Are you Optimistic or Pessimistic about 2017?

[AB Editor]

 

This poll is closed.

Will 2017 be better or worse than 2016?

• 2017 Will Be Better - 116 votes
• 66%
• 2017 Will Be Worse - 59 votes
• 34%

See final stats

Stats until: 06:52 Sat 27th Apr 2024 (Refreshed every 5 minutes)

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[jim360]

I do wonder about JD, though. That's like the fifth time you've mentioned that to me, ie something along the lines of "why are you still on this site?". At this point I'm beginning to suspect it's a not-so-subtle attempt to get rid of me...

Well in that case don't go putting words into my mouth, Naomi (yes, I am aware of the irony there...)

[-Talbot-]

Easily amused ... that's a good thing isn't it?
The wife is easily amused and she seems quite chirpy most of the time.

Would you care to explain to a simpleton using words of no more than 2 or 3 syllables what you meant?

[Lynn_M]

Ask us again after the French and German elections

[naomi24]

Jim, I haven't put words in your mouth. You implied that optimists are mindless - and away with the fairies. If pessimism makes one as grumpy as you're coming across, I'm glad I'm an optimist. Cheer up, Jim!

[Jackdaw33]

No need to worry about me.

[Cloverjo]

Don't go, Jim. Some of us are with you.
I just don't want to get involved in arguments on here.
Oops, what have I done now?

[jim360]

I think it's possible to be optimistic (oh wait, that's four syllables, can't use that...)... err, hopeful about how things may turn out in future... for good reasons. I also think it's possible to be hopeful just out of sheer bloody-mindedness, in the face of all the evidence. Brexit, perhaps, can go either way still, although that maybe depends on what you think makes for a good Brexit. Trump, though, is just pretty much entirely awful. Awful as a person, awful in his policies, awful in his behaviour, his choice of staff isn't thrilling me either...

Anyone who is hopeful about Trump's time as president is therefore -- in my opinion, anyway -- being hopeful only mindlessly. So no, that doesn't mean that hopefulness for the future is always mindless. Just, if you are hopeful about Trump, then you are mindless.

There, I think that meets the syllable limit. Now, back to advanced physics for a bit.

[-Talbot-]

I actually like you Jim ... you grump *** ;0)

[naomi24]

Oh my....

[jim360]

Haha! Well, thanks Talbot.

Also thanks clover :)

[jim360]

Well, Naomi, to be fair -- Talbot did ask. So blame him.

[naomi24]

Cloverjo, I don't think anyone wants him to go - even though he clearly thinks the rest of us are all too thick to use words of more than three syllables.

[-Talbot-]

***

That was one syllable btw

[jim360]

Talbot, at 17:59, clearly specified that I should explain using words "of no more than ... 3 syllables". So I stuck to that limit, as requested.

[naomi24]

Ah, I see. You believed Talbot when he implied he's a simpleton. That's not very smart, is it. ;o)

Come on Jim, cheer up.

[-Talbot-]

How many syllables is floccinaucinihilipilification?

[Jackdaw33]

I make it 14 but am open to correction.

[jim360]

I didn't believe him, Naomi -- I just thought it would be funny to pretend that I did.

Contrary to popular belief, I actually don't take everything seriously. Indeed I'm well-known among my friends and family for being almost always sarcastic. When I posted that spiel I was just having a bit of a laugh. Lighten up, Naomi!

[naomi24]

Jim, //When I posted that spiel I was just having a bit of a laugh.//

Me too. See? Light. :o)

[mibn2cweus]

The world was supposed to end in 2016 . . . how can it get any worse than that?