Is the "half full or half empty" glass illustration still effective, despite overuse?

Yes. However the true realist says that there is half a glass remaining.

The glass is dam bare. Life stinks.

I can’t answer this until I see what you are proposing as an alternative.

@davidbetterman I wonder if a magician sees the whole thing as illusory?

@YARNLADY An alternative saying or illustration?

I’ll borrow @davidbetterman‘s response: The glass is half. There is no negative, or positive. It simply is.

What? I’m an engineer – the glass is twice the size it needs to be.

@ArtiqueFox Alternative saying. Instead of using the glass example what would you rather people would use?

definitely effective. it always makes me think.

@YARNLADY Something creative, something of their own invention. An example: If the road is always “under construction” around the next bend, you’re a pessimist. If the road around the bend is “always” clear and paved, you’re an optimist.

I ought to invent one for being a realist, instead.

Good question. :)

full = 1
empty = 0

0.5×0 = 0
There is no half empty.

wow @ragingloli . GA

It is a silly statement as if the glass is half full it has to be half empty as well.

@ragingloli I was pondering from a metaphysical angle, but I do like your more scientific perspective. :)

It’s been around for a long time as a familiar and useful symbol for an attitude.

I don’t think it’s worn out, but hearing anything all the time is going to get tiresome and make it seem ineffective. In the workplace I always used to hear the same expressions done to death, so that what was initially a vivid metaphor just became deadly tedious. It’s not the concept that’s such a bore, it’s the repetition.

It is overused, but it’s also misconstrued if it’s interpreted as actually being about the glass itself. It’s about perception.

The question about how else you could say the half-full or half-empty glass should be answered with another illustration about conveying perspective about optimism, not about the glass. It’s hard to convey that you perceive someone as being without sounding judgmental.

I say pour yourself a fresh glass!

Take as much or as little as you like, and that it shall be…

One spin on this would be to say,if said glass is damaged,cracked.Then for that individual it will never be full, unfortunately.

It never meant sheeit; it still don’t mean sheeit.

It is over rated.

I’m optimistic that it will remain effective, but pessimistic that an alternative saying will gain popularity to take over.

In order to maintain your optimism you have to restate your optimism every step of the way as the BS today is thick and heavy. Glass is half full is a perfect way to re-affirm that there is hope.

I asked my boyfriend (If I can still call him that, dont ask.) He answerd half full. But his first tought was “there is half a glass remaining” So he’s a true realist. And he does always tell the truth also when he doenst know he’s wrong or misunderstood ME! So I guess that’s a true theory. There should be choice of three answers!

What if you see the glass not half full nor half empty but simply a glass. You choose what you want in there.

I consider my view to be that of the realist: the glass is half full of water and half full of air.

I love @ragingloli ‘s answer on this one: There is no half empty. Seeing this in my “activity for you” section might be responsible for a lack of sleep tonight (Well, lack of sex might have something to do with that too, but my wife won’t buy that answer).

If the glass starts full and is reduced to half of its original quantity, then it is half-empty. If it was only ever filled to the halfway mark, it is half-full.