This is one GREAT lecture.
2/9/2013
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| Delusional Optimism |
I post it because it best addresses some of the problems I had with what I call "extreme optimism." I am an optimist with regard to reality. But with extreme optimism, my main problem, is that it always sounds a little bit delusional to me. And you will see from the video below, there are many bad ramifications of American culture accepting this ideology (as seen in the mortgage financing market, starting in 2007).
"What could be cleverer as a way quelling dissent than to tell people who are in some kind of trouble, poverty, unemployment, etc... That it's ALL their attitude.... It's a brilliant form of social control." -Barbara Ehrenreich
Recently, I had to go to an important hearing, the results of which affect my future. A close friend told me, previous to my arrival at the hearing, "you've got to claim it and OWN it," in reference to the hearing going well.
What does that mean? Am I not being optimistic enough in assuming that I have a 50/50 chance in a decision where there can only be two results?
I recommend this ten-minute video for anyone seeking a greater understanding of American culture in regards to it's willful ignorance of reality, which is never a good thing in my book.
This, is an argument for REALISM. We are not hard-wired to be optimistic. We are hard-wired to be vigilant. That's the point of this lecture.
What do you think of this? I'd love to know. Comment below.
