18.6.04
People lie and make things difficult for other people. This leads to the assumption that "the world would be a better place if people just stopped lying."
It seems like an innocent assertion.
The problem is, it turns the truth into a weapon.
"Look, I'm just being honest," people say, like it's some kind of medal.
I've seen 'constructive criticism' turn into a thinly veiled massacre. I've seen personal flaws aired in public forums. You can't disagree with someone who's being 'honest' because then you just look like a moaning weaselling sore loser.
"Look I'm just being honest," someone says. "But you moan quite a lot and it's really annoying."
And then etiquette demands that you say, "Oh, yeah, okay, I acknowledge that flaw. I'll try to do something about it. Thanks for being up front with me." You're expected to say it even if you disagree, even if the person standing across from you is a tosser.
You shouldn't get a medal for telling the truth if you're still being an ass. It shouldn't prevent the other person from fighting back.
The assumption should read as follows:
The world would be a better place if people were braver. The world would be a better place if they told the truth in the first place and then stood their ground, and let the shit hit the fan, and dealt with the fallout.
It seems like an innocent assertion.
The problem is, it turns the truth into a weapon.
"Look, I'm just being honest," people say, like it's some kind of medal.
I've seen 'constructive criticism' turn into a thinly veiled massacre. I've seen personal flaws aired in public forums. You can't disagree with someone who's being 'honest' because then you just look like a moaning weaselling sore loser.
"Look I'm just being honest," someone says. "But you moan quite a lot and it's really annoying."
And then etiquette demands that you say, "Oh, yeah, okay, I acknowledge that flaw. I'll try to do something about it. Thanks for being up front with me." You're expected to say it even if you disagree, even if the person standing across from you is a tosser.
You shouldn't get a medal for telling the truth if you're still being an ass. It shouldn't prevent the other person from fighting back.
The assumption should read as follows:
The world would be a better place if people were braver. The world would be a better place if they told the truth in the first place and then stood their ground, and let the shit hit the fan, and dealt with the fallout.
