[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

I think it's balanced to say it when something is wrong, inefficient and aggravating, and to say it when something is going right, efficiently and aiding a pleasant atmosphere.

About the quote from Ziglar, [I]"I would rather spend an hour with a person who is insincerely positive than spend a minute with someone who is sincerely [/B]
.....Well, he was a salesman. For him in his capacity of running an automotive business and traveling motivational speaker, I'd imagine he would have wanted his salespeople to speak only positive things about the product....for an hour, if that's what it takes to get the customer to sign on the dotted line.
[B]actually, he was a pots and pans salesman, but point taken[B]
But.....the consumer/shopper/buyer expects to be able to say the truth--and have this truth acknowledged--about the product they bought if it turns out NOT to be what the "insincerely positive" salesperson told them for an hour.
guess I was taking it as avoiding negativity rather than downright lying. Lying is not tolerable under any circumstances.
As an example, when we go out to a restaurant and are looking at the menu and asking about certain choices, I appreciate it when the server leans in and says very quietly, "That choice has not been good lately....several people have sent that back tonight.....and I think you'd be better off ordering this other dish you asked about....it's one of my favorite dishes and I always order that".

I appreciate that "minute of sincerely negative" advice....that also came with an honestly positive piece we could decide with.
i don't see that as negativity, but simply helpful advice. Negativity IMO would be if the server said something like "this place sucks and I hate working here".
About the people who find something to gripe about in every situation, most of those I've known/worked for/lived with are stuck in a rut and will not take a risk to try to get out of that rut.

Sometimes it's the stress of running a business and employing people, or sometimes it's a spouse who has the other spouse hen-pecked and the "victim" will not stand up to the other one.

An example of that would be the men here renting/visiting who say, "I'd get a place here in a heartbeat, but my wife will not leave the (grown, married) kids and grandkids." When I suggest "spend 6 months here and 6 months there", the answer usually is "my wife can't stand to be away from them for that long".

I can see how people get negative in a relationship like that, where one won't give in even a little bit. There has to be give and take, in balanced amounts.

Thanks for the thoughtful response.

[Peachie]

Ed, your post made me smile as I recalled the same sentiments you mentioned when we shoveled the new snowfall at the beginning of the winter season. It was by the middle to end of the season, after shoveling and snowblowing that darn driveway and sidewalk for the 20th time or more that we became inured to the process.

After a bone-breaking fall on the ice one winter, I knew the winter love affair was over and I don't know if that is being negative or pragmatic.

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by Peachie

Ed, your post made me smile as I recalled the same sentiments we had as you when we shoveled the new snowfall at the beginning of the winter season. It was by the middle to end of the season, after shoveling and snowblowing that darn driveway and sidewalk for the 20th time or more that we became inured to the process.

After a bone-breaking fall on the ice one winter, I knew the winter love affair was over and I don't know if that is being negative or pragmatic.

Ha! I would call that facing reality. Here in the Kansas City area we typically get very few real snowstorms in the winter, an we are in The Villages for the majority of them.

[DonH57]

Originally Posted by bonrich

Some say the glass is half full, others say the glass is half empty, another one may say you made the glass to big......

If the glass is half empty it's time for another beer run!

[DougB]

Half full - or - half empty? Depends on what's in it.

[Matzy]

A really nice story.

Back to the question Half full or half empty. I think it is a state of mind or a way you might see it: Thinking positive, a glass is (still) half full, thinking opposite a glass is (already) half empty.

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by Matzy

A really nice story.

Back to the question Half full or half empty. I think it is a state of mind or a way you might see it: Thinking positive, a glass is (still) half full, thinking opposite a glass is (already) half empty.

Or maybe it is "Six of one and a half dozen of the other".

[2BNTV]

It's not the events that disturb people but how they perceive it.

[Golfingnut]

This is a post worthy of printing and referring back to when childish negativity starts creeping in. I am a half full person, but do permit negative posts to cause me to spill some of my glass. This OP is a wonderful reminder of the beauty in our lives. There are but a few posters that try to tip over your glass. I will read the OP before logging in each morning.

Thank you and know that posting this thread will help many have a better day today.

[asianthree]

Its just HALF

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by 2BNTV

It's not the events that disturb people but how they perceive it.

Not sure I totally agree with this. I am disturbed at certain events--the death or illness of friends, others' bad fortune, plane crashes, 9/11... It's hard to think glass-half-full over certain events.

On normal, go-about-your-life things (bad drivers, too crowded grocery store aisles, long checkout lines, etc.), I agree with you, 2B. You can take a deep breath and be happy for where you are,and just let it go.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Not sure I totally agree with this. I am disturbed at certain events--the death or illness of friends, others' bad fortune, plane crashes, 9/11... It's hard to think glass-half-full over certain events.

On normal, go-about-your-life things (bad drivers, too crowded grocery store aisles, long checkout lines, etc.), I agree with you, 2B. You can take a deep breath and be happy for where you are,and just let it go.

When my father passed after living several years in a nursing home in a vegetative state I agree that it was difficult to see the glass as half full during that period, but after he passed the glass went to full as he was no longer suffering.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

When my father passed after living several years in a nursing home in a vegetative state I agree that it was difficult to see the glass as half full during that period, but after he passed the glass went to full as he was no longer suffering.

Yes, every circumstance is different. Sometimes the glass just can't get refilled Other times yes.

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Not sure I totally agree with this. I am disturbed at certain events--the death or illness of friends, others' bad fortune, plane crashes, 9/11... It's hard to think glass-half-full over certain events.

On normal, go-about-your-life things (bad drivers, too crowded grocery store aisles, long checkout lines, etc.), I agree with you, 2B. You can take a deep breath and be happy for where you are,and just let it go.

You are right, of course. I think that traumatic events such as death, accidents, illness, etc. fall in the category of things that affect ones heart and cause profound sadness. That is not the same as negativity to my way of thinking, but who am I?

[Peachie]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

You are right, of course. I think that traumatic events such as death, accidents, illness, etc. fall in the category of things that affect ones heart and cause profound sadness. That is not the same as negativity to my way of thinking, but who am I?

From what I've read, you are a wise and very kind man.