For a long time, I described myself as a pessimistic optimist (or an optimistic pessimist -- just couldn't remember which ...). This changed recently as I learned a critical definitional issue.
An optimist is assuming things will work out and it doesn't necessarily rely on their efforts or necessarily require any special action to end up with the desired result.
Someone who is hopeful, on the other hand, understands -- often very clearly -- that there are challenges and risks to achieving a desired result with a conception that their actions can contribute to avoiding the dangers and coming out with a better result.
Thus, I have been transformed from optimist to hopeful -- even as my concerns over our ability to navigate the treacherous Perfect Storm of economic and climate chaos, anti-science mania, and Peak Oil give rise to my pessimistic side.
continued at Daily Kos....
