Isn't it a tad cynical to say "since I can't effect it, and it can't effect me, than it doesn't matter"

Answer 1

Not cynical, its stoic. And realistic.

You just have to remember that just because something doesnt effect you, it can effect someone, mean something to someone.

Knowledge changes the issue.

In practice:

Global warming or a food shortage somewhere might not affect you directly, but it affects people, so you should do what you can to help.

On the eventual heat death of the universe, or the Earth being swallowed by the Sun in five billion years? I wouldn't sweat that.

Answer 2

You're half-right.

To a cynic, anything that doesn't further their own self-interests is irrelevant. Further, a cynic believes that everyone else operates along the same lines... so the idea that someone else is being generous or altruistic is ludicrous to them. It is this latter sense (instead of as a philosophical standpoint) that the word is usually used today.

So what you are saying is close. A true cynic would be completely indifferent to things not directly related to their goals. Historically, they were famous for not even bathing or bothering to maintain social relations. Even many of the things they COULD affect were of no interest.

But the latter half is dead on. If anything, I would say it is not inclusive enough. A true cynic not only wouldn't care about things that didn't affect them, they wouldn't care about some things that DID affect them but didn't interfere with their supposed virtuosity.

Peace.

Answer 3

Is someone who is not concerned with a matter because it has no effect on them cynical now? Sounds more like a negative name-calling just because someone isn't conforming as another would like. Perhaps a study of transactional analysis would help you understand the power games we play on each other. If someone is not interested in what you are and the way you react etc. That doesn't mean there is no merit in your judgment, just that the question leaves too much open to know if it is cynical or not.

Answer 4

It is, because it's AFFECT!! Not EFFECT!

Okay, back to the question. It could be, but only if you don't consider others. Something might not affect you, but it might affect someone you know. For example, a group of people from my school recently went to England. On the trip, the professor hurt his knee. Now, it doesn't affect me, because I don't have any current contacts with this man, and I can't affect it. Yet it still matters because this man is a God in my eyes, and I hold him in the highest regards.

Simply put, if you think it's cynical, then I believe you are cynical.

Answer 5

What could that IT be that you can`t affect? That IT can`t affect you is a given. Cynical no, realistic yes. In any event it would be a good idea to brush up on the law of attraction in order to quickly and easily find the answers to such questions. Cheers!

Answer 6

It sounds negative. I think. Let's see...if "it" was to mean poverty, then the sentence would follow, "Since I can't affect poverty, and poverty can't affect me, then it doesn't matter." That sounds a bit cynical to me. You can do something about someone else's problem, because we're all the same, just human beings with different kinds of problems, ranging from financial to emotional, etc. To say that someone's problem shouldn't matter to you sounds harsh. Of course, it's their business, but at least show that you care.

Answer 7

All in the context. No it's not cynical it's logical.

Answer 8

i would say , it does matter because we are human beings who do care about other things and other people, and it could affect us one day, maybe you could effect it if many of us think the same way

Answer 9

I don't know about cynical, but it is bad spelling.

Answer 10

Well there is the butterfly effect,that everything is connected.But then in Alanon they say {I didnt cause it,I cant cure it,learn to live with it,or get out of it}.