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Here is the word optimism from dictionary.com

1. –noun
2.  a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome.
3.  the belief that good ultimately predominates over evil in the world.
4.  the belief that goodness pervades reality.
5.  the doctrine that the existing world is the best of all possible worlds.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines optimism as having "hopefulness and confidence about the future or successful outcome of something; a tendency to take a favorable or hopeful view."

Being optimistic, in the typical sense of the world, ultimately means one expects the best possible outcome from any given situation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimism

When I used to look at the word optimism I always thought hope. Back in 2003 our team was good, and I was always hopeful that we would go to the Superbowl. Now my hope and optimism is in a different form, hopeful we can finish with a winning record, optimistic that we have the correct personel and players in place to get back on the right track. Growing up watching the Chiefs in the early 90's and 2000's everyone that was a Chiefs fan had to be optimistic that each year we were going to be competitive, each year we would field a team that would hold its own. Every season was exciting because in my heart of hearts I expected us to do good. But have the last few years madethe bulk of Chiefs fans complacent?  

Complacent

Here is the definition of complacent from Dictionary.com

1. –adjective
2.  pleased, esp. with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied: The voters are too complacent to change the government.
3.  pleasant; complaisant.

The past few days and all the way back to the draft there have been several comments about how the management doesn't do anything, how people are going to be happy with a 5-11 or 6-10 season, or why next year is hopeless and we arent going to succeed. Is that what you really want? Are you going to be happy with your team if they finish 6-10? Im not going to be until we win the Superbowl, and then even after that, I wont be happy until we cement ourselves as a dynasty. Yes our team hasn't been good the past few years, but are you seriously going to shortchange yourself and set your hopes low?

Now complacency doesnt always have to follow bad teams, im sure fans in New England in this decade, Pittsburgh for years, and Dallas all when they had their dynasties were complacent with winning. Its when the winning stops that everyone starts freaking out. I can understand if someone becomes complacent but why?  Well because its our society, get in the best groove that doesnt upset your daily ritual and everything will be fine.  Carl Peterson became complacent and made the Chiefs stagnant. CP was fine with bringing in whatever Free Agent he wanted in hopes of pleasing the fans, thus making us complacent with his moves as well.

Reality:
Here is the definition of reality from Dictionary.com

1.  the state or quality of being real.
2.  resemblance to what is real.
3.  a real thing or fact.
4.  real things, facts, or events taken as a whole; state of affairs: the reality of the business world; vacationing to escape reality.

Reality is the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or may be thought to be.

Now while some people here may be considered complacent, I think more of you are realists. You see the reality of your arguments and realize the Chiefs are a young football team. We have a new front office and coaching staff and all the reality is pointing to us gradually improving.  Of course there are going to be mistakes made by Eric Berry, Matt Cassel is going to throw a few interceptions, Jamaal Charles will fumble the ball. But when reality strikes are you going to instantly become complacent next season? When Cassel gets sacked for the first time is everyone going to be up in arms at Pioli for not fixing the line? The first time one of our receivers drops a pass are we going to just wash the season away? While I like seeing our team do great on the field, every once in awhile its good that some of this stuff happens. Its good because we will get to judge them as a team on how they respond to the problem. The past three years they didnt respond very well, next year are you going to be optimistic, complacent, or just realize we are putting this thing in gear?

Me when it comes to the Chiefs, I will always be optimistic. What about you?