Most of you are familiar with the "Is the glass half empty or half full?" philosophy question. This weekend I read an interesting response...
"I see a glass that is holding something interesting inside it and has room for more!" The "holding something interesting inside it" part was an interesting twist I had not heard before.  

Have they legalized marijuana in Nevada?

Joe

They only time I could relate to what you are saying was at lenny's table at an ISSFA thingy...  He was explaining Chinese drinking customs... damn my head still hurts just thinking about it.

Ah, but see... that's the point.

What is that clear liquid in the glass? Where did it come from? Who put it there? Where did they come from? What did they look like? Where did they go? Was the glass full to begin with? If so, where did the rest of the liquid go? For that matter, where did the glass come from? Why was it left behind? If we put some other liquid in the space left in the glass, will it mix? What are the odds it will be the same as what's in the glass now? What will the new combination taste like? Will I like it? Would anyone else? Will it be enjoyable to drink? Will it provide nourishment?

The glass has not reached it's full potential... will I?

Colonel Mustard, in the dining room, with an ice pick.

And I'm still not sure why dodging a perfectly philosophical question by asking other questions answers the question.

Potential has nothing to do with it. Substance has nothing to do with it. Is the glass half empty or half full?

Too much thinking, not enough drinking. Dont think, just drink! At least that was in college.

That darn glass has us all wondering what Bill has been thinking or drinking!

Would there have been a Bill without a glass?

Posted By William Wolle on 27 Jul 2010 08:17 AM
Ah, but see... that's the point.

What is that clear liquid in the glass? Where did it come from? Who put it there? Where did they come from? What did they look like? Where did they go? Was the glass full to begin with? If so, where did the rest of the liquid go? For that matter, where did the glass come from? Why was it left behind? If we put some other liquid in the space left in the glass, will it mix? What are the odds it will be the same as what's in the glass now? What will the new combination taste like? Will I like it? Would anyone else? Will it be enjoyable to drink? Will it provide nourishment?

The glass has not reached it's full potential... will I?

Bill:

Far be it from me to inquire about the status of psychedelic drug use of fellow posters, but your philosophical streak is eerily reminiscent of conversations I had forty years ago with fellow experimenters.

Stick with the mushrooms, Bill, the acid's just too strong these days.

Joe

Amanita Muscara - the Lewis Carrol 'shroom!

Peyote for Carlos Castaneda

Psilicybin (sp) for most other 'shroomers.

I never thought I'd be able to stomach the stuff, 'cept maybe on a pizza.

Posted By Tom M on 27 Jul 2010 11:21 AM
And I'm still not sure why dodging a perfectly philosophical question by asking other questions answers the question.

Potential has nothing to do with it. Substance has nothing to do with it. Is the glass half empty or half full?

Tom,

I beg to differ...potential is the root of the original question. Is the glass half empty and only has half of it's use remaining or is it half full and has half of it's potential in front of it?

Posted By Tom M on 27 Jul 2010 11:20 AM
Colonel Mustard, in the dining room, with an ice pick.

I don't remember an ice pick as an option!  And I love that movie!!!

Posted By John Cristina on 27 Jul 2010 11:58 AM
Too much thinking, not enough drinking. Dont think, just drink! At least that was in college.

I don't remember using a glass in college!  Right from the bottle or tap! Of course, there is alot of college I don't remember.

Posted By Kowboy on 27 Jul 2010 02:46 PM

Posted By William Wolle on 27 Jul 2010 08:17 AM
Ah, but see... that's the point.

What is that clear liquid in the glass? Where did it come from? Who put it there? Where did they come from? What did they look like? Where did they go? Was the glass full to begin with? If so, where did the rest of the liquid go? For that matter, where did the glass come from? Why was it left behind? If we put some other liquid in the space left in the glass, will it mix? What are the odds it will be the same as what's in the glass now? What will the new combination taste like? Will I like it? Would anyone else? Will it be enjoyable to drink? Will it provide nourishment?

The glass has not reached it's full potential... will I?

Bill:

Far be it from me to inquire about the status of psychedelic drug use of fellow posters, but your philosophical streak is eerily reminiscent of conversations I had forty years ago with fellow experimenters.

Stick with the mushrooms, Bill, the acid's just too strong these days.

Joe

Joe,
No pharmaceuticals unless you count SS dust and/or adhesive fumes.

Maybe half is all you need. And Bill, water is not interesting, it's just water.

Andy,
I never said water in the glass, I said clear liquid...why do you assume it's water?  If half is all I need, was there more to begin with that someone shared with another? Who was the other? Where are they now? Why is the glass so large if all I need is half?

And water can be very interesting. Without water the world is just a rock. No life. Think Dune.  If it is water in the glass and half is all I need, water must be very powerful and important for life!

Bill,
Potential was not at the root of the question. It was to find out whether you were an optimist or a pessimist. How you view things.

Tom asks: Is the man walking away from a sunset, or towards a new dawn?

Bill answers: Nice shoes!.

Tom,
Respectfully, would not the optimist see the potential for half full and the pessimist not?
Would not the optimist see the positive in being able to walk at all?
I personally view the exploration and discovery of potential as a major difference between an optimist and a pessimist.

The point of the original thought was to see beyond the obvious. I suppose the thought was not as obvious as I thought.

Bill:

Can you reconcile God's omnscience with man's free will?

Joe