On Cynicism and Hope

[naamah_darling]

In light of the great light bulb of "Goddamn, I wish I'd thought to say that!" which is currently blinking over my head, I would like to direct you to two posts that make a point I have been inarticulately trying articulate for a really long time.

First, coffeeem leads off with this entry, which explains that cynicism is not the same as wisdom or

Comments

[lots42]

But on the other paw, people who don't get outraged are not automatically jerkfaced idiots. Some just don't have the capacity for it, like me. I have to deploy the Denial Tarp of Justice once in a while, or it messes with my brain something fierce.

Personally, I try and concentrate on -some- things [1]. I do what I can. Like those who devote their lives to raising orphaned wild animals (which I would do if I can).

[1] Like emailing the governor when an old guy got arrested for a crappy lawn. The reply indicates the guy knows of the situation.

[naamah_darling]

There's a difference between just not getting outraged and being a cynical prick who sneers at people who do get pissed off. I know people who don't tend to get mad about certain things, just as there are things that I hate but which don't outrage me. I can't afford to get pissed about all the things that upset me, so I pick a few, and I focus on that, and things get done. You choose your battles. You don't just sit back and laugh at those who fight.

Maaaan, I read about the lawn thing. What the FUCK? I was really pissed about that too, but by the time I heard about it, it had been resolved. Pigfuckers, OMG.

[lots42]

Please tell me the details of the resolving

[omimouse]

The rest of the area found out about it, and about a dozen or more people descended on his lawn and landscaped it for him.

[sanat]

That is awesome, but in Googling to learn more about this story I found this one too from last year. Good gods, why must minor infractions like public eyesores end in violence and arrest?