By Kimberly Chen
Newsletter Editor
Throughout the history of humanity, hope is held as a powerful force that allows our species to continue to push forward and thrive. Be it through Grecian myths, historical moments of perseverance or modern stories, optimism is an impressive ability given to the strongest.
However, a great influx of people are finding these stories unrealistic, labeling them as childish escapes from the hard truths of the world.
One such story that has experienced this backlash is the story of Superman. To many, Superman’s values of truth and kindness despite the tragic disasters that befall Earth are silly. His simple motivations of helping everyone find goodness in their life paired with his many powers are called bland. Some refuse to believe that a person with truly good intentions is within the realm of possibility.
To compensate, stories where Superman’s intentions are tainted are created, whether it be in alternate universes or parodies of his character. More violence is written in, and character morals are warped to create more “realistic” insights into real life.
This trend mirrors the rising popularity of nihilism, the philosophy that states that existence is meaningless and thus anything we do is worthless. I noticed that not only stories containing a belief in changing the world for the better but real life dreams are often deemed immature. This inherently pessimistic view gives way to feelings of superiority above those who hold a more optimistic view.
I couldn’t care less about someone’s personal philosophy. My issue stems from those who subscribe to nihilism and believe those with optimistic viewpoints are lesser.
Reading comments on posts calling others naive or watching friends giggling with each other after someone reveals their dreams is disheartening. Pessimists are pushing each other to be more cynical, contributing to the beliefs that optimism is cringe or embarrassing.
Everyone is entitled to their own lifestyles and mentalities, but to outwardly express disdain or feelings of superiority over another is unacceptable. Instead, people should hold open, respectful discussions free of judgment. Honesty and respect should always take priority, regardless of the situation.
I say this as someone who struggled with periods of depression and finding my purpose: being depressed or angsty is not, and should not, be cool.
Everyone’s struggles are valid and should be treated with respect, and creating an environment where such mentalities are the norm is harmful. Idealizing negativity will only snowball into something disastrous.
Instead, communities should be built to support one another and push for personal improvement.
Those who fear change look down on others who are trying to make the world a better place. Anyone can do anything they want with their lives, but the people who strive to always be better have the ability to reflect on their values and listen to the perspectives of others with open minds.
If one lacks optimism and believes that pessimism is the only correct method of approaching life, they should take the time to self-reflect and ask why. It takes time and effort to try to understand one’s self and address the issues held. If one is legitimately struggling mentally and finds themselves stuck, consider professional help. At the end of the day, actions will have consequences, no matter how meaningless someone thinks life is.
To those who truly believe that others are naive for having hope in the world even in the face of hardship, I say this: you’re not smarter for being a “realist.” It doesn’t matter if they take anyone else’s advice because it’s their life. If someone is finding meaning in their life, it’s not your job to try and change that.