What are the benefits of being a pessimist?

They don't get disappointed.

Not getting hurt. If you expect the worst from people, you don't get hurt when they backstab you.

They don't get disappointed, caught off-guard, or backstabbed.

Always being pleasantly surprised when things go well.

When the shit hits the fan you will be able to gloat like crazy

People leave you alone.

Pessimists are often more accurate in their predictions - I'm not one most of the time but I had read that somewhere.

What are the negatives to being an optimist ?

There are no benefits to being a pessimist, life is just a mixed-shitbag

U never have ups and downs ..just downs

So the saying goes, you can only be [b]pleasantly[/b] surprised.