A pessimistic attitude is the ultimate win-win

#1
Daniel_Lincolns_Foot

Daniel_Lincolns_Foot

Just kickin' around ideas
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#1
Pretty clear that these forums are always split between "Hey, lets ride it out and see what happens" and "Tennessee might as well disband the football program."

I've always considered myself in Group A. I stay optimistic about the program because 1. It's better for your health to be an optimistic, hopeful person and 2. My attitude has zero effect on the outcome of decisions made or games won/lost. So why not stay positive?

But I've come to realize why people are constantly pessimistic about Tennessee football: because it's the safer of the options. Take those that don't care for the CJH hire...if they end up being wrong, then it doesn't matter because that means Tennessee will be winning and rebuilding a successful program. And if they're right, then they come with the "See?? Knew it all along."

So if you want to walk around for the next couple of seasons, all frumpy with a big ol' dump in your pants, just waiting for your opportunity to hop on here and go "told you so!" then you go right ahead, ya miserable duds.

I, on the other hand, will look forward to this year. And the next year. And every year that I am lucky enough to enjoy Tennessee football.

tl;dr Don't be a frumpy, dumpy, poopy pants
 
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#4
#4
Daniel_Lincolns_Foot said:
Pretty clear that these forums are always split between "Hey, lets ride it out and see what happens" and "Tennessee might as well disband the football program."

I've always considered myself in Group A. I stay optimistic about the program because 1. It's better for your health to be an optimistic, hopeful person and 2. My attitude has zero effect on the outcome of decisions made or games won/lost. So why not stay positive?

But I've come to realize why people are constantly pessimistic about Tennessee football: because it's the safer of the options. Take those that don't care for the CJH hire...if they end up being wrong, then it doesn't matter because that means Tennessee will be winning and rebuilding a successful program. And if they're right, then they come with the "See?? Knew it all along."

So if you want to walk around for the next couple of seasons, all frumpy with a big ol' dump in your pants, just waiting for your opportunity to hop on here and go "told you so!" then you go right ahead, ya miserable duds.

I, on the other hand, will look forward to this year. And the next year. And every year that I am lucky enough to enjoy Tennessee football.

tl;dr Don't be a frumpy, dumpy, poopy pants
Click to expand...

I'd toast to this if wasn't 9:11am.........
 
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#8
#8
Daniel_Lincolns_Foot said:
Pretty clear that these forums are always split between "Hey, lets ride it out and see what happens" and "Tennessee might as well disband the football program."

I've always considered myself in Group A. I stay optimistic about the program because 1. It's better for your health to be an optimistic, hopeful person and 2. My attitude has zero effect on the outcome of decisions made or games won/lost. So why not stay positive?

But I've come to realize why people are constantly pessimistic about Tennessee football: because it's the safer of the options. Take those that don't care for the CJH hire...if they end up being wrong, then it doesn't matter because that means Tennessee will be winning and rebuilding a successful program. And if they're right, then they come with the "See?? Knew it all along."

So if you want to walk around for the next couple of seasons, all frumpy with a big ol' dump in your pants, just waiting for your opportunity to hop on here and go "told you so!" then you go right ahead, ya miserable duds.

I, on the other hand, will look forward to this year. And the next year. And every year that I am lucky enough to enjoy Tennessee football.

tl;dr Don't be a frumpy, dumpy, poopy pants
Click to expand...
Nobody that is depressed about the hire is doing it so that we can say I told you so. We are legitimately depressed about this trash hire.
 
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#11
#11
What you say makes sense. I tend towards the "wait and see" as well, until the wheels start to fall off as they have with the previous several coaching staffs. For now, I'm looking forward to see what Heupel and his staff can do for the program in the next several years, particularly with regard to igniting the offense that was more lifeless and pungent than a roadkill skunk this past year.
 
#12
#12
I think people should feel the way they want to feel without other people telling them the way they should feel. I know that's a terribly structured sentence. You don't have to tell me
 
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#14
#14
I am neither pessimistic nor optimistic. Just realistic, I'd like to think. Opposite of my attitude during our previous new coaches, I am not wearing my orange sunglasses. I am just going to wait and see. Not much joy invested at this time. Probably the healthiest way for me for now.
 
#15
#15
Daniel_Lincolns_Foot said:
But I've come to realize why people are constantly pessimistic about Tennessee football: because it's the safer of the options.
Click to expand...

Appreciate your thought filled post, but let me pose two questions to challenge your conclusion:

Pessimists are safer... but from what?

Isn't the optimistic position actually superior, because it offers a win/win/win? You can feel good in the present, anytime something good happens you can ascend to the "told you so" position, and when you get to enjoy good news, you don't suffer any loss of prophetic credibility.

In truth, pessimism is purely defensive. It is protecting our feelings from bad news by steeping them in the expectation of bad news. It is permanently retreating into a fallout shelter, rather than risk exposure to both the good & bad variations in the weather.

I was not raised by optimists, and have yet to assimilate many of their qualities. I continue to try, but the news lately insists on resisting! But my feelings don't change the facts that optimists are:

• more successful in school, at work, and in athletics
• healthier, and they live longer
• more satisfied with their marriages
• less likely to suffer from depression
• less anxious.​

Like drugs, pessimism makes us feel better in the moment (especially moments like the past decade of Vol history!)... but pessimism takes a daily toll on the whole of our lives. And worse, we teach it to our children, putting limits on their future, and we infect our friends and coworkers with it, making our workplace a less enjoyable place to be.

But--hey--maybe I'm just being pessimistic.
 
#16
#16
tastycar said:
I think people should feel the way they want to feel without other people telling them the way they should feel. I know that's a terribly structured sentence. You don't have to tell me
Click to expand...


I haven't told anyone how to feel. Simply pointing out my opinion on why people feel certain ways, and offering my attitude.
 
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#18
#18
BruisedOrange said:
Appreciate your thought filled post, but let me pose two questions to challenge your conclusion:

Pessimists are safer... but from what?

Isn't the optimistic position actually superior, because it offers a win/win/win? You can feel good in the present, anytime something good happens you can ascend to the "told you so" position, and when you get to enjoy good news, you don't suffer any loss of prophetic credibility.

In truth, pessimism is purely defensive. It is protecting our feelings from bad news by steeping them in the expectation of bad news. It is permanently retreating into a fallout shelter, rather than risk exposure to both the good & bad variations in the weather.

I was not raised by optimists, and have yet to assimilate many of their qualities. I continue to try, but the news lately insists on resisting! But my feelings don't change the facts that optimists are:

• more successful in school, at work, and in athletics​
• healthier, and they live longer​
• more satisfied with their marriages​
• less likely to suffer from depression​
• less anxious.​

Like drugs, pessimism makes us feel better in the moment (especially moments like the past decade of Vol history!)... but pessimism takes a daily toll on the whole of our lives. And worse, we teach it to our children, putting limits on their future, and we infect our friends and coworkers with it, making our workplace a less enjoyable place to be.

But--hey--maybe I'm just being pessimistic.
Click to expand...

I think you hit the nail on the head with the "in the moment," because I was trying to get at that a pessimistic attitude feels safer because it doesn't require the long term emotional investment--it's a way to avoid ultimately feeling disappointed by rejecting the feelings before you have the opportunity to be hurt. It's all very Good Will Hunting-ish.

I wasn't trying to say that pessimism is the better of the two options, just trying to get at why people feel it's the safer of the two.
 
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#19
#19
Pessimists are always either:

-> Right OR
-> Pleasantly surprised

A win-win for them. Miserable for everyone else around them.
 
#21
#21
I pledge not to be a frumpy, dumpy, poopy pants, at least figuratively.
 
#23
#23
Daniel_Lincolns_Foot said:
Pretty clear that these forums are always split between "Hey, lets ride it out and see what happens" and "Tennessee might as well disband the football program."

I've always considered myself in Group A. I stay optimistic about the program because 1. It's better for your health to be an optimistic, hopeful person and 2. My attitude has zero effect on the outcome of decisions made or games won/lost. So why not stay positive?

But I've come to realize why people are constantly pessimistic about Tennessee football: because it's the safer of the options. Take those that don't care for the CJH hire...if they end up being wrong, then it doesn't matter because that means Tennessee will be winning and rebuilding a successful program. And if they're right, then they come with the "See?? Knew it all along."

So if you want to walk around for the next couple of seasons, all frumpy with a big ol' dump in your pants, just waiting for your opportunity to hop on here and go "told you so!" then you go right ahead, ya miserable duds.

I, on the other hand, will look forward to this year. And the next year. And every year that I am lucky enough to enjoy Tennessee football.

tl;dr Don't be a frumpy, dumpy, poopy pants
Click to expand...
The see I knew that we would suck doesn’t seem like a win to me
 
#24
#24
Daniel_Lincolns_Foot said:
I wasn't trying to say that pessimism is the better of the two options, just trying to get at why people feel it's the safer of the two.
Click to expand...

My apologies--I read hastily. You are correct. You only said that you've "come to realize why people are constantly pessimistic about Tennessee football."
 
#25
#25
I don't think anyone would consider Tennessee continuing to suck a"win".
I wonder if the folks who are content with the previous coaches and the state of the football program even care about Tennessee football.
 
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