• Fallyn said on Feb 27, 2008....

  i am an idealist when it comes to my joy.
  i struggle with reality on a daily basis.
  things "shouldn't be" this way..or that way....or whatever.
  
  if i don't feel fullfilled.....granted...it doesn't take much......then my idealist kicks in and starts complaining.
  

• Lucytorial said on Feb 27, 2008....

  In my desires and my heart I am an idealist... If I reach for the very nadir of my desires I know that at least I will be close.. sometimes I get it too.
  
  My idealist doesn't complain fallyn, my idealist is that 16 yr old in me that just KNOWS i have to try harder to create my reality the way I want it to be, she fights for me, she's my armour against what I consider sometimes to be a very harsh and unhumane world.
  
  I adore my idealist self.
  

• SeanRenaud said on Feb 27, 2008....

  Probably a lot of things.  I'm idealist that America is on the right side of wars more often than not.  I'm assuming thats and ALIEN quote.  I don't enetirely disagree with him.  It's like is it ok for somebody to try to shoot me?  Fuck no that's why I kill them before they get the chance.  It's one of those POV things where both sides are "right"
   
  I'm pretty idealistic that a free(er) market is better than one where the government is involved. 

• dailyachesandpains said on Feb 27, 2008....

  Per usual...Daily's medicated.  I must state that before I even ask this:
  
  WTF kind of a statement is that?  I don't even get it? 
  I'm speaking of the quote you have up.
  
  Thanks,
  Daily
  

• fearing said on Feb 27, 2008....

  I'm an idealist.  Naive too.  Look that word up and you will find my picture.  ;-)

  I expect the best from the people I know too Ed.  It is difficult for me to comprehend anything but good (or good intentions) from people.  That's naive right? 

  Btw, I loved your comment "i'm at heart an optimist--if a cynical one--"  It kind of changes directions midstream but yet, not. ;-)   Made me smile.

  (I forgot to tell you - you're imagining this comment from me because I'm not here.  I'm moving still.  Don't tell anyone I'm not hard at work okay?)

• TinSoldier said on Feb 27, 2008....

  I'm an idealist in many ways, and every day I fight against my growing cynicism.
  
  I believe that most people are good at heart (not just Americans). I believe that most people like to see economic transactions come out benefiting all sides, not just their own. I believe that most people, whatever their political views, have the best interests of "the people" at heart.
  
  I don't believe that Republicans want to kill children to make a profit. I don't believe that Democrats want to give away US sovereignty to the UN, nor especially to the member countries with whom we disagree most enthusiastically.
  
  I believe that despite our current trials and tribulations, the world is better off today than it ever has been in the past, and that it will be even better tomorrow. Maybe my kids won't have all of the opportunities that I had but someone else's kids somewhere most certainly will have better opportunities than their parents had.
  
  But, all things considered, I'm still cynical or pessimistic about some things. Maybe you should make a complementary poll...
  

• Eilan said on Feb 27, 2008....

  Nowadays, I'd consider myself a cynical realist.
  
  I recently came across some things I wrote for the education classes I took back when I was an undergrad (about 19-20 years old), and some of what I wrote makes me cringe.  Not only was it cliché-ridden drivel, but it was totally naive.
  

• uniquely-ironic said on Feb 27, 2008....

  I'm a born cynic, or perhaps soured on optimism when I was really young.  The only thing I have an unshakeable idealistic view on is my children.  Not even the men in my life enjoy that, though I try to be mostly idealistic.  Politics are the worst thing to be naive about since the odds of having your idealism handed back to you on a platter are really good.

• Evil_Plushie said on Feb 27, 2008....

  I am not idealistic about anything or anyone.  I am a pragmatic realist.

• Battycat said on Feb 27, 2008....

  I'm an idealistic cynic! I know, it doesn't make much sense, but I know what i mean :-)

• MissMimi said on Feb 28, 2008....

  I used to be an idealist.  I always believed that if you deal fairly and honestly with people, they will treat you the same way.  I've learned through experience though, that while some folks are honest, there are many who aren't.  It was a real kick in the ass to learn that; it was a terrible surprise.  I was very naive.

  Nowadays, I have a great deal of cynicism for almost everything.  Bitter cynicism, and it's not an easy thing to admit.

• silverwhisper said on Feb 28, 2008....

  fallyn: you know, i like the way you expressed that, being an idealist when it comes to your joy. :>
  
  tobi-lee: are you familiar with pink? there's a song on her album i'm not dead, a letter to her younger self. what you said about idealism and your idealist self reminds me a lot of what she says in that song.
  
  sean: sorry, but i'm not gonna identify the speaker or where. heh...i know you've got a libertarian streak, but you don't often discuss politics in that vein, which i find curious.
  
  daily: hey, i hope you've been getting some sleep lately! and you know i disagree w/ that quotation. :>
  
  fearing: glad i could make you smile! :D i've called myself a pessimistic optimist--you know, that whole "hope for the best, expect the worst"-thing...but wait, i shouldn't respond to an imaginary comment--the nice men in the white coats will come along w/ that jacket w/ the funny sleeves, won't they? :D and somehow, i figured you and i shared that sentiment about the people we know. :>
  
  TS: that was exceedingly well said, sir. and i particularly like what you said about somebody's kids somewhere having better opportunities--i find that noble. and if i have the time, i may yet post that poll. :>
  
  eilan: a "cynical realist"? forgive me, but isn't that sorta redundant? :D o boy...looking back at stuff we've written in the past...it takes every ounce of will not to summarily trash those things when i see 'em!
  
  u-i: well, as a parent i suppose that if one is to be optimistic about only one thing, that's probably the best, no? and while i agree that politics are a bad thing about which to be naive, i've found that similar naivete in other things can just as surely result in platter-borne badness. :>
  
  evil plushie: welcome to my blog and thanks for visiting! so you aren't idealistic about anything, huh? i'll be honest, i don't think i know a lot of people who feel that way.
  
  battycat: i think i understand that, actually. :>
  
  mimi: hey, long time no see, you! sorry you aren't sleeping, to judge from when you posted that. :< i dunno though, i don't think i'd describe the mimi know here on SC as bitter anything, to be honest. :>
  
  ed

• MissMimi said on Feb 28, 2008....

  It's due to my superior acting ability.  :p 

  Sleep?  What's that?

• Twylarants said on Feb 28, 2008....

  Each comment above contained something with which I agree, so I found myself thinking, "Ok, that's me...no wait!  That's me...well, no, that's me!"
  I've decided I'm Uniquely Batty, with a tendency toward Plushie MissMimi-ism.
  

• beyondtheveil said on Feb 28, 2008....

  Ed- I've gathered a bushel of pessimism and cynicism the last few years. However...
  
  I believe people are fundamentally good and want the best for everyone, but the real idealism is that they are 'catching on' to what is going on around them, more able to dissect the reality from illusion and think for themselves.
  
  I'm idealistic about the arts, that its time for a resurgence of originality, a period for great things on the horizon.
  

• the_infernal_optimist said on Feb 28, 2008....

  Uh, do I reallly have to answer this? :-D
  
  Idealist here. I don't extend that to the majority of authority figures though, in government and elsewhere. But in most things, and regarding almost every person, yeah. I believe that, as beyond said, people are fundamentally good.
  
  I'm even more of an idealist about my friends and heart-family. They don't cause hurt, and when they do, it wasn't their intent to do so, etc. They act in accordance with their moral and ethical principles, and I can respect these even if I don't share them all. Walking through life with this sort of thinking hasn't led to disappointment; in fact, my experiences have bolstered these beliefs (with a very few notable exceptions).
  
  Man, someday I'll surprise you with an answer, but not this one.
  
  ~Infernal
  

• vacantmind said on Feb 28, 2008....

  Ditto to Infernal's response. I don't think I could have explained it better.

• SeanRenaud said on Feb 28, 2008....

  silver: I didn't expect you to qualify that with a response.  I think I don't discuss politics in that vien very often because it's been my experience that I generally fall on one side of a discussion or another.  Libertarins aren't the third side of a triangle, they are marker some where between the radical right and the loony left.

• Eilan said on Feb 28, 2008....

  ed:  It's repetitively redundant.  Shall I reiterate?  :D

• crybabylu said on Feb 28, 2008....

  Silver......I know your post doesn't go into the vein I want to comment about, but if you would suffer me to raise this question to you, I would appreciate it.

  You are very infavor of Obama, yet it is his "idealism" that scares the bejeebes out of me....why would you want someone that is apparently that "idealistic" in all of his views, as I see it, running this country?

• GrapeKoolaid said on Feb 28, 2008....

  I am not an "-ist".  Meaning, I don't believe in "-isms".  Almost everyone has ideals, I think.  Some are willing to die for them.  Those of us that don't believe would be right in fearing them.  I am afraid of many things, including some Americans. 
  
  I try not to let my fear seep through, though.  It interferes with my otherwise cheerful disposition.  :)
  

• rightwingwizard said on Feb 28, 2008....

  I am neither idealistic nor cynical.  I may be a pragmatist (sorry koolaid, I used an 'ist'

  People are neither inherently good nor evil.  Such is learned and developed over time.

  There is a saying that goes something like this: 

  "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer" 

  This closely reflects my attitude toward relationships of any sort.

  Those you trust completely are the most likely to profoundly hurt you .

  Politicians of any stripe do not have the best interest of society at heart.

  The sun may rise in the morning, but it will likely rain in the afternoon.

  rww

• crybabylu said on Feb 28, 2008....

  now, to answer your question........human rights.

• Mamie said on Feb 28, 2008....

  I'm a Taurus.
  yuck, yuck, sorry I couldn't resist.

• silverwhisper said on Feb 29, 2008....

  [trout-smacks mimi]
  
  twyla: i dunno, you strike me as more of a twirlypants, to be honest... :D seriously though: i think you're a bit of a cynic who really wants to be an optimist but has been burned way too many times.
  
  beyond: i think those are good things about which to be idealistic--although i do disagree that people want originality just yet, to be honest.
  
  infernal: [chuckles] i'm sure you will at some point but yeah, that day ain't today. :>
  
  vm: i figured you for a kindred spirit in that way. :>
  
  sean: interestingly, i do see libertarianism as a third side of a triangle. i remember seeing a political tendencies graph that measured liberal/conservative and libertarian/authoritarian. i think those 2 axes explain a great deal in american politics.
  
  eilan: i'm sorry i didn't get that--could you say that again and repeat it?
  
  dee: "suffer me to raise this question"? i'm just this guy, dee. :> to answer your question: this country needs a little of that idealism right now in the wake of the shameful goings-on perpetrated by bush the lesser. and i think that's why he's likely to win. this country was idealistic under JFK, too, and we were under clinton--at least at the beginning. and having seen some of your comments on bloc's blog entries--yes, i can definitely see that. :>
  
  grape: you've always struck me as more hopeful than cynical, to be honest. :>
  
  rww: dude, i believe the word you're looking for is paranoia, man. :>
  
  mamie: [trout-smack!]
  
  ed

• Mamie said on Feb 29, 2008....

  hehe, I had it coming after that answer [didn't even duck].

• Twylarants said on Feb 29, 2008....

  You're good at this, Ed...scary good, even.
  I am, you're right.  I'm always ready to give people, the world, life, another chance. And I'm always surprised when they disappoint me.  Surprised, but not surprised, if you know what I mean.  Not surprised so much as disappointed that they disappointed me.
  That would make me an optimistic pessimist, or the other way around.
  

• silverwhisper said on Mar 02, 2008....

  mamie: :D
  
  twyla: nah, i just recognize someone who sees things the same way i do. :>
  
  ed

Comment on "poll: idealism"

Currently tagged	polls naivete idealist idealism (Click to add tags below)
Tag this post	(Separate tags using commas, for example: New York, dating, vegetarian)
Your comment