24 November 2008

hopeful or hopeless?

"Is the glass half full or half empty?"


Everyone has heard of this commonly-used phrase. It's typically used to indicate that a particular situation could be seen as optimistic
[half full] or pessimistic [half empty]. This has also been used as general litmus tests [tests that rely on single indicators] to simply determine if an individual is an optimist or a pessimist.

Another purpose of this question is to illustrate that a situation may be seen in several ways based on someone's stance and that there may be opportunity or trouble in that given situation.


This expression can be also used to identify who's willing to think outside the box. In other words, someone might argue that this glass is the wrong size and cannot determine if it's half full or empty. [Really now?]


This is also used to explain how people perceive on events and objects. Perception is unique to every individual and is simply your interpretation of reality.

See, I think I'm pretty sanguine. But upon seeing this glass, the first words that come out my mouth is: "It's half empty."


Anyway, I wanna know what you are, and I don't wanna hear, "Oh I'm an optimist, I usually think positive, blah, blah, blah." That's not what I'm asking. I just wanna know what your initial reaction is upon seeing this glass. What would you say? Is it half full, or half empty? Just give me two words.

* for those who get my posts straight to their PDA's please stop falling into the Technology Trap and get to a PC and let me know your two words ... thanks :)**

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Half Empty

Anonymous said...

Half Empty



Dina

Anonymous said...

umm half full

alex

Anonymous said...

I would say half empty.

- Jessica

Anonymous said...

Half Empty

When I think of the word full the glass would need to have atleast 3/4 of water in it!

Sheba

Peggy M. said...

lol @ 3/4 ...

Brothers Blog said...

half empty. bartender I need a refill. lol

Peggy M. said...

Brother's Blog -- hahaha ... i'm with you on that!

Anonymous said...

It's half empty!

The FEATURE™ said...

I think it all depends on the situation in which you are viewing the glass.

On first glance, I would say half empty. But then my thirst for more requires that I have a full glass. So I'd go with half full, because I want to experience as much as what is in the glass as I can. However, once I've had my fill and cannot endure anymore, I'd have to switch my perception to it being half empty. Now it becomes a task to empty the glass of its content.

I've got a thirst that can rarely be quench, so I will probably always choose half full in hopes of one day acquiring a full glass.