Does Being EA Make You Skeptical/Jaded?

[jpeezy]

I am an inherently skeptical person. When someone tells me something, even sometimes friends or family, I doubt them and try to uncover their true intentions if it smells fishy to me. I feel like people are generally too trusting, esp. here in America. I haven't really ever been tricked or hurt by anyone's dishonesty in the past, so I'm not sure if I'm just like this naturally or because of growing up EA and not feeling a sense of real solidarity with any group.

Is anyone else like this?

[JohnCoolYoungHistory]

I've had horrible trust issues which have made me skeptical and pessimistic and literally molded the way I am, all relating directly to issues concerning race and my half-asianness.

However, all of my issues surround friendship and direct social interaction. For the most part, I'm over it because I've learned to cope and that there are fewer rude and ignorant 20 + year olds compared to middle schoolers and high schoolers. Secondly, those past issues did not and do not plague every area of my life, such as my family, my job, my relationship with teachers, the war in Iraq.................

If you're jaded and skeptical about everything in general, then that's just you.

[swordcane]

^ What he said. I blame Catholic school (my mom's side is Irish Catholic, and yes this is one of many reasons why I love George Carlin) for most of my mistrust in people, really.

[dannyd]

^ Really? I blame Irish Catholicism for urge to drink and then become ridiculously friendly to all who are in my vicinity

I always kind of thought I was a cynic. But to be honest it works like this, when I'm addressing society as a whole or parts of society I am often deeply cynical or skeptical. This applies to most 'authority' aswell. However, despite this, when dealing with people on a personal level, I mostly seem to throw away that cynicism and actually look for the best in people. People often contort themselves I think to fit what their labels 'require' of them. But with that context removed I find people are mostly similar.

I'm skeptical when need be. But I think I do prefer to approach people with an open mind. There are people in the world I trust completely though, that I hardly question. One is one of my brothers, the other is a friend. But then, through this entire post, the thought of my ethinicity never entered my mind. So from my perspective, if you are trying to link the two, I say no link.

On the contrary, as an EA I found I could mix with most groups very freely. Perhaps this was because I didn't feel stapled to a certain group, or perhaps because people didn't associate me to a particular group. Whatever the reason, I've for the most part enjoyed this freedom.

I see cynicism everyday, I see people who are so out of tune with other people that they can only grunt when you smile or acknowledge or greet them. I don't think it has to do with anything other than the individual, and how they choose to face the world and the challenges it presents them.

[avax]

I think the overly cynical just haven't lived enough.

[jpeezy]

^ Or maybe they've lived and seen too much. lol

[majubi]

Maybe.

I'm skeptical and jaded, but i never linked that to my heritage. Who knows.

[avax]

jpeezy said:

^ Or maybe they've lived and seen too much. lol

Oh really?

Can't say that ever occured to me.

[long]

^ Sarcasm Cel? As I see it: idealism -> disillusion -> cynicism; experience has to play a part. But then I can see someone overcoming cynicism through experience and acceptance I spose.

jpeezy: do you find yourself more trusting of EA's?

[Altan]

EA's I trust. Not really. Now EA people from established EA races in the Old World I do. Because they have a race and culture that doesn't hide their EA roots. I've seen this and experienced this. Though they have a homogenious culture I had to learn about. Where not to tread and what I could talk about. But as I learned more I found too many similarities. Also as of lately their are more websites dedicated to this in half a dozen languages.
My religious background/affiliation I trust more also.

I figured this if somehow I was put in the California Penal System for some weird reason...where would I fit and which groups. I proably have only three groups in there all depends on the social perceptions there...the religious one would be the best bet. And I wouldn't have to play killing politics based on drug territory or economic monopoly of some cell block.

[arcturus]

jpeezy said:

^ Or maybe they've lived and seen too much. lol

Amen to that!

[Ave`]

I get more skeptical as I grow and anyone who gives me any forms of racial slurs will get what they asked for right at them. I call it self-defence *shrugs*

[jpeezy]

@long: Maybe, but I don't really know any EA's except for family members.

I've seen a lot of pretty bad stuff growing up, so maybe that ties into it. Incidentally, I don't necessarily see being skeptical as a bad thing, because I tend to avoid the scams, etc. that seem to trick friends of mine.

[honeyviper]

I'm skeptical of institutions and things of that nature, but not inherently skeptical about the average joe. It's a case by case basis for me. I have a pretty good bulls*** detector though.

[soliliquy]

I think the question for the topic is phrased badly. I am horribly pessimistic and wary of people (people comment I'm paranoid a lot :\). While being EA was a huge factor in making me that way, it was because of the way people treated me rather than me myself.

That may be nitpicking, I dunno, I feel I want to make that distinction for some reason.

But anyway, to answer the spirit of the question-- yea, I have issues in that regard and they relate to lineage :S