Are you a cynical person?

[mellie]

Am I a cynical person?

Quite possibly

It's age that does it - you have seen too much - as I have.

The definition

cynical
adjective
1.
believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.
"he was brutally cynical and hardened to every sob story under the sun"
2.
concerned only with one's own interests and typically disregarding accepted standards in order to achieve them.
"a cynical manipulation of public opinion"

I believe 99% of people aren't motivated purely by self- interest.
I also believe in fair argument, debate and am open to more qualified peoples point of view on topics such as the drug Ivermectin for instance.

I spoke to my incredibly clever GP tonight, and told him about the research paper I found concerning Ivermectin, and asked him if it were possible that drug companies would be inclined to undermine their own 50 year old product for profit if they believed they could sell us a later and much more expensive model, drug such a biologic and gain from it.
He wasn't who prescribed me the expensive biologics btw, was the rheumatology clinic Dr.

I know that I may have sounded cynical, but I am generally a very trusting person when it comes to individuals I meet or even chat to online , however when it comes to large corporations, pharmaceutical companies, politicians etc I'm keenly aware that there are a small percentage of our population out there who unfortunately lack a social conscience and for whatever reason, don't do the right thing by their fellow human beings. I guess I'm more guarded and inquisitive than I am cynical, because I desperately want to believe that people are operating in good faith, it's just I'm afraid experience tells us all to be careful.

I think it's human nature to want desperately to trust others 100% of the time , but the reality is there are some sods out there who lack a moral compass and aren't capable of feeling empathy.

So for me, people I meet are presumably of decent character unless they give me reason to consider otherwise.

Now, in the instance of politicians, pharmaceutical companies, large corporations etc, there's too many examples of when they've been caught red handed serving themselves, doing the wrong thing by those they swear an oath or sign contracts to do the right thing by in order for me to trust entirely, so I remain guarded here I'm afraid.

Of course age and life experience has a say in this too.

I think most of us feel this way, does anyone here believe all politicians, pharmaceutical companies, CEOs used car salesperson's , charitable organisations CEOs etc have our best interests at heart 100% of the time?

So, I don't believe I'm cynical, just because I'm aware that there are some sods out there.

Perhaps I'm guarded, but I don't believe I'm cynical because I genuinely believe that most people are good and I am not distrustful of others until I have a reason to be.

I think most of us can relate here.

[mellie]

And there's some nutters out there who unfortunately get sets on people too, and will go out of their way to hurt others for reasons that only make sense to them.
I actually had a female stalker from cracker & yahoo's
message boards who didn't agree with my political views or content ( I think) so actually went so far as to call me and
shriek at me down the phone and then hang up my! When this failed, she called my relatives, and probably anyone else on the coast who shared my surname in an attempt to scare me and stop me from posting on the boards.
I laugh at it now, but at the time it troubled me to think that a virtual stranger would do something like this to stop me participating on forums. It turned ugly , and she made violent threats, I know she was clearly off her rocker, but it still bothered me at the time.

So, I'm a little more careful now, and if I think someone's unstable, I won't challenge them, I leave them to it.

Because it's not worth it.

[Bobby]

6 Psychological Reasons You Start Avoiding People More
as You Age and Why It's Completely Normal.

As we grow older, something strange starts to happen—we begin to avoid people more. But it’s not because we’ve turned bitter or cold. It’s because our priorities, energy, and understanding of peace evolve with age. In this video, we explore six deep psychological reasons why seniors withdraw from social circles—and why it’s not only normal but often healthy.

[tllwd]

While Adam and Eve were hunting and gathering in the garden of Eden, Eve picked up wrong fruit and now we have this

[Bobby]

Carlin doesn't like people or their stupid bullshit:

[mellie]

6 Psychological Reasons You Start Avoiding People More
as You Age and Why It's Completely Normal.

As we grow older, something strange starts to happen—we begin to avoid people more. But it’s not because we’ve turned bitter or cold. It’s because our priorities, energy, and understanding of peace evolve with age. In this video, we explore six deep psychological reasons why seniors withdraw from social circles—and why it’s not only normal but often healthy.

This isn't isn't the case with my parents who are heavily involved in organising and managing theme nights at their retirement village tavern. Last Friday for instance, it was a 60s theme night, all beer, wine and spirits $3 each, my mother, who was a nurse come aged care services manager even did bar, barrister + food handling courses ( paid by village commtee of course) so that these events could take place. Oh and first aid and defibrillator certs too. The village has 4 defibrillators strategically placed and many volunteers like my parents have done these courses too.

Each table was decorated with an artificial "bong" ( no they've never been involved in weed) they just do quirky fun theme night, 200 people attended, and they even hired a decent band to play 60s music. Both my parents have a great sense of fun and humour.

They had props so people could take amusing photos , and of course the village professional photographer will put the photos from the night on their Facebook page and in the community newsletter for those who aren't tech savvy. Most are.

Getting old doesn't necessarily mean becoming a loner, or less social, I think it depends on the individual, how outgoing they were before getting old.

Tickets for the event were $5, and the money they make from tickets and bar, goes back into the village committees kitty for their next activity.

They have a village bus and visit wineries, attend rock concerts, and I am here to tell you that both my parents are having an absolutel blast, as they deserve to, they worked hard for their superannuation, are both self funded retirees now, they went scuba diving a few months back, mum went snorkelling as she isn't keen on going into deeper waters.
They are always travelling overseas or going on cruises too.
Every Friday night is Trivia night and raffles, each person brings a plate of food, like for instance, my mum usually makes finger food, but because last Friday night was a 60s themed night, she made mini bowls of prawn cocktails, about 20, and those nasty Devon and mash potato appetisers that were popular during the 60s and 70s. Gross, but she said they went fast, so people liked them would you guys like to see pics of last Friday night at the village tavern?

Ageing isn't synonymous with cynicism or loneliness, it's whatever you want it to be.

My parents party harder now than they both ever could when working full-time before they both retired at 60.

[Bobby]

6 Psychological Reasons You Start Avoiding People More
as You Age and Why It's Completely Normal.

As we grow older, something strange starts to happen—we begin to avoid people more. But it’s not because we’ve turned bitter or cold. It’s because our priorities, energy, and understanding of peace evolve with age. In this video, we explore six deep psychological reasons why seniors withdraw from social circles—and why it’s not only normal but often healthy.

This isn't isn't the case with my parents who are heavily involved in organising and managing theme nights at their retirement village tavern.

They are unusual.
I'm like George Carlin -
I get tired of most people after about 2 minutes.

[mellie]

Selling the large family home and purchasing a 2 bedroom Villa in an over 55s retirement village was the best thing they ever did.

The house in Baulkham Hills was just too big for 2 people, and by the time mum had finished cleaning one end of the house, she needed to start over. 3 bathrooms is too much , and a studoo/flat with it's own bathroom and kitchen attached to the damn thing.

My poor mum, was so glad they didn't wait until they were too old to enjoy the best years of their self-funded retirement.

The village has it's own heated indoor pool, spa, sauna, auditorium and stage ( my daughter always dances for them when we go up) and the stage has it's own grand piano even, and there's never any shortage of pianists or musicians.

This all gets maintained meticulously by professional pool cleaners and grounds keepers, why would you remain at the old family home cleaning the pool or spa the kids rarely use when they come to visit anyway?

Some people wait too long , and by the time they bite the bullet, they're more or less ready for a nursing home, not a retirement/ lifestyle village.

My mum even grows an abundance of her own vegetables in her own allocated garden plot ( it's huge) and she also has her own rose and flower beds in her villas own court yard. She plants things and harvests them, waters them, but the grounds keeper and gardeners do all the hard work, like pruning, weeding, digging up old vegetable beds to fallow, upon mums request.

It's like they're living in a 5 star holiday resort, but they get to stay for the rest of their lives.

They bought the villa, and when they no longer need it, the village returns the sum of the purchased villa to the family, they just pay monthly maintenance fees, and it's ALL INCLUSIVE. Including plumbing if required, dish washers, etc.

Worry free retirement.

How did my mother know that this was the best avenue?

Well she worked as an aged care services manager for over 20 years, so had industry experience I guess you could say, the gift of foresight. It's aging - in-place so when the time comes, they transition into on site assisted care units or into the on site nursing home which is currently being rebuilt.

Each villa and unit has a 24 hour call bell for any sort of emergency... heart attack, burst pipe, whatever...... one to leave at home in the Villa and one to wear like a lanyard around your neck if you feel the need.

Every night has something on in the tavern or auditorium, it's massive, another grand piano in the lounge + Cafe area too, and multiple artificial gas fires which are actually very realistic. I thought they were real untill my parents said they were gas.


So if you retire to a place like this, you will struggle with being a loner, everyone is entitled to privacy tho, so they don't intrude on eachother unless they've organised a dinner party or BBQ at their own villa.

They even have a lake with fish, walking tracks, and picnic and free gas bbqs. Family are welcome to stay for as long as they like, free, and use the facilities too.

Retirement village living with aging-in-place was the best thing they ever did, and I was so glad they did it while they're still healthy and young enough to enjoy it.

[Bobby]

Retirement village living with aging-in-place was the best thing they ever did, and I was so glad they did it while they're still healthy and young enough to enjoy it.

Sounds perfect.

[mellie]

This village even has it's own men's shed, and the men craft some beautiful things. My daughter was blessed with an heirloom dolls house compled with wooden calved furniture and dolls. It was auctioned off, to raise money for kids hospital, and my parents snapped it up for $300. It's huge, incredible, one of a kind and 3 stories. My daughter absolutely adores it STILL!!!

Woman have their crafting circles, cooking clubs, aqua excercise classes, and they have their own bowling green and golf course. My dad teaches local school children to bowl , when they have bowls on at school for just one term of the year, kids really enjoy spending time with seniors, many don't have grandparents or their grandparents are unwell or live too far away, so it's good for the oldies and the kids. Working with kids checks first of course.