I’ll never give up on myself, just society in general. There’s still plenty of individuals to link up with and care about.
I truly understand a quote I read some years ago. I think it was Mark Twain.
A cynic is just a crushed idealist.
You seem to have sort of two philosophies going. I hope the best one wins.
Cynicism will not serve you well. Realism will. But not cynicism.