What Do Cynical People Really Want?

What lies behind the pessimism and witty bitterness of the cynic? As always: a lot of pain…

FURTHER READING

“Cynicism has, in certain quarters, a distinct kind of glamour. It sounds tough not to have too many hopes – and to claim to see through the dreams of others. Cynics will tell you that everyone is selfish and weak; that ‘the system’ is rigged and driven by greed; that you can never succeed so it’s pointless (and contemptible) to try; that all ideals are ridiculous and that ‘do gooders’ are only out to show off their own (supposed) virtues…”

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CREDITS

Produced in collaboration with:

Avi Ofer

[dannyluchini]

George Carlin. "Inside every cynical person is a disappointed idealist."

[InquisitorThomas]

I think that George Carlin put it best "Inside every Cynic is a disappointed Idealist."

[ST-ivej]

This just seemed like a cynical view of cynicism.

[evelynsaunders]

i used to like being cynical because you were always either right or pleasantly suprised

[pierrot]

This isn't correct, it may be correct for certain (very superficial) examples of cynicists but certainly not all.
Most cynicists don't strive to be cynical, in fact they hate to be cynical, but they have a more realist aproach towards choices and how they can impact negatively aswell as positively, the truth is, there almost certainly isn't a 'right' answer to any question, and cynicists understand this, so they don't praise 1 idea, instead considering all ideas and never fully engaging on one.
'The problem with the world is that intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence', quoting Bukowski, is very fitting here. Most intelligent people are cynical as they are clever enough to see the bad in everything. That does NOT mean they were once traumatised necessarily, I find that a very arbitrary statement.

[mstr]

"They disappoint themselves before the world can ever do it for them" - Most powerful statement in the video in my opinion.

[mimprincesa]

I started becoming really cynical after noticing my good will and kindness were resulting in my being taken advantage of. I smh at my own cynicism sometimes. I find a lot of things genuinely now. I wish I could go back to my blissful ignorance.

[silverman]

We are exhausted and need rest away from the world but we are forced to play the game in SOCIETY

[EatHoneyBeeHappy]

I'm not always a cynic, but when I am, I'm in a clown costume.

[vanceadrianeangayan]

I am a cynic, and this broke my heart a little.

[mrIpodmagic]

I've never felt so attacked in my life!
Thank you!

[TripleAAA]

As a cynic myself, " It's better to be distrustful and alone than getting hurt by someone who you trusts".

[salmanyafiz]

As a cynical person with depression, this video really touched me.

[jeanniceferrier]

Every very wounded person I know is very cynical, including myself. Otherwise, if you whine and ask for understanding in your suffering, people often run away from you, or end up wounding you even more, because human suffering is very scary.

Everybody will joke or complain about this friend that always talks about her tumultuous relationship, the "depressed friend": they are such a pain in the arse, can't they shut up about they life, nobody cares about it right, so we say? But usually, their pain are not even remotely comparable to what the cynics, even though they can seem cocky, provocative, hurtful or even unsensitive and cold : The cynic is persuade that he is a deeply unfonctionnal being, maybe even some sort of monster. They are terrified of intimacy, because it will eventually lead to disappointment, rejection, or worse. You'll have to have ill and insincere intention while getting closer : they're are doing so much effort in order to be repulsive ! Worse, if you like them, it will be unbelievable to them, and they'll be certain they're gonna end up harming you the way some(one/people) did in the past, and they'll loose everything back again.

Handling a cynic is hard. But if you manage to make them comfortable so you can get closer with a lot of time, dedication and precotion, you might end up meeting a very intelligent, sensitive, and beautiful being that had ceased to exist for a long time.

[jessedaly]

Cynicism can be a legitimate reaction to becoming educated about history and human choices, but it’s cool to dismiss people as damaged every time they discuss human failures.

[stever]

Expect nothing and you’ll never be disappointed

[tobehalim]

As a self aware cynic this was spot on.

[somecreativeperson]

My biggest fear is that I will never be given the kindness that others will give to me, as I have given unto them. I fear that I will never be given the compassion that everyone else has been given for a long, long time.

[TheEleventhLetter]

"A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing." Oscar Wilde

[Zikomo]

It's true that every cynic isn't recovering from trauma, but I think most of them have had their eyes opened to the real way of the world. That can be pretty traumatic. You make jokes not to put something down but to remind yourself that it's not that serious and you'll be okay if it doesn't work out.