Is being an open book a good thing?
By Cahaya
@cahaya1983 (11121)
Malaysia
January 19, 2017 5:33am CST
Feeling a little philosophical today.
Some say being an open book is a good thing because it shows that you're being true to yourself and others, and that you have nothing to hide. No secrets.
Others say it's not, because at some point you can either offend people by your straightforward reaction, or even risk airing your dirty laundry to others, if you're the chatty type.
Wow. Aren't we humans complex creatures.
So, being an open book - good or bad? Your thoughts?
17 people like this
21 responses
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
24 Jan 17
That is good to know 
I think it is possible to be balanced. Being too secretive isn't very good either.
I think it is possible to be balanced. Being too secretive isn't very good either.2 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
19 Jan 17
I think that's a great advice! Especially the last one. Many people tend to get overexcited about sharing their plans and all that to others when those plans are actually best kept to ourselves.
@sol_cee (38223)
• Philippines
20 Jan 17
@cahaya1983 With social media nowadays, these three are hard to keep private. lol
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
19 Jan 17
It's neither. a very subjective question and the answer will depend only on how people perceive life to be. But I always believe that we shouldn't tell everything. WE should keep something for ourself.
2 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
19 Jan 17
Good point. It's good to know how to strike a balance between being open and secretive. Plus I also think it matters who we communicate with, since we don't necessarily put the same level of trust in everyone.
@quantum2020 (12040)
• Ciudad De Mexico, Mexico
24 Jan 17
It´s good to be an open book. It´s twice as good to be coherent and truthfull, so that others don´t get offended by one´s words
2 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 17
True, except that when we can't hide your emotions very well there's always that possibility of offending others. It's a tricky thing.
@LadyDuck (458414)
• Switzerland
19 Jan 17
@cahaya1983 This is the best advice I ever heard.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
19 Jan 17
It's impossible to please everybody, that's true. I read an article written by a psychologist and he gave an awesome advice - be yourself, but make sure that's the "best you" you can be.
2 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
19 Jan 17
Haha, interesting way to look at it. That is true - an open book doesn't necessarily guarantee a great story. 
1 person likes this
@dfollin (24172)
• United States
26 Jan 17
@cahaya1983 Oh yeah you do not need to have everything open, that is not what I meant. But if your situation is open then maybe you can get help from friends when you need it if they know. I know this lady that never tells anyone anything, so everyone thought she was rich and healthy. Then when her health got worse and she lost her job which lead to losing her car and her home people started talking again. She was called lazy and a squanderer when she really had cancer.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 17
That is good in a way, but I also think it's good to keep some things secret 
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
27 Jan 17
@dfollin Oh that's awful I also know someone who tends to bottle up emotions and that makes her very stressed at times.
I also know someone who tends to bottle up emotions and that makes her very stressed at times.1 person likes this
@velvet53 (22528)
• Palisade, Colorado
1 Feb 17
@cahaya1983 One never knows what the motive is of some people.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
1 Feb 17
Yes I agree, the type of people we communicate and interact with can be a huge factor too.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
24 Jan 17
You can't be an open book always and to every one..
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 17
Yes, which is why I think we have to know how to balance our character. It's not always good to put everything about us out there.
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
17 Mar 17
I am more of an open book .. it can be good or bad depending on the people around you ..
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 17
Yes good point. It depends on who "reads" the book, too I suppose
1 person likes this
@Beatburn (4287)
• Philippines
20 Feb 17
@cahaya1983 Hey, thanks. Place it in a frame and post it here.
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
20 Feb 17
That sounds like a quote I would put in a nice frame and hang on my wall!
1 person likes this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
5 Oct 17
I have nothing to hide, but not everything in my life is everyone else's business.
1 person likes this
@rubyriaz007 (4188)
• India
5 Oct 17
Its not good to be an open book .We should reveal everything about us to everyone. There are people who take advantage of it. If someone is very close to us and if they are trustworthy , only we should share our secrets.. Being an open book will do more harm than good to you. Some people keep our secrets to themselves only,but others spread it widely . So we must be able to recognize people , who can be completely trusted and whom we can't trust easily..
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 17
I agree, not everything about ourselves should be revealed. Some people might take advantage and that could hurt us.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 17
Yes it's not a fault, but I do think some things are best kept to ourselves.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 17
@ya2017 Well, depends how you see it. They might not be in the dark, they might just be kept in a private room with a bright light inside 
1 person likes this
@ya2017 (86)
•
5 Oct 17
@cahaya1983 everything that is hidden is in the dark, so let us let the light spread its brightness
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
1 Feb 17
They say diplomacy is the name of the game. But there are situations where one could be an open book and one where diplomacy is required
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
1 Feb 17
I also believe in moderation. Some situations do require us to be more open to others, while other situations may not.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 17
Yes I agree, being transparent is good, but certain things are definitely best to keep private.
1 person likes this
@WorkAtHomeGal (229)
• Canada
24 Jan 17
I am an open book about a lot of things but I try to limit what I post to Facebook as far as personal problems go. But sometimes we just need to vent.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 17
I agree. I've "unfollow"ed several of my contacts on FB simply because their posts are too personal (and totally unnecessary in my opinion).
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
6 Feb 17
I think we all need to keep a few pages of our book to ourselves.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 17
I agree and that's what I always keep in mind when dealing with different people
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51532)
• Philippines
1 Feb 17
If you become an open book the people will judge you while they hide their own sins and flaws.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
1 Feb 17
That's one of the disadvantages of being too open, I would say. Better to be careful about what we say to others.
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
31 Jan 17
Its a good thing I think. What you see with me is what you get.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
31 Jan 17
It makes people feel comfortable when communicating with you too, I suppose.
1 person likes this
