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sapinker's profile
Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker
Verified account
@sapinker

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Steven PinkerVerified account

@sapinker

Cognitive scientist at Harvard.

Boston, MA
pinker.wjh.harvard.edu
Joined January 2010

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    Steven Pinker‏Verified account @sapinker 12 May 2016

    Why are conservatives dumping on the USA, "progressives" cynical about progress? Mindless pessimism is now the norm.http://nyti.ms/23KMfmK 

    11:23 AM - 12 May 2016
    • 88 Retweets
    • 156 Likes
    • Kwame Owino Dougavernier anthony dougan ROGD = Zinnia Jones Gender Virus Dr The Leopard In The Basement Is A Stupid Name Joe Wojo 🎮🍜🍦 🌎🌍🌏 Alejandro Espitia Y. Barrios
    26 replies 88 retweets 156 likes
      1. Staffan‏ @Paradigmian 12 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        I think one reason is that the demographic changes make for tribal/identity politics which doesn't lend itself to optimism.

        0 replies 1 retweet 3 likes
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      1. Donald Spines‏ @SunnyDfan4eva 12 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        Isn't it mindlessly pessimistic to think that people today are more pessimistic than they've ever been, without good cause?

        0 replies 1 retweet 1 like
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      1. New conversation
      2. A spectre is haunting the USA‏ @nickexperience 12 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        looking at country in aggregate erases the real problems of the impoverished, to name one group for which things aren't great.

        1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
      3. A spectre is haunting the USA‏ @nickexperience 12 May 2016
        Replying to @nickexperience @sapinker

        please excuse progressives for being cynical about "progress" when the 50 year $22 Trillion War on Poverty hasn't moved the needle

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
      4. End of conversation
      1. Joscha Bach‏ @Plinz 12 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        The really annoying thing is not which opinion is currently normal, but that there are (social, not rational) norms for opinions

        0 replies 0 retweets 2 likes
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      1. Damien Morris‏ @DamienMorris 13 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        Great piece. ICYM, here's a similar article by another cautious optimist @LeifWenar http://nyti.ms/1KQJZXP  Very 'Better Angels'.

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
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      1. illastray‏ @illastr8 13 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        Delusions about "the good old days", you know before all these children that we raised screwed everything up.

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
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      1. Psychopath Resistance‏ @PsychoResist 12 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        And mindless scapegoating.

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
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      1. Communo-Stalinist‏ @ZombieDiamond 12 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        @nytimes ah yes, the "big goofy misunderstanding" hypothesis. Elites are in denial.

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
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      1. Communo-Stalinist‏ @ZombieDiamond 12 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        @nytimes prolly cause they live in the real world and you just read about it

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
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      1.  📚A Personal Opinion 🔬‏ @SableViews 16 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        Everything is relative & if you read progressives as cynical, perhaps U are the mindless pessimist! ☺ Did love your book TBAOON👍

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
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      1. Bill Waters‏ @BillWaters7 15 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        "Mindless pessimism" I would say it is political demagogues feeding on the politically ignorant Cruz first then Trump

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
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      1. Malcolm McMahon‏ @FulfordMalcolm 14 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        Improvements are taken for granted immediately or just disbelieved. Statistics have no emotional traction,threats do

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
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      1. The President's Therapist™‏ @Whittle_Guy 12 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        POV question, POV answers @sapinker.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
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      1. Jeff Brooks‏ @JeBroo5 12 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        brilliant article. Absolutely brilliant and should be read by everyone.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
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      1. New conversation
      2. John Gravino‏ @john_gravino 12 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        Pessimism is not mindless in today's world. Your book's thesis strikes me as Pollyannaish. What better angels?

        1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
      3. John Gravino‏ @john_gravino 12 May 2016
        Replying to @john_gravino @sapinker

        Consider my book's(high praise from Kirkus)contrary thesis: http://wp.me/p6BQZ2-aC  Also: http://wp.me/p6BQZ2-7a 

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
      4. End of conversation
      1. Dennis Just  🎃‏ @sciencepolicia 12 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        For some folks, it's always seemed to me to be an easy, lazy way to come off intellectually sharp - just be cynical/pessimistic.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
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      1. Engy Kpi‏ @EngineerKPI 12 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        Conservatives are not conservative. Progressives have nothing to do with progress. IMO.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
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      1. Vlad Luchianov‏ @worldskating 12 May 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        @nytimes Even fMRI researches confirm that 'pessimists' have the most realistic views. / BTW, all wars were started by optimists.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
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