Reply To: Toshiba's "Micro Nuclear Reactor" – it's not fusion, but it's here now

[Rezwan]

Warwick wrote:
But it’s probably easier to spread a positive attitude to something than a stoical one.

And more fun. But at the same time, you need to cultivate a stoic backbone. (“You need a backbone, not a wishbone!”) I’m working on stamina more than stoicism. See also paradoxical commandments.

I like the distinction made by the Confidence Monitor between optimism and confidence. Optimism is the belief that something is possible – say that net energy from fusion is achievable. Confidence is the calculation that “those who should be doing something about it, are.” Or, “enough/the right resources are being brought to bear on the problem”. If we have optimism about one approach, are we confident that it has enough resources at its disposal to demonstrate the fact? If we aren’t sure that a specific project will work, are we confident that a broad enough range of projects is being pursued?

This is also a cultural thing as what most Americans consider normal may be slightly more positive than in some other countries (in my limited experience). e.g. if you go to watch a film with an American and it turns out to be a bit rubbish, there’s not much point in taking the mick out of how bad it is … they just don’t see why they’d want to get into the hate.

Ooh, yes. Those dismissive folk are “fusion haters”. Show fusion the love!