TED Community » Kathryn Hoban

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• A reply on Conversation: Optimism and Pessimism: The Impact of Outlook on Outcome

  May 17 2012: I appreciate your bringing up determination and the role in plays in accomplishment, as that quality certainly matters a lot in creating outcomes. So optimists are able to go through hardship because of their determination, while pessimists try to reach the same ends through avoiding the hardship? Thanks for your comparison, Margeigh!

• A reply on Conversation: Optimism and Pessimism: The Impact of Outlook on Outcome

  May 17 2012: This is a quite eloquent support of optimism. Thanks Feyisayo!

• A reply on Conversation: Optimism and Pessimism: The Impact of Outlook on Outcome

  May 17 2012: Well, you definitely have a realistic perspective on the upsides and downsides of each. =] Thanks Scott!

• A reply on Conversation: Optimism and Pessimism: The Impact of Outlook on Outcome

  May 17 2012: That joke about the glass is one of my favorites. I sometimes hear it with "the thirsty man" thrown in there instead, but really, what's the difference? Opportunism always provides a new view on pessimism and optimism because it disregards both in favor of making the best of the situation. Thanks Frank!

• A reply on Conversation: Optimism and Pessimism: The Impact of Outlook on Outcome

  May 17 2012: Thank you, Ramesh. I think that differentiating between when an optimist or pessimist is speaking and listening is important. There could be discrepancies between their words and actions. That would be a fun study to do. Thanks again!

• A reply on Conversation: Optimism and Pessimism: The Impact of Outlook on Outcome

  May 17 2012: Thanks for your comment, Gurinder. A marketing pro would have an interesting perspective in regards to optimism and pessimism. Could you tell me a little more on how they differ in the marketing world? Does one take more risks than the other? Is one easier to work with?

• A reply on Conversation: Optimism and Pessimism: The Impact of Outlook on Outcome

  May 17 2012: My apologies, please let me clarify.
  
  I may have been wrong to use "blame", as it has a rather more accusatory tone than I wanted to convey. I based this question on two beliefs; first, that all outputs are the product of both internal and external inputs, and second, that all individuals strive for optimization. For instance, if you recieved a 12% on a test you had been studying for since the start of the semester, chances are there was an external problem. You knew the material, but maybe you marked down the wrong form on the Scantron and were graded for another test altogether. I don't believe that anyone would just accept that score and move forward. More likely, they would ask to have the test re-scored with the correct form, as an external factor negatively impacted their internal effort. While most situations do not have a "re-score" option through which an individual may immediately better their situation, recognizing past problems, whether in personal choice or situation, is an important part of learning from experience and avoiding the failures in the future.
  
  Therefore, I believe that rational individuals take themselves and their surroundings into account while trying to optimize their own standing, which is the basis of the question.
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  A reply on Conversation: How can the TED community help inform people about some of the issues associated with Kony 2012 & Invisible Children?

  Mar 8 2012: Thanks for the article, Juan! I've been reading up on the Nodding Disease for the past few weeks, in particular. It seems to have been tied to a parasite common in the same regions as the disease, but a lot more research needs to go into this so we can treat the disease instead of the symptoms. Thanks again!
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  A reply on Conversation: How can the TED community help inform people about some of the issues associated with Kony 2012 & Invisible Children?

  Mar 8 2012: I currently attend Michigan State University, and a fellow student organized a 'Cover the Night' event for my campus. I intend to take part in the event and distribute fliers and the like to raise awareness about Kony, but instead of following the "KONY 2012" format, I'm going to provide information that directs participants to other organizations that are trying to help. While I have shared the video on several social networks, I have also shared the links including information on Invisible Children and why alternative actions may produce better outcomes. We can use the popularity of this cause to draw attention to other organizations, too.
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  A comment on Conversation: What is the purpose of life? 'Getting and Spending' or 'Loving and Serving'?

  Mar 8 2012: I don't think that these qualities encompass the full spectrum of life goals, or that they are even complementary, but if what you are asking is whether it is better to live for yourself or live for others, you inevitably end up functioning under a bit of both beliefs. While Sina is right in saying that purpose is a construct of the human mind, I think that this construct can be recognized and worked with. What helped me to understand the balance between selfishness and selflessness was reading Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America, particularly this excerpt on Self-Interest Rightly Understood: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/ch2_08.htm Good luck!