The Pessimist's Mug® Despair, Inc.
Just about everyone has seen an oh-so-witty novelty mug or glass of this design, or some variation thereof. Yes, they’re cute, but in truth, when confronted with the concept of ‘the glass being half-full,’ I always imagine it to be either the left or the right side. Bartenders don’t appreciate this.
Even though I can’t shake the thought from my consciousness, as in so many other things (see my early post, Welcome to the Panniverse™ ) I’ve learned to cope with my irregular thought processes and more or less successfully blend into society. After a while I learned to see the ridiculousness of the Left-Right interpretation: one can simply rotate the glass so the left becomes right and vice-versa (or front and back). It’s that whole you-can’t-have-good-without-evil-they’re-both-sides-of-the-same-coin idea. Or maybe it’s a double-edged sword. I think I’m having a crisis of analogy.
Oh I don’t know, it’s all so hopeless! (No it isn’t!)
24 Apr 2009 Fri at 10:09 am
I always think the glass is “all glass”. What’s with this half full/empty left/right stuff. It may be half full/half empty or half left/half right, but it’s always all glass!
note: a triple edged sword hurts the hands.
24 Apr 2009 Fri at 10:17 am
pannie sez: Unless it’s a ‘plastic glass.’
24 Apr 2009 Fri at 12:37 pm
That’s so funny! I know a lot of people who I should purchase that glass for!
http://positivelypresent.typepad.com
24 Apr 2009 Fri at 2:39 pm
But if it’s left or right, which is the optimist side and which the pessimist? I’m really confused now. Will right handed or left handed be offended? Will they feel labeled? Will Republicans, Democrats, Liberals, or Conservatives? Gosh! Just look at what you’ve done!
24 Apr 2009 Fri at 3:31 pm
my mugs are bone china…so not glass at all. hahahha
24 Apr 2009 Fri at 7:51 pm
i HATE glass mugs – argh!!!!
24 Apr 2009 Fri at 9:10 pm
I do too! I refuse to drink hot liquids out of clear containers. I’ve sent back more than one Irish coffee in my time. (Just checked- I’d mentioned that in the “About and on” page.)
26 Apr 2009 Sun at 4:06 pm
Tat’s my kinda glass, if you’re pessimistic & something goes wrong at least your not disappointed, if something goes right then it’s a bonus. Optimists get disappointed more often.
26 Apr 2009 Sun at 4:45 pm
I think I need one that says “This glass will be broken soon.”
26 Apr 2009 Sun at 7:35 pm
That’s pretty clever.