It doesn't matter..it changes the meaning..half full connotes optimism, half empty connotes pessimism..content is irrelevant in that context.

Your statement represents 'quality not quantity'. Where as the origianl statement represents how you percieve the quality or the quantity.

So long as it's whiskey.

Not at all. It make the intent of the quote meaningless. It doesn't even have anything to do with the glass itself. It's the perception of the person gazing on the glass and it's content that 'fills' the glass's depth of meaning.

That's one of those feel good phrases that doesn't actually mean anything.

if it's a glass of scotch half full is just fine - don't get me wrong, full is ok too

No, what matters is if you're trying to empty or fill the glass. For some reason ever one assumes that a full glass is a good thing, therefor, the optimist sees it as at least being half way there, while the pessimist sees it as being half gone. But couldn't an optimist be pouring something out so as to get an empty glass.

There was a time I would have drank whatever was in the glass...my biggest concern would have been getting it half filled again.

NO it matters to me if its half empty especially if its coke the drink im addicted too! lol =)

I don't think the question "Is your cup half-full or half-empty?" is about your emotion, mood, feeling or optimisticism. In fact, this comes from Buddhism philosophy, when a cup is full, you cannot pour more, if you insist in, it will overflow. When a human mind is full with something, he cannot learn something new, he's not ready for any changes. Let's have a look at this story: "A Lesson From A Zen Master" Once, there was a young man went up to a hill where a Zen master stayed and this young man began to ask the Zen master. “How can I be smarter?” Before the Zen master even had the chance to reply, the young man continue to tell the Zen master how brilliant he was, what he knew … etc. The Zen master took a deep breath and invited the young man to his hut to have some tea. The young man agreed and carried on to boast how smart he is. While listening, the Zen master poured the tea to a small cup in front of the young man. He continued to pour the tea until it is overflow all over the table and the young man’s pants. The young man jumped out and shouted, “What are you doing? The cup is full and overflowing!” The Zen master put down the teapot and with a smile on his face, he told the young man, “If you come to me with a cup that has already full, how do you expect me to pour you a drink?” So, whenever people are telling you that your cup is full, they mean that your mind is not open to receive new things yet.