Honesty, is it always the best policy??

June 26, 2010 7:15am CST
Do you beleive honesty is always the best policy? Or would you lie, bend the truth etc to save yourself, your friends or your family from being hurt?
4 responses
@KCruzado (78)
• Philippines
26 Jun 10
For sure, honesty will always set us free. I don't think that there is absolute honesty, especially if life or relationship is at stake. In a layman's lingo, lying to save his or someone else's face is called "white lie." Most often than not, we do this. Sometimes people lie because maybe it is easier than saying the truth. And saving someone from pain that the truth may bring can be a heroic act - only that, it is only until the lie remains a lie. The sad thing about lying is that you have to keep on telling lies to hide the truth and justify the earlier lie you made up. The truth always comes out and as a result, the pain is graver because of the many lies created. White lies are still lie. It may be good for sometime but it is also necessary to correct the system and sub system surrounding the reason of the lie so that the truth can be revealed. When it is not necessary, I think it is better to tell the truth as early as possible.
26 Jun 10
So your saying that regardless of what catagory you put a lie in, ie, a white lie or a major cover up you should ultimately tell the truth from the beginning because eventually you would have to fess up to what was the truth to begin with and that the more you lie the bigger the hurt caused x
26 Jun 10
I can see your reasoning and theory. You seem like a very thoughful person and really considered your answer. Thank you for coming back, you are an interesting person, thank you again xxx
• Philippines
26 Jun 10
It's a case to case basis. We can put up a lie if it's necessary. However, it is not just enough to lie about something to save someone from the effect of the truth. It is also necessary to work on the reason of the lie not just to justify the action but also to bring good solution. A guy who is falling out of love should tell the significant other of his feelings - that he wants to get out of the relationship. Surely the truth hurts. But it will even hurt her more if the guy will allow her to live in lies, believing that the guy will be there for her or has been there for her all the time. It's betrayal of trust.
@vastari (331)
• Ireland
26 Jun 10
Depends on what you're lying about. If it's something small and it can never be found out, or if telling the truth might devastate someone, then telling a small white lie is the best idea in most cases. That said, the truth is usually preferable. I'd feel obliged to tell someone if their boyfriend was cheating on them for example, even though that would probably devastate them.
@vastari (331)
• Ireland
26 Jun 10
A gut call most likely. Depending on how close I was to the people involved, my own feelings on the situation and maybe some discussion with others to get to know all the variables....There's no hard and fast rule I cling to. It just depends on what I feel is the right thing to do (which is most often to tell the truth).
26 Jun 10
Ok so your saying that depending on the severity of the situation would be the ultimate decision maker as to wether you would lie or in fact tell the truth. So how would you come to the conclusion as to how severe that situation actually is? Thank you for responding xx
26 Jun 10
Thank you for coming back and responding further Vastari. I really find other people's thoughts and views on things interesting. Thank you again xx
@o0jopak0o (6394)
• Philippines
26 Jun 10
well not always, there are times where lying or stretching the truth will the best for everybody.
@o0jopak0o (6394)
• Philippines
27 Jun 10
well it cant be helped if they found out that its a lie but making another lie or not i think is based on the scenario. well its just like somebody struggling to survive in a hospital, when they asked you if they will live, even if you know that they have a less chance of surviving you cannot tell them that because they will give up just because you said the truth. But if they found out the truth i think its best to say that its the truth
27 Jun 10
So you beleive that there are times that a lie could be a necessary option because in your opinion it would benefit all those involved at the time. What would you do if that lie wa then found out, would you then tell the truth of would you tell another to cover it over?
@kiuhkj (117)
• China
26 Jun 10
No. If a white life to you and others have a better impact, then it's correct
26 Jun 10
thank you for your response and thank you for your honesty xx