BMDN - Is Honesty The Best Policy? (Nov 20th)

Ohai there!

There are some social conventions I will just never get my head around. One that drives me crazy is when people refuse to either open or close a window on a bus despite ridiculous conditions. I was once tootling home when Shetland was again blessed with its omnipresent horizontal rain. The window (which was very far away from me) remained open for TEN MINUTES in freezing temperatures before somebody decided it was maybe time to keep the heat in. On the bright side, I didn't need the shower when I got home.

But one of the main problems I have is what I want to discuss today - what I can't cope with is pussy-footing around issues. Our culture has an awful problem with not facing things head on (see: every political issue) as, though we are excellent at talking about how we're going to face things head on, things tend to buckle when it's time to put your money where your mouth is. The same exists in day to day life. If we're unhappy about something, we tend to let it fester typical because we're fearful of what dealing with it would involve. This eventually leads to unhealthy outlets, for example incessant bitching, as well as a whole load of worry for all involved as the things bottled up intensify and increasingly fill. Or you just leave nasty anonymous messages on spillit.

That is why I've always taken pride in the fact that I am an honest person. If I have a problem with something or someone, 90% of the time I will confront it. But is that really a good thing? In my eyes, being honest about how you feel is one of the most liberating things you can do, as long as there are not serious consequences to your honesty. And I'm not just honest when problems arise, it's all the time. Let me use the latest 'Twilight' film as an example. Coming out and saying it bluntly, I think the franchise is mostly a pile of shit used to squeeze money out of insecure teenage girls. When customers and colleagues talk about how much they enjoy 'Twilight' the books and Stephanie Meyer's 'writing', I don't agree with them and pick out aspects I also like as would be polite, I smile and nod and say nothing. Because you can't be dishonest when you give nothing away.

Occasionally, when friend's ask my advice and I don't sugar coat the truth (which is the bane of being really honest), my bluntness can come across as rude. It's a similar case when I feel strongly about something. What I'm curious about is if the end justify the means?

I am legitimately interested to know what you think.

Tara x

P.S. - Tell you what stupid social convention I do abide by...