IS HONESTY ALWAYS THE BEST POLICY?

This question always seems to come up amongst friends and after coming across this post, I thought i'd throw the same question out to my readers to gauge their responses. (NOTE: this post is solely the opinion of the author, not necessarily that of the blogmeister, i.e. ME)

Is honesty always the best policy when it comes to friends?

FACT: In a NEW poll, 52% of Americans say it’s never okay to lie.

FACT: In that same poll, 65% also said it’s okay to lie to protect someone’s feelings.

What’s going on? Are there times when an “honest lie” is appropriate and good?

Yes! There are definitely situations when an honest person should lie. It's not rude and it's not wrong. At times you should deliver an ‘honest lie’ to be kind and protect the interests of a friend or yourself. Of course, lying should not be a slippery slope. Stick to these lies (and these lies only) and you'll be in the right.

4 Honest Lies:

1. The Motivational Lie. Your friend puts in time and effort organizing a vacation for the two of you. While on vacation you think the hotel accommodations are terrible. This is the perfect time to bury the truth and offer a motivational lie so that you both enjoy the vacation. Relay the positive and ignore the negative. Say “Thanks for your effort in planning this vacation. The hotel location is great.”

2. The Keep a Secret Lie. When you are told something in confidence by a friend and then another friend asks you about it, such as “Do you know the cost of Susan’s wedding?” It’s an ‘honest lie’ to say, “I don’t know.”

3. The After-the-fact Lie. When a friend asks, “Do you like the color of my new car?” as you’re riding in it, it is right to respond with an ‘honest lie’ if you don’t like the color. Say, “Yes, it’s nice.” Why? Because it’s an after-the fact situation. The purchase is final and nothing can be done to change it.

4. The Get-off-the-hook Lie. When a friend asks, “How much did you pay for your house?” or “What’s your salary?” you don’t have to reveal the truth because the answer has no impact on your friend. Instead respond with an honest lie and say, “I’m sorry, it’s personal. I don’t share that information.”

posted by Laurie Puhn, J.D.

(Your thoughts or any other examples of an "honest lie"?)


NUFF SAID