Unit 2 - Honesty is the Best Policy

Do you really believe honesty is the best policy?

I hear a lot of people saying how they "tell it like it is" or "don't sugarcoat things" but I believe there is a way of being honest without being overly mean or hurtful and also without codling or baby-ing the other person (unless you are dealing with an actual baby or child).

I try and be as honest as I can, even if it makes for awkward conversation when needed. I think using honesty as an excuse to be mean is a serious character flaw. A lot of people wait until they are angry to be honest, and I think that's why people confuse honesty with overly bluntness or angry comments.

I also don't say something unless I mean it for real.
For example, if I'm getting together with friends for dinner and everyone dresses up a bit. One of my friends has a shirt I don't like, maybe another friend will say "Oh nice shirt" don't you think so Pamela? I would just reply with "I am so happy to see you " instead, or maybe compliment something that I do like, like their makeup or smile, or whatever. There's no need for me to say that I think the print on the shirt looks like someone threw up guava juice if that will only hurt the person or even say that I don't like the shirt as that is subjective and I'm there to see the person.
If it is something we need to talk about, I rather be honest but with tact, like, if that same friend tells me she will wear that same shirt to an event, and ask my opinion on the matter.

In any case, this might just be a TL, DR for many, to put it in simpler terms, my policy is "Honesty is the best policy but there is a time and place for it"

Pamela