accusing someone of being a "cynic"...

[Os Cangaceiros]

Doesn't it always seem like whenever someone accuses someone else of being a "cynic", they're basically saying, "yeah, what you're saying is probably the truth, but it's an uncomfortable truth for me"?

[gorillafuck]

yes.

[Bostana]

Kinda Sorta

[Sasha]

The cynics where the political radicals of their time, they where pretty cool if not a bit lifestyle'ist and primmie: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynicism

[manic expression]

Depends on the context, but in general I think you're right. I'll sometimes call someone "cynical" if they're viewpoint boils down to expecting the worst of people, or doubting things without good reason. Basically if a pacifist tries to justify their pacifism by saying that everyone who uses violence will inevitably become evil or whatever, I'll say they're being cynical because their conclusion is borne of nothing but pessimism.

But yeah, most of the time when someone uses that in a discussion they're saying they don't want to accept what you're saying because it's uncomfortable.

[Lobotomy]

what the fuck man, I was going to post something in regards to cynicism, but now if I do I'll look like an unoriginal asshole

[heyjoe]

cynics and the use of cynical humor is sometimes the only method of resistance in situations where there is a feeling or reality of powerlessness against a seemingly overwhelming force, be it political, economic or otherwise.

[Lynx]

I often accuse myself of being a cynic. It hasn't helped.

[Decolonize The Left]

Cynicism is healthy. But yes, people who call you a cynic know what you're saying is true, but they are weak and don't wanna deal with it so they label you as such and leave it at that.

- August

[bcbm]

i think cynicism is the most rational response to the world at the moment

[Blake's Baby]

I'm with psycho, except I don't think they were either 'lifestylist' or 'primmie' (except in so far as they didn't have a materialist understanding... which would have been quite a feat in the 3rd century BC or thereabouts). The cynics were awesome. The first punks, howling their disgust at the hypocrisy of the society they were unfortunate enough to find themselves in.

[Ostrinski]

You hit the nail on the head, comrade.

[Sasha]

I'm with psycho, except I don't think they were either 'lifestylist' or 'primmie' (except in so far as they didn't have a materialist understanding... which would have been quite a feat in the 3rd century BC or thereabouts). The cynics were awesome. The first punks, howling their disgust at the hypocrisy of the society they were unfortunate enough to find themselves in.

Sure (punks can be quite lifestylist too) although giving your fortune away to live in a bathtub on the streets of Athens could also be quite situ...

[Blake's Baby]

Punks can be lifestylist, true. But 'lifestylism' only exists in a situation where the alternatives exist? One can be 'committed' or one one can be a 'lifestylist'... what alternatives existed in the 3rd century BC? The cynics were rebelling in disgust at their society. Their rebellion couldn't usher in communism or even overthrow the corrupt state, not because they were lifestylist, but because material reality hadn't caught up with their appreciation of alienation.

Is that more serious than it needs to be?

Fuck you all, you conformity is shit burning in your hearts. Or as we're on a Greek tip, like an excees of black bile burning through your courage in your bellies. Your mouths are corpses.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Not at all, the most cynical people in the world are liberal apologists to the Democratic party. "Yes he won't end the war but it's the only REAL option".

I think cynicism tends to mask uncomfortable questions for the cynic, not the other way around.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Not at all, the most cynical people in the world are liberal apologists to the Democratic party. "Yes he won't end the war but it's the only REAL option".

I don't see how you can be a "real cynic" and be a supporter of Obama.

[Deicide]

I got called a cynic today for proclaiming Capitalism to be unsustainable.

[Искра]

I'm cynic. Fuck off.

[#FF0000]

I don't see how you can be a "real cynic" and be a supporter of Obama.

yeah in that context i don't think they're cynics -- just dishonest or cowardly.

[o well this is ok I guess]

The cynics where the political radicals of their time, they where pretty cool if not a bit lifestyle'ist and primmie: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynicism Yeah but lifestylist and primmie when it was cool time to be lifestylist and primmie

[Jimmie Higgins]

I don't see how you can be a "real cynic" and be a supporter of Obama.Like this: "sure he's a moderate, but Socialism's never going to happen, Obama is as good as it gets". Democrats only ultimately have cynicism working for them... "lesserevilism" "triangulation" and so on.