# Is the glass half full or half empty? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 23, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042 "2009-04-23T01:13:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/1 "2009-04-23T01:13:07Z")
What is your outlook on things and has it changed over the course of your life? I ask because I think I’ve been a fairly pessimistic and negative person for most of my life. I used to think people owed me something. I expected too much out of life. I am coming out of that shell though and now I look around and see possibilities and excitement. I create my days and make my life meaningful. So my glass is half full. How about you? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/2 "2009-04-23T01:23:25Z")
Neither. The glass is twice as big as it needs to be. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/3 "2009-04-23T01:44:28Z")
I see the glass as being half-full and half-empty since that’s the way it is. That reflects my outlook as well. There are beautiful people and great wonders in the world and there are vicious people committing great evil. I’m a bit less pessimistic as I get older though, especially since having kids. That made a big difference. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/4 "2009-04-23T01:57:52Z")
Hey, I ordered a cheeseburger! ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/5 "2009-04-23T02:19:01Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > Hey, I ordered a cheeseburger! Sorry. ::wipes crumbs from mouth:: All this talk of half-full glasses made me hungry too. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/6 "2009-04-23T02:20:51Z")
I’m more of a “half full” kind of gal. I used to be a negative person. At some point in my late 20’s, I had an “aha” moment and realized just how destructive all of that negativity can be. I made a conscious effort to learn to become grateful for the things I had. It was literally life changing for me. I’m still a work in progress but for the most part, I my outlook is positive. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/7 "2009-04-23T02:21:26Z")
My glass is half-empty. Mind you, that’s probably because I’m a chess player and used to program computers. For both of these you spend a lot of time checking for mistakes… ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/8 "2009-04-23T02:35:03Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Neither. The glass is twice as big as it needs to be. Are you an engineer? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/9 "2009-04-23T02:53:09Z")
> [@Quasimodal](#): > > What is your outlook on things and has it changed over the course of your life? I ask because I think I’ve been a fairly pessimistic and negative person for most of my life. I used to think people owed me something. I expected too much out of life. I am coming out of that shell though and now I look around and see possibilities and excitement. I create my days and make my life meaningful. So my glass is half full. How about you? It’s always seemed to me that once you reach a certain maturity - and it’s a pretty low bar, I’d say as soon as you’re supporting yourself - the whole idea of pessimism and optimism loses its luster and seems pretty silly. What difference does it make if you expect good things or expect bad things? Shouldn’t the goal be merely to have accurate prudent expectations? Certainly having a good or bad attitude can influence how you approach your life, but I think that’s far outweighed by the benefit of striving for realism. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/10 "2009-04-23T03:10:39Z")
The glass has SF=1 (a safety factor of 100%) I’m an engineer. ---
**Author:** ![horsetech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dec6dc/32.png) [@horsetech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horsetech)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/11 "2009-04-23T04:55:06Z")
(Video warning) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1loyjm4SOa0) (Always Look on the Bright Side of Life) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/12 "2009-04-23T11:06:07Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > It’s always seemed to me that once you reach a certain maturity - and it’s a pretty low bar, I’d say as soon as you’re supporting yourself - the whole idea of pessimism and optimism loses its luster and seems pretty silly. > > What difference does it make if you expect good things or expect bad things? Shouldn’t the goal be merely to have accurate prudent expectations? > > Certainly having a good or bad attitude can influence how you approach your life, but I think that’s far outweighed by the benefit of striving for realism. [Optimists live longer](http://www.livescience.com/health/041101_optimist_heart.html). I was raised a pessimist. (If my last name were “Smith”) Both my parents would talk about the Smith Bad Luck. No matter what happened, we would always blame The Smith Bad Luck. My stomach tore open in 05 and Mom talked about how I inherited The Smith Bad Luck. I tried to reason with her and tell her how very lucky I was to have a surgeon who was skilled enough and dedicated enough to save my life. So, I was raised a pessimist, but in general I am an optimist. Or at least I strive to shape my attitudes towards optimism. And I am rewarded by enjoying life more than when I was a pessimist. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/13 "2009-04-23T11:25:03Z")
My problem, I’ve been told by therapists, is that I see reality too clearly. Definitely a pessimist. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/14 "2009-04-23T11:26:15Z")
The glass is what it is and the amount of fluid in it is the amount of fluid there is. I try to focus on the situation at hand and what steps are needed to reach my goals. But it’s useful to remember that most people are jerks. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/15 "2009-04-23T12:59:16Z")
My glass is half full but I’m wary of the little bits floating in it. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/16 "2009-04-23T13:49:18Z")
On closer inspection, my glass is half-full of spittle from everyone I’ve ever met. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/17 "2009-04-23T14:12:32Z")
The glass is half-full and always has been and hopefully always will be. Why not? Even when life has shown me reality, I live my life with guarded optimism and clear eyes, but always looking for hope. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/18 "2009-04-23T14:22:36Z")
Half empty, because it started out full and I’ve been drinking from it, so it’s becoming progressively emptier. As to whether I’m an optimist or pessimist, I’m more of a pragmatist though I’ll accept the pessimist label if you insist. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/19 "2009-04-23T14:24:35Z")
Drink lustily from the full half, while never abandoning your quest to fill the empty half. I hope that doesn’t sount too Pollanna-ish. I do try to appreciate and enjoy all that I have in life. I’m quite fortunate compared to many. But I don’t think that attitude need be at odds with a continuing desire for new experiences, greater knowledge, and - sure - more stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042/20 "2009-04-23T14:34:11Z")
The glass design incorporates a 100% backup capacity. This is a feature not needed by the current user and they can buy a cheaper unit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-glass-half-full-or-half-empty/494042.md?page=2)