Opinion is a matter of personal taste and preference. (Vanilla ice cream and not pistachio)
But, fact is not. We are entitled to our own opinion and not our own facts.
This, of course, is the difference between what is subjective on the one hand and what is obective on the other.
How we "feel" about a dress or a sunset doesn't impinge on fact at all.
Being cynical doesn't make life NO FUN. It limits the price we pay for the fun we have!
Example:
Fooling ourself that we can afford something we objectively cannot.
Fooling ourself that we love somebody when they aren't worthy of that love or our trust.
Fooling ourself that what we are doing today won't carry a hefty price to pay tomorrow.
Being cynical is a way of taste-testing our life BEFORE we pay for a bite of it. Do you buy a car without driving it first? No.
Being cynical is not over-paying for a happy moment by doing the research into value.
The bad press inherent in cynicism is due to the fact that the person who leaves the party isn't appreciated by the drunks who will have hangovers the next morning.
Credit cards have rates. The cynic demands the lowest rate or pays cash. The romanticist/fanticist charges anything their heart desires and lets tomorrow take care of itself.
Whose bills would you rather pay? The Cynic's or the Fantacist's?
That is what it comes down to in my view:
Christianity is a salad bar. Each person grabs a plate and cherry picks what suits their own fancy. They are commited to defending their choices if challenged by exclaiming how delicious it is.
Fool me once; shame on you...
Fool me twice; shame on me.
We've all heard that one before. It implies that being fooled is everybody's susceptibility until more facts are presented which enable more critical thinking.
Critical thinking is something you aren't born with. It takes lots of practice.
And anything humans want to learn requires many tries. Among the tries there are failures. So, we all make mistakes.
But, being gullible isn't just making a "mistake"; it indicates a susceptibility to being fooled that in part of your habitual nature.
Time to ask an important question:
JUST HOW GULLIBLE ARE YOU?
What steps have you taken to overcome your willingness to "buy in" to what you want to be true (which may not be true at all)?
DO YOU LIKE IT THAT WAY? In other words, do you prefer to be fooled about certain beliefs to the extent you cannot/will not penetrate deeply into counter-arguments?
Example: If a friend took you aside and told you your mate was cheating on you; would you PREFER not to believe it--and--therefore CHOOSE to be gullible instead of investigating?
This sort of thing goes on with people all the time.
People are reluctant to change their INVESTED world view.
They'd rather live in a fantasy if it has become comfortable.
Are you that way?