Sociopath Community

Well I find it almost trivial to think about what is tougher. It really has to do with what works for you best. I think if one of them is a hindrance it is bad. I think a balance of both may be important. 

I know sometimes I can be wary or suspicious of strangers. I try to convince myself to give them a fair chance before I jump to any conclusions. I don't just have two categories of "trustworthy" and "untrustworthy". I have a third category called "neutral or unsure'. It is a grey zone and it may lean more towards one way though I have not made a complete conclusion. I like to give people the opportunity to show me their true colors. I know even some people can be mean at first until they get to know each other on a deeper level. 

So for me I like balance and I like having room for a category of neutral uncertainty. 

Buttered Toast stated: source post

I should add: it's often a mood thing, too.  The sentiment behind the cynicism can be negative or positive, really.  It is a fulcrum.

Absolutely. 

This is the first post I am replacing with an even less appropriate response.

I assume we are going with Mirriam-Webster's second definition of cynic:

"a faultfinding captious critic; especially :  one who believes that human conduct is motivated wholly by self-interest"

You can be that and still open-minded. Just probably more given to suspicion.

I wonder how long before this is "spam".

To properly respond to this, I'd have to put things in perspective.

"No, and I didn't say it did."

But you kind of did, when you said things like:

"This is opposed to a cynical person who will avoid those who remind them of someone who hurt them in some way."

That ignores the manifold of perspectives a cynic can take. Even those who have hurt you can have their use. It's all about circumstance.

"Obviously a balance between the two--pragmatism, is ideal, but which do you feel empowers someone more?"

As I mentioned earlier, pragmatism is an entirely different mindset with a logic to it. It can even involve cynicism.

"I consider myself cynical, and I'm grateful for that, but that's because I am cynical and can't imagine not having someone on guard for my well-being."

You construe cynicism as a form of being "on guard."

True, it is a form of considering what you process under mental scope. But it is not a defense mechanism by which all information which comes through is funneled through channels of doubt. What you are describing sounds more akin to paranoid personality disorder.

"Yet it is often those who wear their hearts on their sleeves or who trust more easily that are viewed in a negative light."

According to?

I then asked this:

"Does being a cynic mean being a hypervigilant who sees things as 'the worst?'"

But you seem to contradict yourself, when you say things such as in your last post:

"I do that to protect myself, and also as a social shortcut."

As well as your initial characterization:

"There are people who, despite having been taken advantage of multiple times, still give each new person a chance of their own. This is opposed to a cynical person who will avoid those who remind them of someone who hurt them in some way."

What you are describing is not cynicism.

Does being a cynic mean being a hypervigilant who sees things as "the worst?"

I think it depends on what situation you're in. There's a time to have your guard up and there's a time to be open. It's very common to not understand which is more appropriate. 

I think it's really hard to be completely selfless. I might say it is selfless to give someone who is inevitably dying in private a piece of candy. It has to be a case the individual will never mention. I say this because no one will know about it. It might still be selfish because it might make them feel like a good person even if they never tell anyone. It is a reward in the form of maybe like dopamine. 

I think maybe the most selfless thing I can think that carries no selfish intention is dying for someone.