Added: 3 years ago
From: proteanview
Views: 20,040
Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:
see all

All Comments (703)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • At 1:00 when they tell you there's no other option, all you have to do is respond: "Hell yea there is, it's called not eating the food." Both are options, it's just that the food initially seems more tantalizing since you've been sitting on the first option for some time now. They're using the nature of the option, nothingness, to try and say that there is no option, but that's fallacious -you can still choose nothing.

    And for your quote: "Optimism at the expense of truth is worthless."

  • The people who eat the food in the story remind me of the religious population. As humans, we dont know where we came from or what happens after death and this is terrifying. Some wish to admit uncertainty while some would rather subscribe to believing in unfounded stone age mythology at the expense of throwing reason out the door.

  • optimism at the expense of truth is creationism.

  • Liked the vid bro, but I have found that sometimes it is better to spread awareness at the expense of your own image it a worth while sacrifice. Only spreading the real truth, without all the massive fear mongering. Together with raised awareness, will allow us to become conscience of each other as a group collectively around the world.

  • i think having a non answer is always better than having one that is known to be false or at least cannot be proven to be true at that point in time.

  • when looking at any option, whether you do it or not, a choice has been made. all of life is choice either by conscious, unconscious mind or apathy or action. I believe, from my experiences that there are many choices to your scenario. Not going into them all, did you see 127 hours? Truth and optimism are not always at odds. It is the nature of our species to survive. One man's truth is based on a need to survive. btw, my view is your handsome and intellectual, my optimism and my truth. peace.

  • Of course tell them - and if they continue it is at their own risk.

  • Optimism at the expense of truth is sometimes a survival mechanism. ....is sometimes avoidance of conflict. .....is intended to be kindness....is like having ones head buried in the sand - leaving ones a$# exposed, I could go on.

  • because i don't want to indulge and spend minutes contemplating this, i'll answer with:

    optimism at the expense of truth can be a good thing, have beneficial outcomes, obviously not in the scenario you posed (: but. I cant get over 'at the expense of' idiom hehehe ...so looking for a quick answer to your question: I agree with your response: the truth is not responsible for making us feel good. Instead we are, each individual responsible for their own emotional responses.

  • @capricornchick

    also, looking at the comments, i wish to make the point, that i believe, there is a difference between honesty and truth, and i'd prefer honesty then truth anyday, when coming from people (:

  • a wise man told me "never complain about a situation unless you have a solution that works better."

  • I like this guy and enjoyed the 3 videos I've seen thus far. He seems to be knowledgeable and firm in what he's saying without the gloom, doom and paranoia. Very refreshing

  • This has been taught to America for 50 years that I know of ----

  • I love it. wonderful vid.

  • Its a situation of being "the negative guy" and it happens in corporations all the time. The group of workers and the boss are going down a dead end path. One guy sees that its a dead end. If he tells anyone, he is politically toast. It has happened to me twice.

    So in the working world, the answer is say nothing unless you have an alternative and the ability to cause a change of course for the group. If you are a worker bee, do your work and look for another job.

  • @MrXSpeaks Very well put.

  • Absolutely true. In the corporate world being realistic seems to be overridden by an in built tradition of positive thinking.

    Positive thinking is great personally in my opinion in dealing with uncertainty and thus keeping ones spirits up.

    Rationally if the outcome is unknown then we should be mentally upbeat to deal with whatever happens i.e. positive.

    But it seems people have misunderstood the message and now just being positive is outweighing any rational examination of the situation.

  • i.e. being positive purely for it's own sake and not because it offers any rational benefit to the situation.

    Classic example I see used is a man who wants to feed his family with underdeveloped crops. Not seeing the reality of the fact being that eating the crops now would make it impossible to survive the following year.

    Being optimistic requires the recognition of the depth of the argument. i.e. not being too superficial.

  • Depends on whether one is facing dire straits or not...optimism despite reality may lead some to throw caution to the wind.

  • If a person wants to swim cross a river loaded with piranhas and you know it, you are obligated to tell that person even if you don't have another way around to the other side.

    You've fulfilled your obligation by informing them,...what they do is up to them...so you should sleep well :-)

  • Optimism at the Expense of truth is.... Plain rejection of reality. It may turn out good in certain situations which are rare. Considerating that everything is possible, that is. But Objective morality is the safest ideology to adopt since it puts aside the attributes we give to values, morals..etc. and its based of off pure FACTs and logic I enjoyed your video. 5* . Truth is indeed not responsible for making us feel good, which is why people usually reject it. They prefer Beautiful Lies.

  • Optimism at the expense of truth is religion.

  • Optimism kills... It isn't realistic to always look at thing in a bright light... Optimists jumped from Twin Towers because their optimism clouded the reality of also dying from the sudden stop... Optimism didn't save them... A pessimist is realistic... They knew they were dead either way... I know it isn't unrealistic to believe we can win the war in Afghanistan... We just can't be optimistic and think that simply being there will win it... Optimism is bullshit...

  • @TheZappersdoopable If you may, Pessimism isnt good either. Which is why I believe in pure objective morality. Everything is possible. Im not saying Jump off the twin towers, but hey you might find a miraculous way to survive even though the chances are slim. Never give up. Friedrich Nietzsche taught me that haha =P

  • I think I would be willing to say something if I felt lead to say something, even if the "answer" were not initially forthcoming.... For Me, My acknowledgement of a situation brings revelation!

  • Aristotle answered this.

    The argument is the negative proof fallacy. Not that it matters in the hypothetical case presented.

    My position is, if the others are unwilling to listen then I will do whatever is in my power to have them hear me. But they own themselves. I will stop short of force. It is their own life and body.

  • yeaaa optimism is overrated!

    gotta keep it real!

  • Everyone has something to offer and if you want to say something you should always say it, preferably in the least distressing manner to others but if you feel it needs saying....

    Anyway I'd kill you and eat you. Just saying.

  • Hehe. If so and I ate the poisonous food then may my wrath be on you as well. :p

  • Oh fudge, good point! :D

    I guess I'd have to eat you before you could eat the food. Like 10 minutes after being trapped I turn to cannibalism as if I have some kind of a wasting illness.

  • Well the reality would be is there water,and a maybe way to boil it? If not then would be a greater chance not to even survive the week.

    Also how would help be able to find being lost like that? There has to be a way to send the message out or more than likely it would take much longer to have help for rescue.

    Reality would be how am I gonna survive this mess if I got caught like that? If I didn't bring anything to help me in case of disaster then I just *&@!} myself.

  • optimism as the expense of truth, equals human nature's tendency towards the "belief in a just world", which can be quite foolish.

  • In contrast to a previous reply, the Bible says that if you know the Truth but you allow someone to wander on into trouble then God will hold you accountable for it (Proverbs 24:10-12). For example the state of our nation will only get worse until we finally go into captivity, unless we as a nation repent of the asinine notion that God isn't real, and start obeying His word (Ezekiel 33).

    True story. Honest.

  • @Thistlesifter220 Provide proof that your god is real. Bear in mind that Harry Potter is in seven books, and STILL not real.

  • @paleomike8 The proof is all the things I previously mentioned. Unless the USA repents it will cease to exist. Plus, the EU will grow stronger and subdue an Islamic confederation of nations soon to arise. Prophecy is steadily, day by day, coming alive.

    All that being said, it is not my burden to prove God is real, it is yours to prove He is not - which you cannot do.

    Now go read some more harry pooter....

  • @Thistlesifter220 Your "prophecy" would be far more impressive if:

    A) It pointed to YOUR god (or was written down a long time ago somewhere)

    B) it were not based on people's fears of current trends

  • Yes. Others may have information you're unaware of.

  • Optimism at the expense of the truth is like believing in god without proof of his existence.And that is my personal opinion. For some people, it works despite contradictorry proof, and for others, it simply doesn't. I prefer the truth rather than a hopeful delusion.

  • In its self, of course you can give a critique fo a situation, even if yu have nothing to contribute as a solution. The Danger is doing it to often or without a sounding appologetic. In these situations people will tend to think your just taking the easy option of finding fault and trying to sound clever !

  • Do like the liberals do!!. Hide The Decline (:

  • LOL!!!! HA!!! That has meaning on so many levels!!!!

  • Optimism at the expense of truth is a charlatan, a dream, and a veil.

    and thank you for the friend invite

  • Comment removed

  • Great video. Lots of people dont WANT to know the truth and would rather eat the food and die in blissful ignorance. The truth may force them to realize they might have to go out and actually expend some energy in solving the problem and they dont want to do that. Sometimes ignorance really IS bliss.

  • awesome question

  • The idea of a none believer telling a believer that what they believe is false.

    "Then what should i replace it with", looking at them with a blank stir for a moment then saying

    "I am sorry i just do not have another set of beliefs without evidence to offer you".

  • Having experience true bliss which lasted about 20 seconds in 40 years of life and which was a life changing event, ignorance is much like living a life where you don't question reality or just go along with the crowd.

    Knowledge is sometimes very overwhelming, thus one must conquer themselves (their emotions, worldview and core beliefs) in some manner before even beginning to become aware of truth. I see it as the journey of life.

    BTW, thank you for the friend invite.

  • So lets make this clear. The food is poisonous and lethal. There is a small possibility that the people will be rescued in the near future. They can survive for a couple more days. And then the question is should we neglect to mention that the food is lethal? Who would honestly neglect to mention that the food is lethal? I somehow don't see this as a controversial issue.

  • I get told to shut the hell up all the time about things like that. Same answer, if you don't have anything to offer then don't stop us from resorting to this choice.

    I happen to like the truth....a lot. I love the truth. I base my life on honesty; Being who I really am,saying what I really want to say instead of looking around to make sure I don't offend first.I don't think there is an excuse for not giving critique where is needs to be given.

    In my opinion, optimism only slows progress.

  • A majority seems to believe words bite them. "!Well if it's food - It's food."

    People pay little attention because they feel they have no time to recharge and get their view shaked. Especially today, the majority seems to listen to powerful leaders that who can paint the best image win, votes.

  • Very much agree. Truth is best even if the truth hurts.

    Also opinions are like behind holes. Every one has one and every one else thinks theirs stinks.

    It is hard for many to corporate to find a solution as a group. Many in today's world have prejudices and too much pride to work together.

  • great video.

  • That is a question that has no "right" answer. A quintessential "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario. I tend to lean towards the side of it's better to be informed than to be naive, but I could certainly understand preferring to take the opposite view. It is like, is it better to tell a person he/she has only a few months to live thereby burdening them with the date of their own death, or to tell the person they are healthy enough to fully enjoy everything life has to offer.

  • @coruanto1 What if the person in question just didn't worry because they had no control over the situation?

  • Optimism at the Expense of Truth... is ironically sometimes a path to wealth...

  • Choosing to keep your mouth shut us basically negligence.

  • Comment removed

  • Optimism at the expense of truth is PROPAGANDA

  • It is the way to a fully life but not necessarly to a happy and good life. Some things needs to be kept unsolved becasue the mystery is a part of a person, it is what makes them special. The world needs these things to keep us continuing to wonder, how we get our inspiration and influence for other creations.

    Optimism at the expense of truth is a lie, you will never have optimism at a truth, either way you WILL eventually feel incomplete. There is no optimism at that subject, only the reasons.

  • ..ignorance

  • Realism is not pessimism or optimism. I am a realist that enjoys all views.

  • Optimism at the expense of truth is a symptom of a psychiatric disorder known as "deism."

  • I tell the truth, even if people don't want to hear it, hearing the truth is always one step to living a fuller life.

  • I'd appreciate anyone w/ helpful info. I can't think of any situation where I'd B this desperate. Maybe in a scenario involving sex. If I was going 2 bang a female, and someone told me she had a boyfriend, I'd question the person + the female, but make a good decision.

    But I keep 2 myself, and I usually don't have any helpful information.

  • there's a poster for ignorance...

    2 guys standing in what could be stalingrad, at a building, with a tank rolling off the edge, obviously going to hit them, with one saying "did you hear something?" the other saying "no"

    title... Ignorance; because what you don't know, can still hurt you alot

  • A very good question. I think it's important to be optimistic, as having the necessary will-power to overcome difficult circumstances is often dependent upon seeing the situation as being better than it actually is. Inevitably however, the consequences of a positive outlook are a looser grip on reality and therefore a less appropriate approach to the problems at hand. I would try to assess the situation as accurately as possible, while being just positive enough to motivate myself to action.

  • The name of the video is actually americas theme...in the way of our attitudes

  • I don't think I like your idea of having fun... forgive me if I don't come to your birthday party...

    Optimism at the expense of truth is a boat with "go faster holes" in the hull, and a cargo of rice.

  • Optimism at the expense of truth allows those that wish not to see which is before them an upbeat false sense of security.

  • I think you should warn them anyway...maybe they can then think of an answer you couldn't.

  • I think if the info you impart has no value then it doesn't matter if you tell people or not. However, the example you used was a different case - you said there was no "solution" but the solution was to not eat the poisionous food because that would give a better chance of survival.

  • this video goes perfect as a response the the "My Oprah Apology" video

  • good question. I think the government keeps this information to themselves. love and peace mik

  • looks can be deceiving .I say send in a probe to try and confirm the toxicity(taking one for the team)...present an option of coarse!This would be the most logical approach.I guess it boils down to "sink or swim"

  • I have to agree with NETSEMRY. Give the information, and let everyone make their own choice. It's a calculated risk anyway. But eventually someone in the group will become the leader.

    And BTW, for the scenario you mentioned, a normal human being can live without food for around 2,5-3 weeks. Water is a more pressing matter.

  • Dude??? You are beyond ill!

  • Optimism at the expense of truth is a false and delicate security

  • i would say it is you dutie to metion the info because yes somebody CAN and potentily Will NOT eat the food .

    but honestly some people are just dum and will eat. Even if you can last 30 days witout food dosent mean somone can take the hunger ...

  • the truth will bite you on the ass later if you dont tell it i think.

  • indeed

  • touche.

  • Should they keep the information to themselves?

    Maybe, if it gave them a competitive edge and they could gain by it.

    Knowledge is power.

  • Good point, but if the purpose is to show how this story is basically the same as Republicans wanting to stop further damage to this economy by irresponsible spending (without having a plan of their own) I'm afraid it won't work, liberals are way to dumb to figure it out.

  • This sounds like truth and consequence. Freedom of choice, give the information, and let each person make their own choice. Choice is a right.

  • In my opinion, you should let them know the truth to a potentially dangerous situation you can't blame a person if they had no other choice whatsoever. BUT the WHOLE truth of a situation brings choice along with it. Ignore it or accept it.

  • Truth brings both hope and despair where as optimism brings fake hope and more despair. I'll take a big helping of truth thank you. I'll pull around to the second window to get it. :D

  • Yeah can I have that freedom sized!

  • Hope.

  • Which is why I am a pessimist. :) No, but seriously, I would rather be let down and know the truth than be lied to and still feel good. The truth will set you free, or so thay say. Maybe, but if you wind up seriously depressed because you knew some horrible truth, what kind of freedom is that? Instead, you find out you weren't living a lie, and no one likes knowing that.

  • Optimism at the expense of truth is mans favorite dish served sunny side up.

    Knowledge is power.

  • Optimism at the expense of truth is called stupidity, blind faith and ostrich like behavior (meaning: DENIAL).

  • Optimism at the expense of truth is called ignorance...

  • A very very valid point. You can find examples of this in so many different matters, politically, economically or otherwise

  • Absolutely not! Everyone should speak their minds at all times.. It's important to know all angles of every situation.. By the way, you are by far the most interesting and intelligent person on youtube...

  • Cassandra anyone? For example, I warned a lot of folks/ family about the planned economic crisis/housing bubble burst that was engineered by the Global Bankers (Bilderberger Group). I was laughed at and now they lost everything. It was irrational. Fear is often irrational. They do not want to know. Obama is a puppet of this group. No one wants to know. A World Bank is now proposed to save us from this "unforeseen" "crisis" Keep with the truth. Take the hit. BTW GOOGLE BILDERBERGER GROUP

  • Negativity at the expense of honest and realistic expectations is also negativity at the expense of truth, and it occurs more often than it doesn't. Since good things do happen more often than not, it would be deceitful not to acknowledge that, and acknowledging that honestly. "A man was saved from __ sustaining burns, doctors say with some skin grafts, he should heal", instead of "A man was nearly burned alive, he will need numerous skin grafts, and there's a chance he may not heal."

  • Optimism at the expense of truth is absolutely irrational. It is the reason for all problems with this world.

  • Optimism at the expense of truth is....deadly.

  • If your primary objective is your own survival, telling others the truth really isn't important. What is important is that you know the truth, have accepted the truth, and your life is spared because of it. If the situation was bad enough, you might even use their optimism and denial as their downfall and therefore the means to your own survival. As they say, meat is meat.

  • Yes, but if one's primary objective is their own survival than their fate is already sealed. A group of individuals always stand a greater chance of survival than a lone individual, "no man is an island". The burden of amassing the necessary tools, shelter and food for survival can be distributed amongst the group and increase their chance of survival. Hence it would always be in your best interest to tell the truth because you stand to only lose if you say nothing.

  • I would rather be told the truth then a lie personally. In the scenario you gave, I could at least have the option of making an informed decision. It is a matter of having that choice. If the information is not given, then there is no place for a real choice.

  • Another real scenario... Dubya's and Dick's reasons for invading Iraq.  People knew the reasons were bogus and out right lies. The media, who's job it is to tell the American people what's really going on, cowered like scared little puppies. The FBI and CIA, Congress, same thing. There's about a billion people who wished someone high up in America would have blown the whistle. Someone not afraid to be called un-American in order to find the real truth. So much for democracy.

  • "If someone doesn't have an answer," anything they might say would be speculation, to be debated. It would remain for the situation to be tested, since someone who "doesn't have an answer" can't offer positive proof. I am not sure I understood this video.

  • Optimism at the expense of truth... Another example that's real. My employer has set new guidelines for the worker bonus. #2's the best known for it says "Cynicism will not be tolerated". This guidline is based around the fact that there hasn't been a raise in almost 5 years. It also states that we now must meet goals THAT WE SET with supervisors in order to get said bonus. In other words, no raise for five years, so work harder and be positive about it! Do you tow the line or speak up?

  • tomitstube: when good paying jobs get scarce, people will have to make ht e decision: stay where they are and continue to collect a wage, or quit and see if they can find a better job - though better jobs are becoming more scarce.

  • Give your opinion,at least you allow the people to choose their own destiny.I think of "The Secret,"I believe that as I pray over my "DEAD FOOD TODAY" that all the good nurishments Are Still in the food + I also ask the universe "GOD" Being to make it so + I believe!!I do this over my Kitty's food +

    H2O that any added chemicals will be striped from the food + keep my kitty OK. BELIEF is something people have not yet learnd.I ask for HELP IN EVERY AREA, + I do get answers. MY 1988 car too.Peace!

  • Adults are really just big children.  They seek comfort and solace at the expense of the truth and would rather lead a life of ignorance that redeemed them from fear than face the truth on its own terms.

  • People are stupid, they believe in what they want to believe in - the truth doesn't matter at all. A major problem in society nowadays is that people are deterred from speaking the truth; whoever does so, the majority shoots him down(like the dudes you mentioned in the cave--). Negative feedback builds up and gradually, there is no one left willing to speak out anymore.

  • Yes, speak up. Tell the truth. Do the right thing Then let people make up their own mind rather to eat the food or not. Life is about choices. If the people know what they are eating and they are doing it based on their own feel will. They have been warned the food may cause death it is still the individuals decisions. Brave starvation or eat and possibly dies, ugly choices but it is still free will. Just because you found the food people should not assume you have a better idea.

  • well just because you didn't convince everyone that the food was deadly doesn't mean you didn't convince a few. Those few were persuaded by you not to eat the moldy food, and therefore you saved their lives. Those others who were going to eat the food, well they were destined to die that way anyway- nothing you could have said would have changed their minds. Look on the positive side. Look at the lives you DID save. That is optimism.

  • Gen Y is the best example of this: put an apple in front of them , they will eat it, put a pie in front of them and they will eat it not questioning the benefits or pitfalls, a lazy generation created by a lazy system yet it spends all it's time in the business of control.

  • would you care to grow up before you participate in this discusion?

  • you forgot genius, thinker, explorer...(all of the things some cultures tout all of the time. (evolution graced all of the colours with brains...i.e. ur president) don't believe the hype....ur only gonna get ur feelings hurt, in real life!

  • I have learned, from personal experience, never substitute truth with optimism (lies). I think optimism is a personal choice. If someone is optimistic it wouldn't matter what news was presented anyways. They would still have a smile on there face regardless.

  • Almost reminds me of religion lol. As the late Carlin would say: the all time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims!

  • good hypothetical question. i'm one of those people who can fish out something positive in just about any situation. for example, in that particular situation, i would let them have their optimism and mold for dinner...then i'd be eating meat for the rest of the month.

  • LOL, good thing we all saw that movie 'Alive' because everyone would be like "hey hold up a sec, you can't eat the dead!" to which I reply "aint you guys seen that movie 'Alive'?"

  • My sentiments exactly! Lets say you were with your family and as you all sleep a fire breaks out and you all burn to death. Hypothetically then..if you could go back in time, and warn your family as to keep all of you alive..would you? Of course you would! In that way.let me say, the Wrath of God is on us all( I didnt say you would like it!), BUT(here is the good news..no..great news!),Accepting and trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior, you can live Eternal in peace and spared wrath against sin! :)

  • The answer is simple. 'never do anything to make a bad situation worse'. The morale to the story is ' when people get desperate they will destroy themselves and maybe you along with them;!!!!!

  • oh i know that situation all to good.

    I am pretty good at knowtecing potential problems or flaws in a concept.

    This often leads to Concept people feeling Discredited and thus them being Agrevated and turn negative for me discrediting thair conceptive produckt.

    In fact im trying to improve thair work by Contributing my experiance and way of perception, giving the team a chance to reackt to a posible problimatic situation bevore it happens.

  • your true lot in life, which is that of servant to a globalist elite. Sounds crazy, i know. But what i think is really crazy is putting so much effort into philosophical metaphors, while neglecting the simple facts of life, that are available to all of us, that clearly reveal the criminals who try so hard to mold the world according to their values and goals, which, of course may or may not correspond with yours.This is the time to arm yourself with knowledge not to talk in philosophical circles

  • "I'm going to pretend your being sarcastic and move on, I don't feel like getting in to that now."

    I dont quite remember what i had said, but i think you're referring to my comments regarding the 9/11 sabotage attacks. I'm going to assume that you're like most americans at this point, and still to afraid to touch this issue, which is why admit yourself that you're going to pretend that im' being sarcastic. So go ahead and 'move on.' i'll be here when you find the courage to confront your

  • Tell the truth, always.

  • since religion is a bad drug that means we have a couple billion dope addicts in need of help but you cant help a addict unless they want help and most refuse to belive its dope.

  • Sounds like how I feel about religion, yet they think I'm attacking them instead of their dogma.

  • In a sense they (religious people) see it as a very personal attack as their dogma is what a lot of them base their entire lives on. From their morality to their day to day existance.

  • Of course. It's just that when I was religious, I could understand POV differences. Too many people take a difference of opinion as a personal attack.

  • I do it all the time, and get crap for it, lol...

  • No, I think we as adult should all be able to handle the truth and not choose to believe whatever makes us feel good. In the long run it's just an empty feel-good feeling, much like he one you get from drugs.

    This is my main argument against religion. A lot of people say believing in God makes you feel good, because it gives you hope and strenght. But the fact that something makes you feel good, does not make it true. Saying you believe something because it makes you happy is just infantile.

  • Well I can understand a persons irritability at the point of starvation.

  • no you should not keep the info you your self... knowledge is power, a person could still be an optimist in this situation and say well maybe we'll be saved before its too late, you can still be an optimist and not be a complete idiot! lol there is nothing wrong with being optimist :-D

  • Optimism at the Expense of Truth encourages apathy & creates more problems.  Tho, its said we 'live & learn'.

  • Stupid and good people will die, half cup empty half cup full, one day I hope its full.

  • I would tell the person what I know but also note that I am not 100% sure if what I am saying is fact. So at the end of the day, I am giving them the information necessary to make their own decisions but I am not making it for them.

  • There was a killer episode of The Twilight

    Zone on this question called "The Old Man in the Cave." If you can find it, check it out.

    Short answer: No, they should not keep the answer to themselves, but neither should they expect people to take them seriously on account of their honesty and wisdom, both of which are cardinal sins in human society.

    Actually, they shouldn't even expect to be forgiven for sins of that caliber.

  • Interesting. If you're not part of the solution, it doesn't mean you're part of the problem.

  • I would say something because I'm have a hard enough time sleeping at night as it is. I have always been the guy in my social circles that tell people what I believe to be best for them(probably why I dont have many friends).... If they crucify me then they crucify me! I guess I get more satisfaction from telling people what I feel is right than in retaining someones "like" for me.

    I dont believe in false hope. Its inevitably going to hurt and betray someone.

    Great question!

  • Hm, I had a friend like that. Problem she was always "telling it like it is" when no one asked. If someone got a haircut she didn't think looked good she'd tell them, even if they didn't ask. Which was a bit annoying. Because she hurt people's feeling for no good reason other than her need to voice her opinion about everything at all times.

    Now of course if someone wants to know your honest opinion, you should tell them. If someone is doing something destructive of negative you should tell them.

  • Oh.. I'm not rude and I respect everyone. i'm not going to hurt someones feelings over something as small a haircut, because its not that big of a deal to me. But I will not allow anyone to get hurt because I was scared of being unpopular.

  • Haha i got this one.. so easy.

    "Pascal's Wager" is my completion of the sentence.

    Great video again ED.

  • optimism is overrated

  • so, either they eat a rock and have a 5% chance of survival, or they don't and have a 0% chance, seems like an obvious choice. You know, the same thing applies to things like the immigration problem, "It isn't a good system!" well, it's still a better system than nothing.

  • He's describing a situation where pointing out a problem with the way things are will make it better than it would have been, but not necessarily "good." Eating the food may seem like a more attractive notion than going hungry, but the results will be better if you go hungry for a week, and survive.

  • Well man, I think it's a good thing for doing something like that. Raising topics to bring them to light is a good thing, in many cases it's the idea of a documentary to bring something into the light, but not always offer a solution. If we put our 'heads' together, maybe we could find one :)

  • Well, you tell the people this so they can help to find a solution. If you can't, then maybe someone else can.

  • Haha sorry man I couldn't help. Was not dogging out your video. I love them, keep'em coming bro!!

  • Funny as hell

  • It is a great question Protean.

    I personally would be one of the people who did not eat the food nor would I worry about having an alternative option. I would understand the situation and how I got there and maintain my patience for as long as I can.

    Hell you can eat the people who die from the food poisoning since they already digested the harmful bacteria and molds that killed them so it is win-win for me!!

    W00t!

  • matthewshurt: "Hell you can eat the people"

    Alrighty, then. ;-)

  • Something to chew over, think about. I don't know if anyone really has any answers, but we can all see the shit piling up around us at a rapid pace. Some of us may even have solutions for cleaning it up, but we're not politicians, and so none of these suggestions are heard. Either way, whether we offer help or not, if we can see it, and it looks and smells like shit, then IMO, we have the right to tell everyone, "Hey! There's shit over there, look out!" Whether they listen or not is up to them.

  • that was a good scenerio/example, but i refuse to jump a "positive" bandwagon of solutions that will not change the current and or upcoming events. There is a major $#it storm coming our way here in america so instead of preaching empty positive messages that will do nothing for preparations of the inevidable. TAA, like others should have the right to say and speak the truth.who the hell you to even question this!!!!!!

  • 3rd vid of yours I've watched and 3rd reason I'm a new subscriber!

  • optimism at the expense of truth is at best false hope and at worst a tragic mistake. ANYTHING at the expense of truth is by definition WRONG. To disregard the truth is honestly the worst thing a person can do. So to hold back the truth is to do a grave misservice and injustice. It is better to take no action when we don't know what is true than to take action, for the sake of acting when we know it to be wrong. The $700Bill bailout is a horribly perfect example of this.

  • Realism trumps optimism and pessimism.

  • Optimism at the expense of truth is good on the surface, not so good when analyzed in depth, or in real life.

  • same truth is different coming from smtg/someone who knows it differently.Comes from ~experience~;I know the pros and cons on a particular issue for example& I choose to eat smtg or indulge in a situation instead of another with the utmost certainty that it matters to me alone=> my reasons may seem contradictory; I do it, I feel ~comfortably with myself(predicting outcome) In other words, not necessarily optimism or pessimism regarding smtg. Perhaps a view: all things as information and present.

  • Truth is such a slippery concept. Not even hindsight is 20/20 because where you are is not where you would be if you wouldn't have made the decisions that you had made LOL. Whether that be bad or good, which is all relative to the moment. Truth as not being something you can hold in your hands, I believe what you are saying is that we are not responsible for making anyone feel good. What we say and how we perceive the moment. Truth is an abstraction that is deconstructed to portray the moment.

  • a rational statement is halfway to the answer

  • i think that basically all aspects of society are based on this concept of "optimism at the expense of truth". most people simply aren't able to deal with or except harsh realities, so they fashion a more comfortable world within which to live (however false it may be). it helps them sleep at night, i suppose. but those of us who don't subscribe to that particular coping mechanism do have a right and (dare i say) a responsibility to combat this sort of irrational thinking.

  • "Optimism at the expense of truth is delusion and disassociation as a means to sanity and perspective."

  • Does the food they eat poison them so badly that I couldnt eat them?

    Cause I would totally chow on those morons.

  • Hope I understood this right,...........

    I would say if you put out what you might have, however little, that it might generate more of an answer, something at least towards solving the problem ?

  • When i meet a person who refers to themselves as an optimist.What comes to my mind is that they refuse to see the many situations that are surrounding the community.I wonder if they are blind, or just don't care.I also understand many believe there is nothing they can do to make the world a better place.I made a decision in my life to search for truth.That's why i'm here.

  • Good point gogetitdude, you sure as hell won't find any truth on TV, you at least have a 50/50 chance on the internet. I feel like watching TV (turned it off over a year ago) makes me dumber, but I keep researching economics, finance, history, and law on the internet and reverse some of the damage done by the years of TV. We really are in the middle of history being made right now in America, and most people don't have a CLUE.

  • speak the truth, though it be bitter.

  • scary stuff eh?

  • Ya got a point there buddy, i figure go for tellin' the truth and to each his own, as an optimist, i would appreciate the truth and then turn my energies towards lookin' for good clean food. 5 stars proteanview!

  • Exactly! Palin can't give a stright answer same as Bush, so she thinks that we should just go with all she has to offer, which just happens to be a load of shit. Figures. I love your point of view on things, and I'm definately using this scenario to help promote what I believe in, such as Obama. Thanks, you really are an inspiration!

  • Oh, how funny that I'm watching this today. I was battling with this when it comes to the current politics. I thought that b/c I have no solution to give that I shouldn't criticize. But you know what? Seeing the truth is one thing; speaking out is another. Offering a solution is a 3rd separate thing. I don't think they MUST come together, all at once, necessarily. Speak up, always. IMO.

  • There can be no optimist and pessimist way of life. People feel different every day. Wether it be good or bad. ANYWAY, it's your own damned fault for eating the fucking food in the first place.

  • I think that truth should be stated. If the food is poisonous, than the optimism would be for finding non-poisonous food/being rescued, not for hoping that the other guy was lying, or that the effects of the mold and toxins wouldn't be "that bad" compared to not eating immediately.

    I don't think optimism needs to be at the expense of truth, even in the face of death.

  • Good parallelism. Likened to politics, they find poisonous food, they give it to you, you eat it and almost die, they say "well, I fed you didn't I...I contributed to society" ...but not in a good way.