The pessimist will argue that he or she isn't a pessimist, but a "realist." After all, many negative things happen in life, and this person thinks that it's justified to focus on the bad as a way of life, as a way to shape and form his or her own perspective on life. Their version of reality, though, includes only a very small portion of what truly goes on in the world and ignores all the positive things done every day. Pessimists view the good in life as exceptions rather than the norm, and by maintaining this perspective, they guarantee that they will continue to be pessimists.