“Cruel optimism” was first coined by American historian Lauren Berlant. It refers to when you take a big problem with deep systemic causes in society – such as obesity, stress or financial illiteracy – and offer a simplistic solution positively.
It’s optimistic as it implies a quick and easy solution to a complex problem and is seen as cruel as the solution offered is limited, not to mention short-sighted. Often, such solutions do not consider the deeper causes of the problem, and so will fail to work for most people.
It’s in our nature to look for quick fixes, instant gratification and magic bullets. We hastily throw half-baked solutions at convoluted, insidious problems and are quick to declare “mission accomplished”.
It makes us feel smart and decisive; it makes us look powerful and saviour-like; it also makes for great social media news bytes – short and superficial – just like our attention span is primed to be nowadays.
But take a closer look and you will see that such hurried and cursory actions, without a thorough well-examined study, exacerbate the existing problem.
Take the issue of the lack of personal finance knowledge in young people today.
An issue as convoluted and insidious as any, because of the substantial toll it takes on their future and that of the economy.
In the US alone, the cost of financial illiteracy was calculated at $415 billion in 2020, according to the National Financial Educators Council.
This problem didn’t garner much attention previously, but the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic meltdown thrust it into the spotlight worldwide.
Several solutions followed: money tracking and budgeting apps, parent-controlled debit cards, online resources, self-help books, mandatory lectures and financial education programmes … the list goes on.
All touting to expeditiously, effortlessly and – for a small fee – rid society of this menace forever and save the future generation from the perils of bad money choices.
If it seems almost too good to be true, it is. Many of these organisations failed to study and understand the battlefield properly before rushing to market lofty claims and promises.
They didn’t pay attention to the needs and motivations of those they were purporting to help; they just swooped down and lectured them on responsible behaviour.
They ignored moulding the mindset of young people while jumping straight into budgeting formulas.
They assumed that what worked for adults would automatically work for teenagers, forgetting that teenagers aren’t mini-adults – their brains are wired in completely different ways.
They oversimplified and dumbed down the content, not understanding that nuance and complexity are interesting and engaging, not to mention a more realistic representation of the issues at hand.
They believed that personal finance could be summarised in a few quick tips, not recognising that doing so undermined the very learning they were hoping to impart.
They fell prey to the myth that teenagers need to be entertained with short punchy videos, even though only profound engagement would elicit true behaviour change.
They completely overlooked the way the content was taught to young people, grossly undervaluing the use of a tried-and-tested methodology to ensure that the content was delivered most effectively.
They delivered a “McProgramme”, identical irrespective of who it was being delivered to, not realising how important it is to customise and personalise the content and learning experience to the learner.
They, like much of the education system, focused on telling the youngsters what to think, instead of showing them how to think.
All this didn’t dampen the profits or valuation of these organisations; it just failed to solve the underlying problem.
It laid out the equivalent of an attractive plaster over a deep cut and hoped for the best.
We cannot afford to delude ourselves into complacency. The younger generation deserve better.
We shouldn’t be so quick to mortgage their future for a fleeting feeling of self-satisfaction. We need to stop with the quick fixes.
We owe it to youth to think deeper about the problem, to understand the prevailing issues better and to plan our offensive with more forethought and consideration.
We have to resolve to deal with not just the symptoms, but, more importantly, the deep-rooted problem.
For it is only by deeply understanding a formidable problem that we can ever hope to overcome it.
Marilyn Pinto is the founder of KFI Global
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
F1 drivers' standings
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 281
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 222
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 177
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 138
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 93
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 86
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 56
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Afghanistan squad
Gulbadin Naib (captain), Mohammad Shahzad (wicketkeeper), Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
Brief scores:
England: 290 & 346
Sri Lanka: 336 & 243
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
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RESULTS
2.15pm: Al Marwan Group Holding – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: SS Jalmod, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
2.45pm: Sharjah Equine Hospital – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
3.15pm: Al Marwan Group Holding – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Inthar, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
3.45pm: Al Ain Stud Emirates Breeders Trophy – Conditions (PA) Dh50,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: MH Rahal, Richard Mullen, Elise Jeanne
4.25pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup – Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: JAP Aneed, Ray Dawson, Irfan Ellahi
4.45pm: Sharjah Equine Hospital – Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Edaraat, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
