08-27-2008, 05:05 PM
The two extreme positions are this is the worst of all possible worlds and this is the best of all possible worlds. Interestingly, these positions by their nature can generate the opposite effects. If the world, right now, is the worst of all possible options, then that offers some hope. Why? Because things could never get worse than they are today. If the world is the best of all possible options, then, that creates utter despair, because nothing could ever improve. So, surely, those two viewpoints must look at a moment to moment situation that means, each moment is either the best or the worst that can exist.
I was reading job descriptions, and found some in IP that said: we want attorneys who tell us we can do X, not attorneys who tell use we can't. I read a CAFC opinion (one of many in my experience where infringers trot out letters) where a patent infringer obtained crap loads of opinion letters from attorneys of that type saying, sure your product is fine, no infringement problems at all. What would have happened to the attorney who said, no, no you can't produce the product this way... it needs some modifications? The answer is simple, never would get business from the company again. The company's ultimate price for this? Extensive litigation, and cost outlays regarding infirngement.
Sadly, because business/industry is so wrapped up in the "we can do this" or "we can do that" mindset people don't listen to reason. Attorneys who say this needs changing get blackballed, while the company seeks out those who agree with their silly optimism about their products.
On the ancient cliche of the 8oz. glass with 4oz. of water in it. Where does the person fit who asks, WTH is in the water, and is it safe to drink?
A pessimist is merely an informed optimist -- one of the best lines I've heard. Of course, I guess one can become very optimistic about a product's chances if one is paid enough, even if you know of problems.
A pessimist is a person who has had to listen to too many optimists -- Don Marquis
An optimist is one who thinks that this is the best of all worlds, a pessimist fears that this is true. -- James Branch Cabell (paraphrased); see all Oppenheimer
There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist, except an old optimist -- Mark Twain
More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly. -- Woody Allen
Things are never so bad they can't be made worse. -- Humphrey Bogart
Of course, it's possible to love a human being - if you don't know them too well -- Charles Bukowski
Hey, this isn't over until they beat us tomorrow. -- Cito Gaston
I've heard it said that a pessimist is a man who believes all women are bad, and an optimist is a man who hopes they are. -- Jackie Gleason
A pessimist? That's a person who has been intimately acquainted with an optimist. -- Elbert Hubbard
I don't consider myself a pessimist. I think of a pessimist as someone who is waiting for it to rain. And I feel soaked to the skin. -- Leonard Cohen
An optimist is merely an ex-pessimist with his pockets full of money, his digestion in good condition, and his wife in the country. ~Helen Rowland
The place where optimism most flourishes is the lunatic asylum. ~Havelock Ellis
I find the pessimist to be, if not exactly pleasant, then at least sincere. You always know what a pessimist is thinking, and if you donât he will likely tell you anyway. The optimist, on the other hand, has always struck me as an imposter, walking around with her nose toward the heavens as if she inhabited a better world than you and me, a land of warm green meadows where the sun always shines and there is never a drought because of it. Not only that but the optimist is forever hypocritically criticizing your negativity as though it were some kind of birth defect. The pessimist does not go around saying, "Quit being so dadgum happy!" Or "Stop that smiling will you!" But the optimist has no problem trying to change your natural disposition. "Smile!" she snaps. "Quit being so pessimistic!" It may also be that I associate the optimist with the affected cheerfulness of the politician angling for votes, or the faux-friendly, chirpy male or female who goes into public relations, used car sales and telemarketing. And anyone who has spent any amount of time with one of these phonies can testify that once off the clock they morph into the most cynical, black-hearted bastards in the land. -- Christopher Orlet, from "The Optimist's Slaughter"
I was reading job descriptions, and found some in IP that said: we want attorneys who tell us we can do X, not attorneys who tell use we can't. I read a CAFC opinion (one of many in my experience where infringers trot out letters) where a patent infringer obtained crap loads of opinion letters from attorneys of that type saying, sure your product is fine, no infringement problems at all. What would have happened to the attorney who said, no, no you can't produce the product this way... it needs some modifications? The answer is simple, never would get business from the company again. The company's ultimate price for this? Extensive litigation, and cost outlays regarding infirngement.
Sadly, because business/industry is so wrapped up in the "we can do this" or "we can do that" mindset people don't listen to reason. Attorneys who say this needs changing get blackballed, while the company seeks out those who agree with their silly optimism about their products.
On the ancient cliche of the 8oz. glass with 4oz. of water in it. Where does the person fit who asks, WTH is in the water, and is it safe to drink?
A pessimist is merely an informed optimist -- one of the best lines I've heard. Of course, I guess one can become very optimistic about a product's chances if one is paid enough, even if you know of problems.
A pessimist is a person who has had to listen to too many optimists -- Don Marquis
An optimist is one who thinks that this is the best of all worlds, a pessimist fears that this is true. -- James Branch Cabell (paraphrased); see all Oppenheimer
There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist, except an old optimist -- Mark Twain
More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly. -- Woody Allen
Things are never so bad they can't be made worse. -- Humphrey Bogart
Of course, it's possible to love a human being - if you don't know them too well -- Charles Bukowski
Hey, this isn't over until they beat us tomorrow. -- Cito Gaston
I've heard it said that a pessimist is a man who believes all women are bad, and an optimist is a man who hopes they are. -- Jackie Gleason
A pessimist? That's a person who has been intimately acquainted with an optimist. -- Elbert Hubbard
I don't consider myself a pessimist. I think of a pessimist as someone who is waiting for it to rain. And I feel soaked to the skin. -- Leonard Cohen
An optimist is merely an ex-pessimist with his pockets full of money, his digestion in good condition, and his wife in the country. ~Helen Rowland
The place where optimism most flourishes is the lunatic asylum. ~Havelock Ellis
I find the pessimist to be, if not exactly pleasant, then at least sincere. You always know what a pessimist is thinking, and if you donât he will likely tell you anyway. The optimist, on the other hand, has always struck me as an imposter, walking around with her nose toward the heavens as if she inhabited a better world than you and me, a land of warm green meadows where the sun always shines and there is never a drought because of it. Not only that but the optimist is forever hypocritically criticizing your negativity as though it were some kind of birth defect. The pessimist does not go around saying, "Quit being so dadgum happy!" Or "Stop that smiling will you!" But the optimist has no problem trying to change your natural disposition. "Smile!" she snaps. "Quit being so pessimistic!" It may also be that I associate the optimist with the affected cheerfulness of the politician angling for votes, or the faux-friendly, chirpy male or female who goes into public relations, used car sales and telemarketing. And anyone who has spent any amount of time with one of these phonies can testify that once off the clock they morph into the most cynical, black-hearted bastards in the land. -- Christopher Orlet, from "The Optimist's Slaughter"