Is optimistic realism compatible with Ubuntu?

[DrGlen]

I'm still thinking about this piece: http://www.celticsblog.com/2010/3/4/1357462/optimistic-realism

With all due respect, my finger tells me there are those who are openly supremely confident - not out of true conviction - but out of hope in lifting the collective mood here.

And there are others who seem to vent frustration and pessimism – not because they believe the sky is falling - but to merely prepare themselves for the possibility of disappointment should things not develop as they actually expect.

So to say that there is a silent majority in the middle is to divide (albeit unwittingly). It invites those who are not openly extreme to dismiss all others as possibly lacking in facts, logic, or sanity. Hence, it utlimately fosters close-mindedness and intolerance. Not overtly. But implicitly. At the very least, it's condescending.

Aren’t we all on the same team? Isn’t this where all Celtics fans can come to feel like family? Is there really a need to hand out yellow stars of David?

[BudweiserCeltic]

Is there really need to hand out yellow stars?

Let me know after you reach your 1000th post

[DrGlen]

I had a dog named Lucky. He was killed. (sniff sniff)

Run over. Road kill. (sniff sniff)

Oh the agony. The sorrow. Pain and anguish. I wanted to die ...

"Don't wowwie," mommy said. "Ewerything will be all right. I'll kiss it, and I'll make it better. Promise."

But then daddy came home. "Actually, you are both wrong. We could all die tomorrow. Drunk drivers. Suicide bombers. Stuff happens all the time. You've got to both THINK. True ignorance resides on the extremes. Be optimistic. But be a realist too."

[Tai]

I had a dog named Lucky. He was killed. (sniff sniff)

Run over. Road kill. (sniff sniff)

Oh the agony. The sorrow. Pain and anguish. I wanted to die ...

"Don't wowwie," mommy said. "Ewerything will be all right. I'll kiss it, and I'll make it better. Promise."

But then daddy came home. "Actually, you are both wrong. We could all die tomorrow. Drunk drivers. Suicide bombers. Stuff happens all the time. You've got to both THINK. True ignorance resides on the extremes. Be optimistic. But be a realist too."

Did this really happen?

[barefacedmonk]

I had a dog named Lucky. He was killed. (sniff sniff)

Run over. Road kill. (sniff sniff)

Oh the agony. The sorrow. Pain and anguish. I wanted to die ...

"Don't wowwie," mommy said. "Ewerything will be all right. I'll kiss it, and I'll make it better. Promise."

But then daddy came home. "Actually, you are both wrong. We could all die tomorrow. Drunk drivers. Suicide bombers. Stuff happens all the time. You've got to both THINK. True ignorance resides on the extremes. Be optimistic. But be a realist too."

I have a dog name lucky. He is a mini Dachshund. I would post a pic but I don't know how to...Can someone tell me how its done?

Sorry, I know its totally unrelated.

[DrGlen]

Is there really need to hand out yellow stars?

Let me know after you reach your 1000th post

Yellow Star of David:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_badge

[Jeff]

I have to admit, labeling anyone anything isn't usually a good idea.  It boxes people in when in truth we are all free to think and feel how we please.  So that's the fatal flaw of my article.

Then again, I was merely trying to take a quick snapshot of my view of fans.  Perhaps my perceptions were a little too black and white, but I did my best to represent what I've been seeing lately without offending anyone.  I probably fell short on both counts, but that's life.

[PLamb]

I have to admit, labeling anyone anything isn't usually a good idea.  It boxes people in when in truth we are all free to think and feel how we please.  So that's the fatal flaw of my article.

Then again, I was merely trying to take a quick snapshot of my view of fans.  Perhaps my perceptions were a little too black and white, but I did my best to represent what I've been seeing lately without offending anyone.  I probably fell short on both counts, but that's life.

Over the last couple of weeks I've been labeled both Jeff

The realist and the optimist

Personally I am going to route for this team until the end and hope and pray, like I always do, that they will win it

Honestly, if being a Red Sox fan and a fan during that 22 year stretch has taught me anything, it's that nothing is guaranteed in sports and that no matter how good or bad things look, the complete opposite outcome of the expected is possible

So I go into no season expecting a championship, just hoping

This year my expectations were high but now they have been lower

Asked if I think they will win the championship right now and I would have to say no

Asked if I thought the Red Sox were going to win the 2004 World Series after Game 3 of the ALCS and my answer then would have been the same, no

But I watched and routed them on and lo and behold World Champs

Anything is possible

So I route my team on until the end

But when talking about them between games, sometimes I can be a "blind optimist" and sometimes a "hating realist"

Depends on the day and my mood

But until the end when its game time, I am screaming and yell and talking and cheering them on

That's the one time I am always the optimist

[PLamb]

BTW Jeff

I thought that article terrific and very apt

[barefacedmonk]

That was a good article, Jeff.

[Roy Hobbs]

I think it is wholeheartedly inappropriate to equate Jeff's article / Celticsblog in *any* way with Nazi Germany.  You *really* need to get some perspective.

[Birdbrain]

I have to admit, labeling anyone anything isn't usually a good idea.  It boxes people in when in truth we are all free to think and feel how we please.  So that's the fatal flaw of my article.

Then again, I was merely trying to take a quick snapshot of my view of fans.  Perhaps my perceptions were a little too black and white, but I did my best to represent what I've been seeing lately without offending anyone.  I probably fell short on both counts, but that's life.

Over the last couple of weeks I've been labeled both Jeff

The realist and the optimist

Personally I am going to route for this team until the end and hope and pray, like I always do, that they will win it

Honestly, if being a Red Sox fan and a fan during that 22 year stretch has taught me anything, it's that nothing is guaranteed in sports and that no matter how good or bad things look, the complete opposite outcome of the expected is possible

So I go into no season expecting a championship, just hoping

This year my expectations were high but now they have been lower

Asked if I think they will win the championship right now and I would have to say no

Asked if I thought the Red Sox were going to win the 2004 World Series after Game 3 of the ALCS and my answer then would have been the same, no

But I watched and routed them on and lo and behold World Champs

Anything is possible

So I route my team on until the end

But when talking about them between games, sometimes I can be a "blind optimist" and sometimes a "hating realist"

Depends on the day and my mood

But until the end when its game time, I am screaming and yell and talking and cheering them on

That's the one time I am always the optimist

TP very good post.  It pretty much depicts me as well sans any the Red Sox analogy.  I mean if people have a problem trying to be optimistic just think of it like it's 2006 and we have this team going into the playoffs.  How happy would you be then?

[BudweiserCeltic]

I have to admit, labeling anyone anything isn't usually a good idea.  It boxes people in when in truth we are all free to think and feel how we please.  So that's the fatal flaw of my article.

Then again, I was merely trying to take a quick snapshot of my view of fans.  Perhaps my perceptions were a little too black and white, but I did my best to represent what I've been seeing lately without offending anyone.  I probably fell short on both counts, but that's life.

Over the last couple of weeks I've been labeled both Jeff

The realist and the optimist

Personally I am going to route for this team until the end and hope and pray, like I always do, that they will win it

Honestly, if being a Red Sox fan and a fan during that 22 year stretch has taught me anything, it's that nothing is guaranteed in sports and that no matter how good or bad things look, the complete opposite outcome of the expected is possible

So I go into no season expecting a championship, just hoping

This year my expectations were high but now they have been lower

Asked if I think they will win the championship right now and I would have to say no

Asked if I thought the Red Sox were going to win the 2004 World Series after Game 3 of the ALCS and my answer then would have been the same, no

But I watched and routed them on and lo and behold World Champs

Anything is possible

So I route my team on until the end

But when talking about them between games, sometimes I can be a "blind optimist" and sometimes a "hating realist"

Depends on the day and my mood

But until the end when its game time, I am screaming and yell and talking and cheering them on

That's the one time I am always the optimist

I have no problem with people that when asked if they think we'll win it all and say "no". I do have a problem when people that seem to go on a posting marathon talking about the impossibility of this team winning it all. And we've had plenty of those for the past 2 months or so. Yet, those are the ones that proclaim themselves as being "realistic". And there's not one thing can say to prove them to the contrary.

And yeah, I was at that Extra Innings game in 2004 when Big Papi gave the walk-off homer. So, I'll try to not have too much ill will towards the people who just give up, because thanks to them I managed to get cheap seats on the bleachers and experience a once in a life-time type of experience.

I think it is wholeheartedly inappropriate to equate Jeff's article / Celticsblog in *any* way with Nazi Germany.  You *really* need to get some perspective.

Completely agree. Seems to have some sort of fascination with Nazi's or something, since he recently bumped some months old thread about an All-White Basketball League to talk about skinheads, etc. What gives?

[GreenFaith1819]

Interesting Thread - I suppose I can be labeled as one of the Fringe "Out There" Optimists...I know I have probably driven some folks up the wall with it, and if so I apologize - but it's Real and that's how I see the Celtics.

Yes they have had a strange season - one the the most interesting I've seen in many years. We've dealt with injuries from Day One - Glen's wrist, TA's leg or ankle, Pierce's knee, KG's knee, Rondo's hamstring, Sheed's foot, Perk's bout with flu, Marquis' finger.

We've lost a fine player and person in Eddie House, but gained Nate and Michael Finley.

We've dealt with apparent disinterest, which has been disclosed recently.

Personally, I've never been familiar with a Celtics Team that was Bored or Disinterested, but hey I'm still a Diehard GreenHead.

But in the end, I base my Borderline Nonsensical Optimism on this team on our History. It is one Rich with Improbable Runs, Wins, Buzzer Beaters, Comebacks (Bill Walton, 1986, nuff said), Championships, you name it.

I've seen this Boston Celtics Team counted out many times during my 30 years of fandom..yes some of the times we've fallen short, but so many more times this team of ours has prevailed.

Now I certainly understand the younger fans - all they may know is the last few years, and that's ok.

And even if the older fans disagree, I understand. Based off of the last two months, our Celtics have Not been Worldbeaters.

But really - I still believe in this team. Yes many of us here on the Blog may see things differently from me, and I respect that.

But as for me, my statement stands: No matter who we've lost to this year..no matter who may have Dominated us or swept us during the regular season - Until The Boston Celtics are defeated in a Seven Game Series in the Playoffs, I cannot count them out of Championship Contention.

Our History is too rich for me to do that.

[ACF]

I believe some of our players are "bored" to an extent. They have their minds set on the playoffs. We are one of the oldest teams in the league and our guys are probably (consciously or sub-consciously) thinking about their legacy. A second ring would effectively annihilate any talk of the 2008 championship being a fluke championship. I truly believe we have an extra gear that will set in come playoff time. If we had been healthy so far, I think we would be in the top 3 record-wise.