What ideas have you brought up that you firmly believe in, only to have them dismissed as 'overly idealistic'?

Question

What do you do when that happens?

Answer 1

The value of romance. Giving love without caring about past baggage.
I've lost a few relationships because they weren't up to my high expectations of what people can do for each other. I always get told I'm being overly-idealistic or "looking for perfection".

You just have to hold strong to what you believe in. At the end of the day, no-one will have had the same life experiences and therefore choose the same values in their lives.

Good luck with whoever told you that you're being overly-idealistic. At the end of the day, you'll never reach the stars unless you don't shoot for them!

Answer 2

LOL...I misread your question as "what ideas were you brought up with that you firmly believed in, only to have them dismissed as overly idealistic? That's not what you asked, but since I went to all the trouble to answer what I THOUGHT you asked, I hope you don't mind if I leave my answer:

This is a good and thought provoking question. I have dismissed SO many ideas I was brought up with as either overly idealistic or just plan wrong.
One that tops the list is the idea that love conquers all. Love definitely helps, but so much more is needed than just love.

Another one is "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". I don't want done to me what some others would have done to themselves, if you know what I mean! And I'm sure other people don't necessarily want me to treat them like I would want to be treated. It doesn't take in to account the amazing diversity of people and cultures.

Answer 3

We are all brought up with guide lines to follow but sadly the world is an ever changing place and sometimes we have to move the goal posts just to survive. However doing something that is totally alien to your beliefs because of being overly idealistic would depend on strength of character.

Answer 4

I was raised to believe that we should all take responsibility for the things we do--good or bad. In reality, that isn't at all the way our society works. We profess it as a virtue and then don't follow it on an individual basis. The way our society works is "Don't get caught. If you do get questioned about it, deny it. If you get charged with it, fight it with everything you've got. What matters isn't whether or not you were innocent. What matters is that you didn't get convicted." This kind of thinking seems to be pervasive. We see it echoed in criminal cases (like the O.J. Simpson trial), in the political arena (Clinton tried and failed but Bush has done a pretty good job of not taking responsibility. "Mistakes were made."), Sports recruiting (did anyone from CU ever say, "Okay. You got me. I was setting up perspective players with booze and sex parties as a recruitment tool"?), etc.

I used to make fun of comments like, "It wasn't me. It was the one armed man." I'm tired of having people around me tell me that I'm dumb or crazy if I think I'll ever find anyone who actually lives by what they say.. or even tries to.

Answer 5

the idea of being good to others, or at least not doing any harm
when the idea is dismissed, I just take note of it and go on - maybe actions will make a difference if words don't

Answer 6

Feminism
Ecological Living
Vegetarianism
Attachment parenting
Voluntary poverty
What I did when I was younger was to doubt myself.
Now I tell people to like it or leave it, and I go my merry way.
There are advantages to Age; I'm almost 50.
Good luck

Answer 7

Global Warming. And I become very scarred.

Answer 8

the right to be so called "mad".