What is your perspective?

Realist-Pessimist: knowing the odds but still expecting that Murphy bastard to show up.

Or, for the half-full/half-empty glass analogy: "The realist knows someone will have to wash the damn thing. In the case of a realist-pessimist, they expect the glass to break while they're washing it."

If someone gives me the half empty or half full analogy I tell them you are really saying the same thing two different ways. Its like asking whats more 1/2 or .5 I see pessimism and optimism as ultimately a bias towards reality, which distracts a person.

However, realistic pessimism is one that I can appreciate as Chili-pepper describes.

Murphy's Law is the only one I know and respect, whether I want to or not. LOL

I think I am really more of a realist who can swing toward both pessism and optimism. But I do make an effort to be optimistic -- though, of course, I make sure that my optimism is bridled by reality.

I am very much so a realist. But some of my ideals might seem "optimistic," but I do not feel that that's so. I just feel that some people don't look at things in the proper way.

I would consider myself a realist at heart. I tend to play off of other people though. Generally I am fairly pessimistic around happy people and optimistic around cynical people.

Im pretty much realistically pessimist.

*Looks at Murphy's Law calendar*...I think that makes me a pessimist.

I'm an optimist, I can take into account realistic things but really when I look at things my optimism is unrealistic and often when I am pessimistic it is often unrealistic...

I'm an extreme realist. I understand my limitations and I know every step that it takes to get somewhere, like I know which schools I can and can not get into, and I know how much money it takes to get into the ones I can't get into :] But I always expect the best and for things to eventually work out in my favor. I still think that the world will one day fall and burn and rise to be better than before. I think it's good to keep thinking positively because really, the worlds a much sadder place if you don't look to see the beauty in it once in a while.

A realistic-optimist. I know what will probably happen, but still hope that something better happens. It's very easy for me to get my hopes up, and I end up disappointed, even though I knew the outcome was likely.

I'm a bit of a dreamer, I suppose.

I tend to bounce along hoping things turn out ok, but I'm reasonably realistic about my expectations.

I am an optimist overall. This attidude has certainly benefited me thus far. Actually helps in dealing with reality itself.

A realistic optimistic, however, a few years ago I definitely would have voted pessimist. My attitude, thoughts, beliefs, and outlook on life and everything have greatly changed over the last couple years and I'm now in a much very place in my life.

I am pretty much a Realistic Pessimist. I know, for the most part, too many people often make poor decisions, let hype, the press, their friends and "feelings" (OMG, save me from the comment "but I feel...." when it comes down to FACT, not "feelings") make their decisions for them, rather than thinking for themselves in a logical manner.

Yet, I still expect people to try and learn and not be Comfy for too long with being passive. I am NOT a believer, in most situations in saying, "He did the best he could with what he had." when people fuck up. Yes, everyone makes mistakes, but most of the time, people DO NOT "do the best they can." People tend to make a lot of excuses for themselves, blame others for their mistakes, refuse to take responsibility for their errors, and it keeps them Comfy and uninvolved in their own decisions and their own lives.

I expect people to put as much as an effort into their actions and their decisions as I usually do. But, I, too am guilty of NOT "doing the best I can with what I have" more often than I should, and I'm to blame, no one else.

I don't know if people are "basically good" or "basically bad" but I do know many humans are "basically intellectually lazy" will go along with whatever makes them most emotionally Comfy at the time, even if that means lying to themselves and others.

That makes me a pessimist when it comes to the Human Race.

I categorize myself as a realistic optimist. Actually, I think I'd more accurately be described as an optimistic realist. (I know, it's nerdy to make a distinction. LOL)

I'm an optimist all the way. If I wasn't then life wouldn't be a bright.