Where do you draw the line between pessimism and realism?

Realism is when I believe the outcome will be negative: pessimism is when you believe it.

When you exclusively expect the worst of any situation. Realism would dictate that you would expect a situation to turn out good if it’s a more likely possibility.

Pessimism-see Luke
Realism-See Ant

To be a realist is to acknowledge the situation, and then consider the best path from there. To be a realist is to learn from past situations, good and bad.
To be pessimist is to stare at the situation and cry about how this cold world is so unfair…and then repeat when another hard time [or any situation] comes around.

I agree with what people are saying. It can be mistaken for pessimism, but one should be able to see the difference in that if a situation is more likely to turn out negatively, then that is simply realism, not pessimism. A realist also would acknowledge when a situation is more likely to turn out positive. A pessimist focuses on the negative in all or most situations. A realist simply sees it for what it really is. However, I’ve come across many pessimists who claim they’re realists, but they’re really just pessimists. :\

Realism is stating facts about the issue at hand.
Pessimism is stating unneeded and/or unrelated facts as well.

Realism isn’t pessimism – It’s just not being idealistic and having too high expectations. You could be optimistic and hopeful and still be realistic.

Optimists often see the bright side of everything, even not-so-good things. Pessimists kind of mope about what they can’t change and fail to see the good in anything.

Pessimism – There is no way the boss will approve my day off.
Realism- I probably won’t get the day off.

Pessimism, to me, is that extra whine that adds that extra negative. It is assuming the most negative outcome despite the reality that there are other possibilities.

Optimism and Pessimism are both unfair. Optimism assumes things will always turn out well but fails to account for error. Pessimism assumes things will always go wrong but it doesn’t allow for happy accidents. Realism takes into account preparedness, chance, accidents and attitude.

Pessimism: “Why post this question? Fluther mods will just pull it.

Realism: Every question I write is considered a “poll” question and gets pulled.

No line to draw. I am a pessimist and a realist at the same time.

It’s half a glass of water. My glass, anyway, is half a glass. Whether you think it’s half full or half empty depends on the angle you’re looking at it from.

I continue to think of myself as a realist simply because I’m so often told that I’m an optimist, and yet equally told that I’m a pessimist. Clearly everyone else is more optimistic/pessimistic than I am, so when they try to label me their biased views contradtict each other and I break even.

:)

@trumi Excellent illustration up there. :)

Ok. Let’s say that pessimism is Buffalo, and realism is DeMoines. I draw the line somewhere around Toledo.

@Mike_Hunt I hate you. Ant isn’t a realist. He is just naive.

^ no inside jokes bitches

@Ame_Evil I love you too :)

Realism is expecting the worst of something when it’s logical to expect it.
Pessimism is expecting the worst of everything even when it’s not logical.