Put an End to Cynicism and Scorn

THE PESSIMISM lurking in your mind is supported by our popular culture. That's one of the reasons it is so difficult to be optimistic. And the cynicism of the people around you is reinforced daily in almost every avenue of mass communications. In an article by Henry Porter, the British author makes some great points that illustrate the reason we need to commit ourselves to crushing pessimism. His article is entitled, Time to Put an End to This Age of Cynicism and Scorn. He writes:

We don't question why the last couple of generations, brought up in the West with such plenty and ease, with advantages and privileges unimaginable 60 years ago, so often default to pessimism and irony.

Have you ever wondered why? You would think people in a small village in Africa living on the edge of starvation would be the pessimistic ones, but it is us, the affluent. Why? Porter gives an interesting clue:

In popular culture, it is largely a pose which has become a habit we can't shake off for fear of seeming hopelessly naive, of the derisive voice that says human behaviour is never virtuous or motivated by altruism. A gritty modern 'realism', forged in luxury, not by hardship or insight, is required at all times in the marketplace, even though it must be obvious this is a fairly limited tool with which to understand the world and human beings.

This knowing and fearful cool allows for the expression of very little else — hope, joy, unguarded sentiment, compassion, faith in others, sincerity or the love of simple things. In advertising and in comedy shows, it has become the standard patter and does much to exclude real wit and invention. Comedy routines have become exactly that, which is why I find myself sitting through Mock the Week or Have I Got News for You feeling that either I or these courageous troupers of the faux panel game have become, well, a bit jaded.

If you watch enough television, it would be easy to become jaded. There is a tremendous undercurrent of negativity even in the comedy shows. The point of view presupposed by most comedians is so cynical it is hard not to feel yourself infected by pessimism, even as you laugh at the jokes.

In the quote below, I think Porter points out something worth noticing. Namely, that people in real life are not that cruel or selfish or unsympathetic. If you know someone who seems overly pessimistic and jaded, it is worth reminding them of it too. As Porter put it:

Weltschmerz and Cynic Inc have infected so much of the public discourse that you forget people are not like this. They are in the main more trusting, more hopeful, more resourceful and a lot kinder than is ever acknowledged in the public arena.

And the most important point Porter makes in his article is that pervasive pessimism impairs our ability to solve problems. "We don't find solutions," wrote Porter, "because we have given up thinking that we can..."

Cure yourself of your own hidden pessimism, and you become more capable. Help other people cure their pessimism, and you make it more possible for us to solve the bigger problems. The best place to start is: Undemoralize Yourself. Then start helping others cure their pessimism.

Polarizing People Causes Unnecessary Negative Emotions

I WAS READING AN ARTICLE for writers explaining how to get onto the Digg home page. Digg is a blog directory that allows people to vote for specific articles. If an article gets enough votes, it appears on the Digg home page, and lots of people visit the site. So this guy was giving advice about how to write an article that has a chance of getting on the Digg front page. He suggested trying to polarize people with your article. That is, write an article in such a way that some people love it and some people hate it. He's not the only one who is doing this.

Controversy sells. Controversy gets attention. But it also produces unnecessary and unproductive anger, outrage, demoralization, and other negative emotions.

Of course, some things should be argued about and if it causes anger, so what? But the author of the article, and the authors of many other articles and television shows, deliberately try to create anger by polarizing people. They create controversy where not much controversy really exists.

What's the result? More polarization. More anger. And less ability to reach compromises. That perfectly describes the political atmosphere we see today, and it has been getting worse over my lifetime.

Extreme statements on one side make you want to defend the other side, and in so doing, you can become more extremely positioned than you otherwise would be. This gets ratings but slows progress. It sells, but it creates more pessimism than is necessary.

What can you do about it? You've already done it. Once you see something, it is easy to see it again. And for some things, including this one, knowing about it takes away its power.

If you want to do something more, share your knowledge with others. Crush pessimism wherever you find it.

A Positive Force For Anti-Pessimism

PESSIMISM CAN WORM its way into our minds in many different ways, but the most powerful force for negativity is television news programs. I saw a great example of it today, and also a great response to it from Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somalian-born American (see photo) who has seen the worst the world has to offer, and yet remains unpessimistic.

Avi Lewis, the Canadian man interviewing her, does his best to put a cynical, pessimistic, defeatist slant on everything he can, but she handles it all with style, grace, clarity of expression, and a glaring lack of pessimism. It is beautiful to watch.

Go to Avi Lewis's site and watch the video.

It is nine minutes long. Almost everything Lewis says is saturated with negativity and cynicism. He exaggerates. He implies we are helpless against powerful evil people who run things. He overgeneralizes. He sees things in black-or-white terms. He makes so many thought-mistakes so quickly it is hard to keep up. In short, he is a perfect example of the media's negative bias. Listen to enough of this kind of "news" and your worldview would be distorted beyond all recognition.

Lewis also seems to be intensely anti-American while Ali is pro-American. Ali speaks openly against Islam (she is the author of the book, Infidel) while Lewis defends Islam. It's quite a conversation.