Constantly reminded that doing anything, is really difficult. Whether it is building a product, launching a service, hosting a party, parenting, supporting parents, finding like minded friends, thinking deeply about problems - and solving them

@bradbarrish mentioning this idea of Pronoia from Kevin Kelly:

Internet Explorer, Frank & Eileen CTO, into skateboarding, hardware, software, neurotech and the future of health. IRL > URL

xSonos xOura

bradbarrish.me

creating and destroying; flying cars, roc.camera, july.rocks /july /faust

@bradbarrish mentioning this idea of Pronoia from Kevin Kelly:

https://www.altaonline.com/a8695/kevin-kelly-advice/

Was listening to sam altman interview a few months back and this quote really sticked to me - being a pessimist is one of the biggest mistakes in life.

maxxing on /morpho 🦋 | consistently curious

Horticulturalist. Environmental hand wringer. Open source enthusiast. 

mfer #9187

For sure, very little in human nature is binary 0 or 1.

Easy to go down a rabbit hole here of epigenetics, determinism and self determination.

Suffice to say, for a founder like Sam Altman being a strong optimist is advantageous. For many in tech he is a figure to emulate and it makes sense that his advice resonates.

Agree on this. 
Personal take: these characteristics are not 0/1, but more like vectors (& representing changing states). Living life predominantly in pessimistic state would most likely lead to more miserable existence for the individual, yet it doesn’t exclude its “utility” for society.

I prefer Alison Gopnik’s  take that human beings have evolved a diversity of psyches to ensure adaption to any possible future circumstance. 

Yes, a society of pessimists would fail to seize opportunities. But a society  of optimists would fail to plan for disaster. 

We need both. There is strength in diversity.