defrauding people because they believe they have false psychic powers; they KNOW that both are sleazeballs out to defraud the gullible and the desperate. We don't need to wonder if Rupert Shelldrake is merely mistaken in his woo-woo beliefs, we KNOW that he's credulous loon in need of a lobotomy, a straight jacket, and a rubbber room.

We cynics are sick of the flowery BS. We're sick of the needless, politically correct, attempts to coddle the idiots instead of giving them the verbal abuse they deserve. We're sick of finding a "middle ground" with those who are wrong, wrong, WRONG. I don't care about your pathetic feelings (after all, they're not mine) so don't come whining to me if telling the truth about yourself and the world "hurts" them.

We're here, we're cynics, and shut the &$#@ up.

[Civilized Worm]

How would a lobotomy help a credulous loon?

[CapelDodger]

I am not a cynic, I am a realist.

I'm a cynic; reality seldom lets me down :).

[CapelDodger]

Yes, I do, and I used to be quite good at it.

A mother's opinion cannot be trusted, so the chances are you were just average.

[Complexity]

A mother's opinion cannot be trusted, so the chances are you were just average.


No idea if I was breastfed, not that it matters.

Champaign-Urbana, however, in the seventies - those were the days.

Thousands and thousands of cute young men.

:)

[Macoy]

It's certainly jolly wonderful to know that across the reaches of time, space and the universe that like can speak to like.

God has never spoken to me, although when I was younger I asked it to.

Just shows that we do not need it.

[Achán hiNidráne]

How would a lobotomy help a credulous loon?

Whoever said anything about helping Shelldrake? Leaving him to drool his pathetic life away in a asylum is meant to put him out of MY misery, not his.

[Rasmus]

An optimist tells you the glass is half full. The pessimist says the glass is half empty. The cynic tells you that someone has been drinking out of your glass.

Nominated.

[Sunstealer]

A cynic is what and optimist calls a realist.

[six7s]

Cynicism - the opinion that things have always been bad, things will always be bad, so the things I am doing to make the situation worse don't matter.NO

We cynics are sick of the flowery BS. We're sick of the needless, politically correct, attempts to coddle the idiots instead of giving them the verbal abuse they deserve.

NB: You do not speak for all cynics

I, for one, recognise that giving idiots the "verbal abuse they deserve" is a politically correct action (if it's only an attempt then it don't amount to a hill o'beans)

A cynic is what and optimist calls a realist.
A cynic is what a realist calls a realist