This page is not necessarily supposed to represent an exhaustive explanation of what all skeptics and/or cynics think of these terms, nor is it anything I found in a dictionary, but for the record, here's my understanding of the difference between cynics and skeptics as far as I employ those words in my own life and here on this site.... 


Cynicism: 
A cynic starts out with a "belief" about a subject and makes conclusions about the subject based on that "belief". So, a cynic decides to accept or reject something based on whether or not it fits with their current belief system. 

There is little or no actual examination of the subject in the light of objective reasoning, critical thinking and an approach of being totally open, honest and real. Besides, their decision is a foregone conclusion, regardless of the evidence. 

It's more about being "for or against" something rather than being into the process of investigation and discovery, and acknowledging whatever is actually found. 

The truth does not really matter to the cynic because they have already made up their mind about the subject. An enormous presence or lack of evidence rarely has any bearing on their opinion about the subject at hand. They are not concerned with actually learning the truth, but in solidifying their preconceptions. 

Also, they're more into passing on their own views to others than inviting others into a genuine study of the matter to find out for them selves. 

Cynicism is about having a predisposition of only wanting to see one's own current view of things and not ever really taking a good, hard, honest look at those things at all. 


Skepticism: 
A skeptic on the other hand starts out with no "belief" about the subject. They seek to understand the subject through a process of examining it in its fullness with an open mind. The skeptic is not fundamentally concerned as much with keeping their world view in tact as much as they are with exposing it to the rigorous trial of an honest examination. 

The skeptic can do this because they are not afraid of the truth. They do indeed seek the truth in the various subjects they encounter, but they do not want to hold on so tightly to their current world view that there is no room for learning something new. 

Whether it is a natural part of their personality or something they picked up along the way, they are genuinely curious in a sort of "omnidirectional" kind of way (curious about everything... not necessarily to the same extent, but... ya know). 

They are also comfortable with the possibility of finding out that something they currently hold to be true is not in fact true. Or at least, even if they're not necessarily "comfortable" with it, they are committed to it. They'd rather know what's real than to go on in the darkness of their own imagination. 

For the most part (to the degree to which they live according to their stated intentions), they do not stake their claim of truth on unknowable, supernatural, paranormal or "mysterious" things, but only on the things which can be studied and understood within the realm of what I like to call "knowable reality". 

Skepticism is not a position to stand on or a belief system or anything like that. Rather, skepticism is an open-minded way of approaching ideas, concepts, claims and positions with the intent of understanding them better in the light of honesty, reality, critical thinking and intellectual integrity. 
 [entry added sometime in early 2003]