62 "Judged by a Glass of Water"

Amazing how we automatically do that every time the question is asked.

Thanks for stating the obvious gregas.

Great thoughts! And yes, I can definitely identify with that swoop of nerves you receieve after being asked the question: Is the glass half full or half empty? So, next time, calmly reply: What glass? That'll throw 'em for a loop!

Hi Greg. Thanks for becoming a follower of mine. I see we think a lot alike. I loved this piece and quite frankly never thought about the judgement that is made when we say it.

Ah! I tend to think all the way back to the beginning of things. Thanks for helping me see that. So, just before the glass was the way it is now, was it empty, then half filled, or full, then half emptied? And, if emptied, did it quench someone's thirst?

I'd say that you are a philosopher, and a fun person. And a secret optimist - since all glasses were originally empty, and you're pointing out that things are improving!

Me, I'd drink the water. Or, if I wasn't thirsty, I'd offer it to someone who was. Technically, that makes me a Zennie.

This question has always interested me philosophically as well Greg. After a lengthy contemplation I have decided that the container is simply twice the size needed for the amount of liquid provided. But, that way we always have room for more.

Nicely put. Short but so full of information. Reminds me of a time I was visiting my mother in the hospital. A doctor friend was visiting at the same time. He looked at the two pictures on the wall and asked us which we liked better. And I knew right away he was going to analyze our answers. Not being in the mood to play his little game, I just picked one at random.... I have just decided how I will answer that water question. IT'S BOTH... Thanks for a thought provoking read.

Gregas your hubs of great influence has begot my inner soul. Nice JOb. Anish

It is in solitufe that realizes the fortunes o g grave misgivings.

In it is god and without it is in me.... Hebrew Language !%

Anish

I thought your answer was brilliant! You know, my 'mind' was elsewhere by the title of your hub...I immediately went to the Judgment seat of Christ, when those who gave a cup of water in His Name were the 'righteous' and those who did not were judged (sent away from Him). Yes, one day we will be judged by that 'glass of water'. I loved your hub!!

You are a very spiritual person please do not read my poems, it could interrupt.

Anish

you interrrupted,

thanks,

Anish Sridar Patel

Hi Gregg! I am always rhankful for what I have, so I imagine, I would say Half full. Good Hub! Voted up and interesting!

Very few words but oh completely so much food for thought!

Hi Greg

I used these definitions but which one did I slap on your head?

1. ostentatious in one's learning.

2. overly concerned with minute details or formalisms,

especially in teaching.

Number 2.

Any conciliation to you I would money on me being just as bad so perhaps I am placing my own labels onto you? Ha, ha.

Thanks, Gareth.

A zen master would probably say "What a useless question" as he/she gulps down the glass of water :)

Hi Greg,

You ask "I am just curious about how I would be judged with my reply."

"So, how would I be judged?"

I would answer that you are pedantic, and I have no room to judge anyone really.

Thanks, Gareth.

Brilliant. My glass is usually half full - but occasionally it's half empty. Great topic. Beautifully stated piece. I like your style

I've always wondered and said the same thing, my grandpa used to always ask me this question (for fun). He always laughs at me when I ask "well what was just going on with the water, is it coming or going!?" :)

I like your hub, good job with it!

oh, ow my head. And I thought we had it all figured out.

Wow. I consider myself somewhat of a realist which lends to some pessimistic perceptions, but I always see the glass as half full. Now I know why, I see the glass as empty beforehand!

Also, I love to tell anyone who cares to listen, I am a "conservative hippy." Maybe that just means that those of us who seem to have opposing belief systems, either appear so because we are in harmony with ourselves, or because we are more honest with our own contentious natures.

Hi Gregas,

I like how we perceive people on when they answer the above...For me..it depends on what mood I am in...dejected from life then the glass is half empty and if encouraged by some positive incident..then the glass is half full ;)

Good and useful hub and voting up!

to me as a hands on man what will matter is whether it needs to be filled and if so what do I need to do to fill it.

For me, you see a half empty glass that needs to be filled- you just go fill it and If it needs emptying to make it fully empty -you go empty it, simple.

good hub sharing it and voting it up.

Good hub. Bith thought provokeing and entertaining.

This question has always irritated me and made me ask a question of my own. How do they judge the people who change their answers in anticipation that they will be judged? Good hub.

Good perspective! I believe as humans we cannot be defined as optimist or pessimists, since we tend to change continually. Good hub!

I think I got that quote wrong. It's more like being born on third base & thinking you hit a home run.

Faceless raises a good point - how thirsty are we? And are we thirsty for more than we need to be happy? A Cherokee woman on the radio was just talking about her traditional beliefs about the universe providing everything we need... that if we only have a bit of water to sip, we should imagine it flooding our cells, and it will indeed feel more quenching. I just tried that & it's true :).

Voted up and interesting; a very neat twist on this classic question. I happen to know that humans naturally like to classify and label others, and I suppose this simple question is a way for them to do that.

My answer to this question has always been: it depends on how thirsty I am!

I fully understood the psychological meaning and I think my answer reflects who I am. Sorry if it doesn't fit; but ask anyone, that is me. I thought it was a very profound answer, especially since there is no right or wrong one.

We have heard so much about this half full-half empty judgmental approach. I like your perspective. Voted up and interesting.

Nice approach :). It reminds me of the Barry Switzer quote: "Some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple."

This was surely a paradox of a hub, and I loved it for that reason of being uniquely different from most, awesome job once again @ Gregas.

Nicely approached! I've always disliked that particular adage myself, so glad to see someone take it on.

I prefer my glass to be full, that's my answer, I hate silly questions, and so when I'm asked it I provide a silly answer. Its just that simple for me, because I care not for labeling and or judgements from others.

I truly feel that no one is a perfect human being, and I mean no one & so hence my firm position. "Optimistic or Pessimistic"

Hope that psychology helps a bit, because one must decide what is and what just is not. "Judgement is not"

Voted up and away!

Short & Informative. very smart very smart :)

Hello, gregas, sure it makes a difference, presuming that a full glass of water is my objective. If I say that the glass is half full, I am acknowledging that my goal is still a work in progress. Saying that it is half empty focuses how short I fell from the goal or ideal.. Until next time, Cred2

When your thirsty it doesn't much matter, half a glass of water is better than no water at all!! So what does that make me? A non conformist, or maybe just loopey? I am familair with this question but I doubt that it proves anything. An interesting hub, thank you, my votes to you.

I have some bad news for you, Gregas. Inside, you are not a pessimist or an optimist-- you're an engineer. My condolences. I'm pretty much a pessimist; I'm usually right and, when I'm wrong, it's all good.

very nice concept for your hub.actaually it depends on one's attitude how he/she will intrepret this half filled and half empty situation

Good Hyb Gregas. Now if I may....Growing up my father encouraged me to respond - respectfully, of course, he was old school - to a question with another question. And to keep doing so until I had all the information necessary to make an informed jugement or decision.

I appreciate that you demonstrated that principle for us.

Far too often, in arguments, debates, political discussions someone will present two options and pressure their listeners to choose, as if there really were ONLY two options for every question in the real world.

We would all do well to resist the pressures and temptations to think and judge simplistically: black or white, good or bad, liberal or conservative. Most issues should be, and can be reasonably approached from a multiplicity of angles, beliefs, and values.

Lets all commit to shocking and disappointing some of our leaders by choosing to think critically, thoughtfully, conscious of all the facets of a problem and all the ramifications of any solution.

Let's refuse to dignify the "politically framed" half empty-half full questions. Thank you.

Well on a lighter note,i would say-"Doesn't matter if the glass is halh empty or half full, just add 30 ml vodka to it and lets call it a day!"

Good point. We have been so conditioned by the glass of water question to think one way or the other. Most of us never would have thought to ask the question.Enjoyable! vote up

You propose an interesting question. I always go with the glass is half full. It's a sign of looking at hope and possibilities. Great hub content.

I'd say I don't care one way or the other. I want a glass that isn't already being used!

Cool Hub!

I really liked you message which you are trying to give and its really nice hub!! Its all about how you feel by watching it and judging it with your own perspective.

We need a good perspective to judge it as it has both qualities half full and half empty. Its matter how we thinks.

seeing as everyones giving you a lot words I'm just saying half full.

Well I guess I'm neither an optimist nor a pessimist, because I see half a glass of water, not half full, not half empty, it would also depend on how thirsty I was at the time.

Good one, Greg! I've had to answer that question on way too many "how well will you fit in in OUR company?" pre-interview tests and it NEVER occurred to me to ask if the glass was full to begin with! If it had, I'm sure I'd have been instantly tagged as "not a team player" and my app tossed into File 13. Instead, I usually answered "half full". Personally, I always thought it was a stupid question, but if one needs the job, one plays the game. ;D

I don't think I would ever think in terms of half empty and for another thing I never fill a glass because I know I will half waste it.

Polly

I put in my unresolutions, its time to get rid of that damn glass. Why does it matter if it's half full or empty? I am who I am and I am not going to change because of some damn glass. I am a psychology major and I still believe that glass is useless!!!

I always say half-full, but I'm a big water drinker so at this point I'd be getting more to make it full!

What if you think, I better just drink this water, it is better to be hydrated then dehydrated? Jamie

Greg, I truly believe that anyone who thinks for a minute that their glass is full are deceiving themselves. No matter how successful in life we are, through careers, riches or love.

The glass remains half empty, for the only time it will ever be filled is when we have reached our final goal and to me that is passing over to the other side of living. As long as I live my glass will always be at half measure. peace my friend, very interesting write. Voted up, awesome, useful and interesting.

Well, I would say the glass is always half full- not for optimists spirit- but out of logic. Ever see a glass made under water?? I wouldn't judge anyone based on water, even if it is dirty! Voted up and interesting.

I like this very much, well done. Always half full! That is a great question for al those physics experts to ponder ....

Interesting, I would have to say half full so what's the verdict?