You could just choose optimism

Value and limits of “choosing optimism”

• Several comments affirm the core idea: you often can’t choose events, but you can choose your response; optimism can make life more bearable and increase persistence (e.g., job search, daily hassles).
• Extreme examples are raised (concentration camps, infiltrating Auschwitz, near‑death survivors) to show that even in horrific conditions people sometimes find meaning, focus, or even positivity.
• Others say in truly dire times (e.g., world wars) what fits better is “grim determination” rather than upbeat optimism.

Complaining: harmful habit or useful tool?

• Many see the piece as “complaining about complainers,” possibly self‑refuting.
• Some argue that blanket condemnation of complaining is hypocritical: venting can be cathartic, socially bonding, and a signal that “it’s not just me.”
• Others counter that chronic complainers rarely drive improvements; effective people skip stewing and go straight to solving or escalating issues constructively.
• A middle view emerges: complaining is fine if it leads to action or connection, harmful when it becomes a default stance or identity.

Negative emotions, “shadow,” and toxic positivity

• One thread emphasizes that you can’t “optimism away” sadness, anger, fear; repressing them just buries them.
• Opposing replies claim that real optimism reduces negative emotions rather than denying them, and that therapeutic work can change emotional responses.
• There’s broad agreement that shallow “just be positive” dismissals are unhelpful, but disagreement over whether the article promotes that or something subtler.

Realism, skepticism, and politics

• Some reject the optimism/pessimism binary, preferring realism or skepticism: weighing pros/cons, questioning whether optimism is warranted.
• One critic calls the home‑ownership example “anti‑politics”: whether structural barriers exist is not just a mindset issue but a societal one that should not be waved away as unhelpful negativity.
• Others note that many progress starts with dissatisfaction and “unreasonable” refusal to accept the status quo.

Social and personal impacts

• Multiple anecdotes say authentically optimistic people are resilient, attractive to be around, and can influence others’ outlooks.
• Conversely, entrenched pessimism is described as contagious; some limit exposure for self‑protection.
• There’s practical dating advice: focus on what you enjoy rather than constant complaints, especially early in relationships.

Critiques of the article and site

• Some readers like the essay as a synthesis of half‑formed thoughts; others dismiss it as shallow “LinkedIn‑style” content with no concrete tools.
• The binary “grouchy vs jolly” framing and lack of nuance about justified complaints are common criticisms.
• The site’s typography and zoom behavior are widely panned, seen as ironically frustrating given the topic.