Honesty
What does it mean when someone begins their comments or responses with “to tell you the truth” or “to be honest with you”? I guess it means that they otherwise mostly lie. Which is a very sad commentary on our society today, as those phrases have become way too familiar and accepted. For some, telling the truth has now become the exception, rather than the rule. Too bad. When did that happen, and where was I? Napping, I guess. I just don’t understand how being truthful can be so daunting to them.
I clearly understand not wanting to be hurtful by giving an unpleasant response that tells others something they don’t want to hear. But there has to be a diplomatic way to be honest when answering a question, right?
So when you hear those words at the beginning of a sentence, beware. Mostly beware of everything else they say. Because, with the absence of that qualification, one has to assume that everything else they say is simply untruthful.
Here are a few other introductory phrases which should cause you to question a person’s sincerity:
“To be perfectly frank” (Or perfectly Dave.)
“Honestly?” (Is that really a question?)
“Truthfully?” (I guess they expect you to answer with “No, by all means, please lie to me.”)
All this goes to show that it’s best to be a keen listener rather than a fast talker. Yet another reason to read between the lines when someone answers your question with a question.
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