Bumper Cars And Rollercoasters

[Rhonald]

A Ribbing Night's Tale: My One Thousand & One Night's Post:

Friends, China romance members, lend me your ears for tonight marks an anniversary. A journey of sorts that has at times been out of sorts. Twas three years ago that my bottled note washed upon that distant shore and started this journey still unreached. Although I have sailed six times to this ancient land, my treasure still remains, awaiting there the final call.

The finish line seems so close, but I do not try to raise my hopes too high for I am a pessimist and rather live the life of thrills that is found in bumper cars. The routine bumps and bruises offered there I can handle as I try to steer the course. To get my hopes too high would be the domain of the optimist who loves the thrills and spills of a Rollercoaster ride. No thank you as motion sickness is not a pleasant state and I much perfer the solid state of Terra Firma versus Terror Acrophobia.
So I ask you my fellow travellers, are you an Optimist or are you a Pessimist?
Do you like Rollercoasters, or do you perfer Bumper Cars?


And just think  in another thousand posts, it would be some kind of odyssey

[shaun]

Put me in the optimist category with a little pessimism mixed in. 

[Scottish_Robbie]

Forever the optimist I think i would be...

[Peter Arnold]

Good question Rhonald, I would consider myself an optimist, as we will always get what we expect. I think though that when China is brought into this equation , we face a land ruled by a different political system, and people are not used to applying the positive side of the Law of attraction. Our ladies would fall into this category. Maybe this is too simplistic, but I do not think that the average Chinese would feel they deserve a better life and that they can get what they want.
I am coaching my Chinese friend to have a positive attitude and not be a victim.
But I do like the rollercoaster aspect of life, with a safe arrival at the other end of the ride
 

[Vince G]

In life there is no steering a bumper car. You only think you are in control of the direction. So be a Mr Magoo driving the bumpercar.

For me? I'm a rollercoaster guy, every time. Your always going forward, see what's coming and handle it.

[Arnold]

For me? I'm a rollercoaster guy, every time. Your always going forward, see what's coming and handle it.

I'd say , that's me also . With the exception , that I do like to have some control ( or get it as much as possible ) when the ride get's too rough . To be honest , I would have never thought of myself .. through all those years of my Life .. to find myself with as much patience ( positive additude ) on most all occasions . I guess , these Chinese Women do a lot more .. then just being a good Spouse/Wife . Like the saying goes ; Behind a "GOOD" man .. is always a "GOOD" woman . Can not say , since Qing is here I have done a complete 180 in my Character .. but a close 90 for sure . I'm optimistic that I'm now a complete Person all the way around .

[shaun]

I like the bumper car idea because the only thing I can control is my direction and response.   And if we should meet on the track?    I'll knock the crap out of your car with a  !!!!!!     Then we can laugh about it later.

[David E]

I dont think I am either of them.....I prefer to be a realist

"Give me the strength and courage to change the things that I can control.....and the wisdom to accept those things that I cannot "

[Neil]

Amen David.  I agree.  Strength and courage, tempered with wisdom and acceptance. 

[shaun]

David we are saying the same thing.  Well sort of, just a little attitude from my perspective.

[Vince G]

Hey now! there was only the choices given, and now I've heard everything… David with a prayer? 

And lord grant me the perception to add another choice…

[shaun]

Vince.  He is under the 24/7 spell of a Chinese woman right now.  He can say anything he wants to. 

[Rhonald]

I don't think I am either of them.....I prefer to be a realist

David, you prefer to be a realist but what kind of ride would a realist ride? I like to think that I am a realist, after all, I pessimistically thought that my wife's visa would take a really long time. But then I was wrong - it has taken longer than I thought! Anyways I think trying to achieve being a realist is just a pipe dream, after all once you get good at it you will be knighted, and then you would be Surreal 

Arnold, I would agree that patience is a positive attitude, but I believe patience is a primary quality of a pessimist. After all, a pessimist believes that things will be delayed so he strengthens his resolve to see the thing through. A pessimist will try to plan to cover everything, but as like bumper cars, other cars will blindside us since not everything can be avoided.

I would say an optimist has more spontaneity and will willingly try different things. I also think an optimist has more confidence in handling his emotions thus is willing to plunge the steep descents.

None of us are totally one or the other, but at times will ride both expressions. As for the actual rides, well I have ridden maybe less than 10 different roller coaster rides. And I can say that I was happest when finally done, while for bumper cars, I always wished a second spin.

[shaun]

Rhon, So I guess you are saying that you are an optimist in a pessimistic sort of way?

Then I see David who is a realist who is living out his fantasy.

This all get too confusing for me.

[Rhonald]

This all get too confusing for me.

That is the problem with structured religious doctrine Shaun, you guys get lost in the mist (pessimist, optimist), stumbling along like gorillas. Time to learn real Mysticism and embrace the din of confusion. An optimist and a realist are contradictions: both can agree, however, that what goes up must come down. While the pessimist worries about Things that go bump in the night.

But getting back on track  I believe most people will opt for calling themselves an Optimist since the view is that it is a good trait. Somehow pessimist is looked upon as a bad trait. But I believe Optimism is a passive trait as a going with the flow directly correlates to a rollercoaster ride. After all, on a rollercoaster you are a passive thrill seeker guided along by the designer of the track. The bumpercar driver is restricted to the arena of the track and craft, but has at least some control on his destination, barring any jarring.