Is Honesty really the best policy?

[Mia and Marq]

Themes relevant to this topic have been making their rounds lately and I wanted to consoladate the core topic discussion here. The questions are :

Is Honest the best policy? What circumstances is it better to lie? Should people on the forums expect honesty from others or words that will make them feel better about themselves? Would it be better for them if they knew the truth? How does it feel when you know someone is lying to you?

Those are just a couple of questions hitting at the theme here. I'm trying to determine both specifically here and in general when and why lying is utilized.

Marq and Mia

[Ron]

On these forums (and any other forums I frequent, particularly those where I know members offline), I go by 'honesty is the best policy' most of the time. If I feel as if the person I'm addressing is going to be seriously offended/upset/disheartened by what I choose to say, I might think twice about saying it. But generally speaking, it's best to be honest. It's got me warned on other forums, but once I've explained my case moderators (and other forum members alike) have seen that I was trying to do the right thing. That's what I think is ultimately important, having the right intentions.

[Steph]

I personally believe that honesty is the best policy, and it has to begin with being honest with yourself for if you can't be honest with yourself you're not going to be able to be honest with others.  If others can't handle the truth then it's their problem not mine.

Steph

[Diane]

Sometimes i lie to get by. In the past I've had to tell lies to keep my job. But in general i am usually honest. On this forum there are people that have delusions about themselves. With people like that is better to keep quite and say nothing then to be honest with them.

[Karla B]

I believe in trying to be as honest as one can, but when it comes to saying to someone that they're not very passable or they don't make a convincing member of the opposite sex, taking their feelings into consideration, how hard they've worked and what they possibly gave up to get where they're at, I just don't have the heart to hurt someone that way. So honesty is not always the best policy.   
Sometimes certain truths can cause someone to commit suicide.
I believe that there's always a way to 'dress up' the truth that would make it more gentle to the person you're talking to.

[tinkerbell]

I hate it when people lie to me, even if they claim they only wanted to "protect" me from the truth  .  I think if someone asks you for the truth and they don't like your answer, they have no right to get mad at you. They asked for honesty and you responded with honesty. Depending on what it is though, you may want to "soften" the truth a little or even tell a little white lie to avoid hurting that person's feelings.

Additionally, if brutal honesty is intended to save someone from harming or destroying himself/herself (i.e, drugs, a bad relationship, delusional expectations etc.) then IMO it's absolutely called for; however, if it's just to give someone a reality check, then more often than not, it'll just be perceived as being hurtful, for people don't usually like reality checks

The bottom line is this:
If people don't want to hear the truth, then they shouldn't ask for it.  It is as simple as this really.



tink

[Kate]

If people don't want to hear the truth, then they shouldn't ask for it.  It is as simple as this really.

I think part of the art of compassion is in sensing if someone IS asking for The Truth... or if it's a veiled plea for encouragement and support.

And on the other side, many people will portray themselves as being "honest and truthful" when they're simply being arrogant and hurtful to make themselves look Better Than.

The dances of being human...

~Kate~

[tinkerbell]

If people don't want to hear the truth, then they shouldn't ask for it.  It is as simple as this really.

I think part of the art of compassion is in sensing if someone IS asking for The Truth... or if it's a veiled plea for encouragement and support.

And on the other side, many people will portray themselves as being "honest and truthful" when they're simply being arrogant and hurtful to make themselves look Better Than.

The dances of being human...

~Kate~

That's true, but we also have to take into account that some people have underlying insecurity issues (i.e, inferiority complex) & often feel victimized by the comments of others; IOW anything you say will be taken personally or as an insult.  A difficult situation indeed and most people are not willing to deal with that melodrama.


tink

[Nero]

Is Honest the best policy?

Almost always.

What circumstances is it better to lie?

I'm not sure there any circumstances like that.

[Jessie_Heart]

I believe in trying to be as honest as one can, but when it comes to saying to someone that they're not very passable or they don't make a convincing member of the opposite sex, taking their feelings into consideration, how hard they've worked and what they possibly gave up to get where they're at, I just don't have the heart to hurt someone that way. So honesty is not always the best policy.   

I do believe that honesty is the best policy. but there is such a thing as being tactful while being honest. with the example that is given here about someone making a convincing member of the opposite sex sometimes I think "passing" like alot of things are in the eye of the beholder. I have met alot of women that if it wasn't for clear markers of clothing and make-up I would have had a hard time determining thier sex. and if it concerns something other than looks being honest and giving advise to help is probably better than lying for thier benifit. just remember that most born women don't even fit into the mold of the idea of the perfect feminine being.

[Blanche]

Additionally, if brutal honesty is intended to save someone from harming or destroying himself/herself (i.e, drugs, a bad relationship, delusional expectations etc.) then IMO it's absolutely called for; however, if it's just to give someone a reality check, then more often than not, it'll just be perceived as being hurtful, for people don't usually like reality checks

The bottom line is this:
If people don't want to hear the truth, then they shouldn't ask for it.  It is as simple as this really.


tink

I coincide.  Honesty is always best. Yes, sometimes it hurts when somebody is very honest. But in the end it garners respect.  What is not always best is the approach to honesty. Really bad, horrid news... still be honest. But try to always be tactful. Sometimes you can't be. But try, anyway. Lies and deception lead to more lies, or the truth anyway. And nothing is worse than finding out the truth and realising that what came before was a tangled web of lies. One ends up feeling both stupid and deceived.

[Butterfly]

whatever it is it's all lies, the end justifies the means..
I try to be honest or tell the truth, no matter how much it hurts me or the person or people involved...you at least owe it to them to decide and do what is best for them.

[katia]

it is the best policy. you can't go wrong with the truth. the trouble is, some people aren't ready to realize and accept the truth, so they lash out at you when you speak it.

most people are not willing to deal with that melodrama.

what can i tell ya?  some people enjoy moaning..

[Ron]

whatever it is it's all lies, the end justifies the means..
I try to be honest or tell the truth, no matter how much it hurts me or the person or people involved...you at least owe it to them to decide and do what is best for them.

Honesty shouldn't be about consequentialism, it should be intentional. That is, the means should justify the ends, not the other way around.

[Shana A]

Honesty is the best policy, however it is also important to tell someone criticism in a constructive, non-hurtful way.

y2gen

[Fer]

Candor implies blunt and direct speech and so does honesty.  I firmly believe that honesty is the best policy.  I also believe that some ppl cannot take the weigh that honesty puts on them.

[no_id]

Honesty is my policy. However, there's a-many different ways to deliver truth, and although I fail most of the time I do attempt to be subtle, and at least think before I make a statement.

When it comes to forums this process is a lot easier; if I know my opinion could possibly hurt an individual then I will keep it to myself and ignore the thread rather than bashing right into it. Opinions can be great, but I see no need to go poke everyone between the ribs.

As for real life (well, aren't we brutally screwed then?) I am very direct, honest and definitely not liked by everyone, but (similar to the forums) I don't shy away from giving individuals a reality-check if necessary, and would rather be considered a jerk than a liar. If someone asks me for my opinion directly, and I know it will hurt them then I warn them beforehand and ask if they still want my opinion -- naturally the warning itself already has an alike effect, but does confess of some consideration[...]

Likewise; I'd rather be friends with a complete arse than with a liar.

[Yvonne]

Agreed.  Always! I am a stickler about that...even if it might hurt someone's feelings, perhaps they have something to gain from that.  If peeps are not able to handle the truth, they shouldn't ask for my opinion because more likely I will tell them what they don't wanna hear.

[Lisbeth]

I try to be honest or tell the truth, no matter how much it hurts me or the person or people involved...

I will always be honest when I answer the question.  But that doesn't mean I'm required to answer every question.  For example, if someone came to me as a therapist and asked, "Do you think I pass?" my likely answer would be, "Do you think you pass?"  My opinion on the matter isn't nearly as important as how that person feels about passing.

[Rashelle]

My opinion is that honesty is always the best policy though there is such a thing as tact in presenting honesty.
Rashelle