Constructive Pessimism. Useful?

[ToughButterCup]

I was introduced to the idea recently. Seems to me to be a useful way of heading off some of the insolence of fortune - and a way preparing for old age. 

Strikes me that Constructive Pessimism has a role to play in our sector. What do you think? 

[Russell griffiths]

My business partner who is a total pessimist wanted to set up a consultancy business called something like JUST SAY NO, it would work by people taking their ideas to him of how they would make their first million, he would tear the idea to bits and tell them not to do it. 

 

[Dreadnaught]

Alain de Botton describes himself as a cheerful pessimist. Similar, and comparably refreshing.

 

 

[scottishjohn]

I think without it we would all make far more mistakes by not allowing for other things we have not yet thought of.

my mantra is "If I didn,t t have bad luck --I would have no luck at all" or "if it can go wrong --it will" or "always lands butter side down "

then when i do get some I,m happily suprised for a change .

so yes I,m getting close to a terminal pessimist 

I wonder why i keep pushing so hard to find this plot to make my life even harder .Lol

[vivienz]

Isn't this something along the lines of 'plan for the worst, hope for the best'?

[Declan52]

Or just realise shit happens during every build. Accept it, moan and groan a bit then  move on.

[Onoff]

5 hours ago, AnonymousBosch said:

a way preparing for old age

 

You want to look into the art of Döstädning.

[MikeSharp01]

Bascaly I don't see it working out well, in fact I see only bad things coming from it. I am, however, optimistic that my dire predictions are right.

[Adrian Walker]

5 hours ago, scottishjohn said:

I think without it we would all make far more mistakes by not allowing for other things we have not yet thought of.

my mantra is "If I didn,t t have bad luck --I would have no luck at all" or "if it can go wrong --it will" or "always lands butter side down "

then when i do get some I,m happily suprised for a change .

so yes I,m getting close to a terminal pessimist 

I wonder why i keep pushing so hard to find this plot to make my life even harder .Lol

If you keep on "pushing" the same way you will always get the same result, nothing to do with luck, which IMHO is perception.

[joe90]

I am an optimist but a realist, is this not the same thing as constructive pessimism? (Sounds better anyway!).

[MikeSharp01]

Ok so right now I am on way to GBK in blue water,  walking, I will be surprised if there is no queue. Constructive pessimism or not?

[MrSniff]

8 hours ago, scottishjohn said:

I think without it we would all make far more mistakes by not allowing for other things we have not yet thought of.

my mantra is "If I didn,t t have bad luck --I would have no luck at all" or "if it can go wrong --it will" or "always lands butter side down "

then when i do get some I,m happily suprised for a change .

so yes I,m getting close to a terminal pessimist 

I wonder why i keep pushing so hard to find this plot to make my life even harder .Lol

There’s a song about that... for any blues fans: 

 

[Construction Channel]

7 hours ago, vivienz said:

Isn't this something along the lines of 'plan for the worst, hope for the best'?

..... Accept what you get.. 

[PeterW]

Experience is what you get, when you don’t get what you want...

 

Told to me by my very first programme director and it’s stuck with me for decades ..!! And it’s true....

[SteamyTea]

23 hours ago, Russell griffiths said:

My business partner who is a total pessimist wanted to set up a consultancy business called something like JUST SAY NO, it would work by people taking their ideas to him of how they would make their first million, he would tear the idea to bits and tell them not to do it. 

I have wanted to do something similar for new products.  Most of them are total shit, like my upright vacuum cleaner.

The hose goes in at the top, so if vacuuming the stairs, and one starts at the top of them, the f***ing thing falls down on top of you.

I can tell you that it really hurts.

[ProDave]

13 hours ago, SteamyTea said:

I have wanted to do something similar for new products.  Most of them are total shit, like my upright vacuum cleaner.

The hose goes in at the top, so if vacuuming the stairs, and one starts at the top of them, the f***ing thing falls down on top of you.

I can tell you that it really hurts.

So learn from the experience and start from the bottom.