^ I am not "pissed off" just musing about why many people in Edmonton have to "default" to the negative.
I asked this question of Google AI and the response was interesting...
Here's the wording of my question:
what can be said about a person who claims to never be negative just realistic?
And here is the response:
A person who claims to "never be negative, just realistic"
may be exhibiting several traits or psychological tendencies. This statement often serves as a self-justification for a pragmatic, cautious, or even pessimistic approach to life, while attempting to avoid the social stigma associated with negativity [2].
Several things can be said about such an individual:
Characteristics and Traits
- Self-Perception: They genuinely see themselves as objective and level-headed [2]. They likely believe they are simply evaluating situations based purely on facts and logic, free from emotional bias [2].
- Pragmatism and Caution: They may lean heavily towards cautious and practical thinking. They focus on potential obstacles and worst-case scenarios, believing this is a responsible way to anticipate problems and prepare [2].
- Defense Mechanism: This claim can be a defense mechanism to deflect criticism about their attitude. By labeling their perspective as "realistic," they are implicitly suggesting that others who are more optimistic are naive or irrational [2].
- Risk Aversion: They might be highly risk-averse. Focusing on potential negative outcomes is a way for them to manage anxiety about uncertainty and potential failure.
- Potential for Pessimism: While they reject the "negative" label, their perspective may align with psychological definitions of pessimism. They might consistently focus on the less favorable aspects of a situation [2].
Implications for Interaction
- Conflict with Optimists: They may frequently clash with more optimistic individuals, whom they might perceive as being in denial or having "rose-colored glasses" [2].
- Difficulty with Idealism: They may struggle to appreciate or engage with idealistic ideas, creative brainstorming, or "big picture" thinking that involves a degree of positive assumption.
- Perceived as a "Downer": Despite their self-perception, others may still perceive them as draining or unsupportive because they often focus on what could go wrong rather than what could go right.
In essence, the phrase highlights a person who equates a cautious, outcome-oriented, and potentially pessimistic viewpoint with truth and objectivity, while dismissing optimism as unrealistic [2].
In my own world, when I am interviewing a potential hire I look to people with aesthetically rich outlooks and that keep striving for the best outcomes for projects and their clients; there is not much "joy" in references to less-than solutions.
Go with what you will, I have no problem with you personally so there is no need to apologize to me.
