Cynicism: Good or Bad Trait?
 

I find myself to be a cynical person. I'm a product of observing the environment and people around me. I'm not sure wether or not to consider cynicism a good or bat traite. What do you think?

it depends. i'm pretty cynical too. i don't trust people until they've really earned it. but sometimes cynicism can be taken too far. i think people should be given the benifit of the doubt, but being cynical can often lead to assumptions without that benefit.

I define a cynical person as an idealist that has been smacked around by life & others.

I don't mind being a cynic, they tend to be realistic & have a good wit.
But at the same time, we have to find the smile inside of us,
otherwise we will wear away.

Depends on what you mean by "cynical".

If it's "bitter" then, no, not good.
If it's "expecting the worst from other people" then....maybe. That seems to me to be just realistic. (Or am I just being cynical?)
If it's "skeptical" then definitely a good thing.

I have met some people so cynical that I suspected if they touched me I'd get an acid burn. No fun to be around. Nothing good to say about anything.

On the other hand, pollyanna idealists really chap my ass.

I think there's got to be a healthy middle ground, but I'm not sure if it's still defined as "cynicism" or simply "objective realism".

Cynicism shuts people off. They already know everything, there's no chance that something they don't know might come along and surprise them. Cynics live small, bitter, impenetrable little lives, constrained by what they already think they know.

Skeptics, on the other hand, analyze things, hold them up against their standards, judge things. But a skeptic is open to the possibility that they might encounter something that surprises them. It'll take a lot, and it'll have to be the Real Deal, but it's possible. A skeptical approach to life is, in my book, Only Sensible.

Now, it's NOT HOPELESS for a cynic. I don't think there's any such thing as someone who IS cynical, and that's the end of the story. People can be any way they choose to be. It's just that some people choose cynicism (or other things) more frequently than not.

Skepticism is a good motivator for further research.

Cynicism is unnecessary.

Hell, I'm happy *and* cynical. I was once described by a girl as "the most negative person she knew"... She was wrong, of course (and it really hurt me), but still, I am indeed cynical.

Let's put it this way: I don't trust people that smile all the time, especially if it's one of those fake smiles. I question their sincerity. When *I* smile, I really mean it.

i think i kind of match rogues49's definition of a cynic.

the thing is, a cynical person has little if anything to value in lies or falseties.

some people can be so cynical that they don't realized how bad they've become and they tend to crush people's ideals. i od not consider this type to be only cynical, but hopelessly lost also.

myself, as rogue put, has 'been hit on the head enough times' to know all things turn out honky dory. yet i have hopes: I just never hope as much as most people do and rarely place bets on things coming out right in the end.

so, you tell me... if a person says 'most likely that guy won't live to see twenty due to his disease' and its the truth, is he cynical? no. he's honest.

a 'too cynical' is a person who see no hope and willingly crushes other's hope as well..... those people need to stfu.

expect the bad, when it happens you are neautrel and when something great happens you have more reason to rejoice. - easy code to live by, really.

remaining entirely without cynicism in today's world requires either a kind of faith which i see as groundless or a kind of blindness i can do entirely without.

I've been decribed as a cynic, but I prefer realist.

I try not to think the worst, but I prepare for it in case it comes down the pike.

And I rarely say, "I told you so." which is the mark of a true cynic, if you ask me.

All of you say you're cynical but consider yourself realists or whatever. Basically I think most of you so called cynics just have a good sense of dark humor and usually think realistically. Overall if you have ever met a real cynical person they can be described as unhappy assholes. When you are completely cynical and cannot take any good will at face value you are pretty much a dumbass...

A realist who rationally identifies a situation to be a negative one could easily be mistaken for a cynic if he or she does this too often. Don't confuse the two, though. A realist substantiates his or her conclusions with reason. A cynic has little justification save perhaps past experience, but as Hume has cautioned us, the past can never predict the future.

I don't like it. I actually really dislike being around people who are cynical. Now sarcasm is something I love...

There is healthy cynicism and unhealthy cynicism.

The question is, do you control your cynicism or does it control you?

Hmmmm. I've always thought of myself as cynical but after reading the thread so far, possibly I am more of a pessimistic skeptic. The pessemism pays off for me a lot because I am pleasantly suprised more that some of my optimistic friends so I don't consider it a bad thing.

I have always been a big fan of P.T. Barnum and his quote, "There's a sucker born every minute". I strive to not be one of those. I have always taught my kids that if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Occasionally it is almost too good to be true, then you get a pleasant suprise.

Actual cynicysm seems to be negative in that you expect the worst all the time. I think that Eyore was a cynic, always expecting the worst for himself. I don't think that it is a good trait.

A cynic who says, "I'm not cynical, I'm just realistic" is just being cynical.

I have been told many times that I am a cynic. I believe my reply most often is "fuck you". Maybe they are right....

I think those who lack cynicism might be stupid. I used to think deeply religious people had to be stupid, but I've met some pretty smart Bible-thumpers.

i agree its unnecessary but i like it anyway. I know that im a cynic, and i dont mind that fact, if people dont like it in me then i dont need them.