I worked for over 35 years in the environmental field, and one of the central debates I encountered was whether to “tell it like it is,” and risk spreading doom and gloom, or to focus on a more optimistic message, even when optimism wasn’t necessarily warranted.
The optimists nearly always won this debate. For the record, I was—and am—a doom and gloomer. Actually, I like to think I’m a realist. I believe that understating the problems we face leads to understated—and inadequate responses. I also believe that people, when dealt with honestly, have responded magnificently, and will do so again, if and when called. ….
Read the full article by John Atcheson, published by Common Dreams on 19/07/2017, at https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/07/19/our-aversion-doom-and-gloom-dooming-us