Foo - a vocab question

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Snicklefritz
08-10-07, 08:11 PM
Is there a word that expressed someone doing a certain thing but they really don't think that
thing is going to happen? I'm working on an article and wondered if there is a word to describe
that kind of attitude...

mirage1
08-10-07, 08:17 PM
I don't know if there's a word that describes exactly what you want, but there are a couple of different angles. If someone's trying to accomplish something but they don't think it'll ever happen for them, you've got futility and hopelessness. Or if they're trying to do something but they're not any good at it, there's good ol' incompetence, perhaps?

Then there's someone who's doing something but they don't believe what they're doing could ever possibly have a particular effect that's actually a likely outcome...that would be foolhardiness, or maybe just stupidity.

I doubt any of these will help you, but you've piqued my interest about just WHAT you're trying to communicate in your article.
Snicklefritz
08-10-07, 08:25 PM
^^^ This forum is a lot like cartalk. You can get answer on just about everything!
Sounds like maybe you should write the article. i have to laugh...a response in less in 5 minutes!!!

(it was about people in poor health and people doing what they can to help them improve their condition, but they don't think it's going to do anything) It's actually an article my mom is writing and I didn't know the answer so I posted a question here because I figured I'd probably get some responses. :)

Will G
08-10-07, 08:26 PM
Delusional? Fait accompli?
georgiaboy
08-10-07, 08:29 PM
..."want of heart"...

"He is," she said to her mother, "a poet, defenceless against
disaster, mean out of laziness, not for want of heart, and rather too
prone to pleasure; in short, a great cat, whom it is impossible to
hate. What would become of him without me? I hindered his marriage; he
has no prospects. His talent would perish in privations."
timmyquest
08-10-07, 08:34 PM
Futile...

Cypress was trying to get laid, but he knew it was futile.
apclassic9
08-10-07, 08:50 PM
windmill chasing? Don Quixote-ing about?
StupidlyBrave
08-10-07, 08:50 PM
gedankenexperiment? Irrealis moods?
j-lip
08-10-07, 08:59 PM
^ This forum is a lot like cartalk. You can get answer on just about everything!

Cartalk is my favorite radio show! Don't drive like my brother! hahaha
sorry, I just had to share that.
USAZorro
08-10-07, 09:08 PM
fatalistic?
defeatist?
Tom Stormcrowe
08-10-07, 11:08 PM
Contrary causatum would meet your needs

contrary. (n.d.). Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus, First Edition (v 1.3.1). Retrieved August 10, 2007, from Thesaurus.com website: http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/contrary

causatum. (n.d.). Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus, First Edition (v 1.3.1). Retrieved August 10, 2007, from Thesaurus.com website: http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/contrary