Americans Hyper Optimistic

[Akka]

Maybe this blind optimism explains why the USA are so socially backward and are so much in denial with today's problems (like, for example, global warming).
It might look nice and upbeat to be like that, but the consequence is that real problems are never recognized and as such never dealt with.

[Dangg]

Hilarious
People are the complete opposite of that in my country

[PosPosPos]

There's no inherent difference between being optimistic and pessimistic.

There is a big difference between doing something and not doing anything, though, which is wholly different from how cheery or grumpy you are.

[Dangg]

The ability to distinguish real dangers from exaggerated ones is one of the most important traits in life

Based on your example you seem to land on the other extreme of the spectrum which is equally terrible

[Independent voter]

[adult langauge, Russ likes to cuss]

Optimism made us the richest nation in the world.

It's also why you don't want us as an enemy, we don't see failure as failure.

[Machismo]

The OP wants to complain about others being illogical, while demonstrating illogical behavior of his own. He has opted to take an organic chemistry class, knowing it will be very difficult. It hasn't even started yet, and he's already in a near panic over the issue. It is no longer within his control, yet he is actively consumed in worrying over something he has no control over. That seems highly illogical.

[Khaza-R]

The irony is that when shit hits the fan, those same 'carefree' people are the first worrying themselves sick over that supposedly 'unchangeable shit'.

Even thought it's slightly exagerated, the OP has the correct attitude to do well in life, as opposed to the average Joe being swept where the wind takes him.

Except that's not what anyone in this thread is saying. It's fine to be concerned about the future. But if you're stressing about situations you cannot change its only making a bad situation even worse.

[Deleted]

Must be all the sugar.

[Hashtronaut]

Idk if optimism is the correct word, but it's definitely better to have a positive attitude. Having a positive attitude breeds further positivity.

Then again I have no idea what you're talking about I know A LOT of Americans that are fairly pessimistic.

[reauxmont]

After reading all those replies, I slowly realize why Trump just left the paris climate agreement and why probably everyone who argued against the OP supports that.

Except that's not what anyone in this thread is saying. It's fine to be concerned about the future. But if you're stressing about situations you cannot change its only making a bad situation even worse.

You can change most situations, or at least turn them in your favor. The example of OP is pretty obvious. The next chemistry class is going to be hard and unforgiving because of a specific Professor? You need to either change / skip the class, or, if you have the time, study in advance. That's things you can do to change a worrying situation to something you feel comfortable about. Doing that results in ACTUAL optimism about something. You have prepared and feel confident about the class. It's different from the blind optimism which results from an "doesn't matter what I do, everything will eventually work out somehow!"-mindset.

I'm not sure why the OP gets so much flak. Recognizing that a situation is worrisome and then acting upon that feeling, in a way that makes the situation less worrisome, is not a bad thing. Of course, if you skip the "act upon the feeling"-part, you might as well just be fake optimistic.

[matt4pack]

Yeah I don't get it either. While I'm not a complete pessimist I am at least a realist. People shouldn't be down all the time but they also shouldn't be ridiculously optimistic all the time either. Eventually you are gonna get sick and everyone around you is going to die which these people aren't prepared for. All you have to do is go to a children's hospital to see the real world.

Many people just tend to live in their little safe space bubbles where they like to pretend everything is rainbows and butterflies. Even if it takes drugs and anti-depressants to do so.

[Deleted]

Because it is important to have your head firmly set in harsh reality instead of floating in the clouds. Ignoring problems and simply thinking "everything is going to be okay because I smile and am optimistic" is not going to make those problems go away. Hyper optimism is often used as an escapist mechanism in America.

There's no point worrying about things that are outside of your influence.
Sure you can make some token effort that make you a small part of solution.
But it should end on that and that alone.
No point letting it bend you out of shape to the point of making threads on a MMO website.

[vindicatorx]

Your attitude is the only thing you can control.
Why sweat shit you can't control?

This is pretty muchh my thoughts on it. A) Most American's aren't like that in the first place. I see so many people worrying about shit outside their control it's ridiculous.
B) All anyone can do is face things head on and work hard on the things they can directly affecct the outcome on.
C) It's not just an American thing either. The Japanese have a phrase they use all the time; Shoganai, which literally means "It can't be helped". My advice is stop whining and foccus on what you can do to make this class work out. I mean if you are getting this upset over a difficult course you won't survive in the working world at all.

[Halyon]

Because it is important to have your head firmly set in harsh reality instead of floating in the clouds. Ignoring problems and simply thinking "everything is going to be okay because I smile and am optimistic" is not going to make those problems go away. Hyper optimism is often used as an escapist mechanism in America.

This. Just this. That said, you don't have to be a nervous wreck over everything...neither extreme benefits anyone, least of all oneself.

[The One Percent]

The more you know and understand, the more pessimistic you tend to be generally.

[Taso]

Positivity has done more then negativity. Preaching doom and gloom will only cause the worst to rise up. For example As much as I like trump and reject the media interpretation of his rise to the "throne" in order to connect to this thread he's an example of what happens when you project mass negativity to the population.To counter that example we have regean who ran a platform of positivity asking are you better off then you were four years ago and the It's morning again in America. You can tell easily who was the optimist.

[downnola]

"Why isn't everyone as miserable and hardworking as I am?"

Here's a tip: stop being so resentful of people around you, and focus on your own problems. You're lashing out at your friend because of your own stress and anxiety. Life isn't going to stop being stressful and unfair even as you grow older; it gets worse. You know why some people appear to be blind optimists to you? Because you haven't figured out that going through life with an utterly miserable attitude doesn't make life any easier or better. That's true realism; realizing that life sucks and going out of your way to make it worse isn't a good idea.

[Queen of Hamsters]

Oh yes, it's so much better that people worry themselves into anxiety disorders!

/s

[Bryntrollian]

You seem delusional and appear to be suffering from a severe anti-American sentiment.

[Gaexion Ramza Beoulve]

Anyone who uses the term "American Optimism" doesn't understand Americans.

It's not optimism, it's a form of stoicism. It the mindset of having single-handedly pulled the entirety of western civilization kicking and screaming from the fires of oblivion with our own blood, sweat, tears and knowing your shitty ironic empire is the only thing preventing another dark age.

If you want to be a shit-eating defeatist then go retire innawoods of Finland, or cuck it up in Swedistan.

We inherited it from the british, "Keep calm and carry on" is baked into our blood. Because we are cut from the same cloth that mindset survived in some way. Try going out and seeing the real america, try visiting the people who hated Trump but chose him over Hillary. Try visiting real poverty of detroit or chicago and tell me about american optimism.

But have your circle jerk on some other forum, please.