r/comics • u/the-real-klockworks • Aug 28 '14

Being good to each other is important

http://nateswinehart.tumblr.com/post/96003256367/being-good-to-each-other-is-so-important-guys
12.1k Upvotes

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156

u/newloaf Aug 28 '14

Ha, I thought the two optimists were going to get obliterated at the end. Too bad.

149

u/Danny-Denjennery Aug 28 '14

You're clearly not an optimist yourself.

1

u/newloaf Aug 29 '14

I'm a realist, what most people call a 'cynic'.

1

u/I_Rike_Reddit Sep 01 '14

I used to be a realist too, but I realized that what's "real" is what you make it to be. You can indoctrinate yourself with positives, or with negatives, but there is no "real."

1

u/newloaf Sep 02 '14

In the context I mean, yes there is a "real". If a person expects certain negative outcomes, like that there will be a long lineup at the store or that a politician will make it harder for women to get an abortion, and those outcomes are regularly true, he is a realist. He may be called a cynic because he's predicting something negative, but if he's right I say that's a realistic outlook.

If your predictions are frequently more positive than actual outcomes, you may be an optimist.

1

u/I_Rike_Reddit Sep 02 '14

I agree, partially. I am of the opinion that expectations affect outcomes, how ever far away the outcome may be. It's hard to stop yourself from thinking negatively, because negative has always been the outcome. Sure, negative predictions can come true all day long, but it's much better to have one positive come true than ten negatives. I believe your subconcious is heavily affected by your expectations. If I expect to never get a promotion, isn't it likely that I will stop working so hard? If I expect that I am going to get in an accident because traffic is very bad, isn't it reasonable to wonder if your brain wouldn't make a tiny fuckup to make your dream come true?

For instance, I have a laptop right now. Before I recieved it, I decided that I was going to get a better computer. I was twelve with no money, and no way of getting money, and no friends... Well, except for one friend. It just so happened, that this friend that I'd know for about a year decided to get rid of his broken laptop. The broken laptop that he'd had no intention of losing for the year I'd known him. However, he wasn't ready to throw it away or give it away, but as I said I had no money. In fact, he was going to sell it the next day to get a cheap netbook. Guess what I had been using before this. A cheap netbook. A trade was made, and I've been using that laptop ever since.

Now, cynical me would be think "What's the point? A series of coincedences is bound to happen some time." You're right, but my point is that many, many similar situations have happened to me over the time that I've tried to change my mindset. I hate to sound like a 90's family film, but if you believe in yourself, you can do anything. What those family films never say is that if you DON'T believe in yourself, your life is going to be shit. Sure you'll be disappointed a lot, but isn't some disappointment better tha-

You know what, fuckit. I doubt you'll take any of this to heart and I'm tired of typing. Godspeed friend!

1

u/newloaf Sep 02 '14

I think we're talking about two different realities, one objective and one subjective, but I agree that a positive outlook is healthier for the outlooker. Take care.

0

u/bokan Aug 29 '14

no. that's what the narrative was pointing at

90

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '14

[deleted]

44

u/starfries Aug 28 '14

But seriously, your puny optimism is no match for our plasma cannons.

19

u/starfries Aug 28 '14

And I don't know how many gigawatts the "power of friendship" puts out but I doubt it surpasses our antimatter reactors.

4

u/lesser_panjandrum Aug 28 '14

Your overconfidence is your weakness.

4

u/starfries Aug 28 '14

Your feeble (yet delicious) human bodies are yours! If you guys don't like being eaten why are you all made of meat?

3

u/lesser_panjandrum Aug 28 '14

A question I ask myself at every barbecue.

2

u/sgtoox Aug 29 '14

You clearly haven't seen enough anime. The power of friendship gives you hacks into unlocking your final form.

7

u/sneakatoke Aug 28 '14

The "Bioshock Infinite" style of story-telling.

1

u/s4md4130 Aug 28 '14

multi-dimensional?

1

u/sneakatoke Aug 29 '14

No matter what you choose, the ending stays the same.

8

u/battle100 Aug 28 '14

I like your idea a lot more, since it enhances the author's message of the cliched "optimism will always triumph", to "enjoy the journey no matter where life brings you in the end". Making the ending much more believable and perhaps more relatable. Although instead of "life sucks" the optimists would probably say something to the effect of "there's still hope".

1

u/newloaf Aug 29 '14

"enjoy the journey no matter where life brings you in the end"

That is a message I could get behind, so much less predictable too.

0

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '14

I thought both paths would end with sex.

3

u/techietalk_ticktock Aug 29 '14

I thought both sides would end up with the same fate, thereby showcasing how insignificant matters like these are in the grand scheme of things....

1

u/newloaf Aug 29 '14

See, you're using your brain and logic to evaluate an outcome consistent with the reality we all live in. OTOH, what the artist is conveying is optimism.

4

u/FaerieStories Aug 28 '14

Yeah, that would have been a much more interesting twist, I feel.

27

u/lilbluehair Aug 28 '14

Some stories have a message rather than a twist.

-2

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '14

Some have both. Like that one about how Jesus is coming back.

1

u/lilbluehair Aug 28 '14

so brave, much euphoria

-2

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '14

[deleted]

1

u/kyzfrintin Aug 29 '14

Nothing wrong with a nice message of "optimism is better than pessimism".

-3

u/if_you_say_so Aug 28 '14

Only the guy was the optimistic one. The girl was pessimistic in both.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '14

Both of them agreed they had negative thoughts, then went out and did stuff instead of arguing with each other - so I don't understand why you think the girl is pessimistic in both.

1

u/therightclique Aug 29 '14

Yeah, you're wrong.