So yesterday I came across this tweet from Kafui;

And it got me wondering, would people rather be told the truth or rather be lied to, to keep them happy. So as usual, I asked a few friends of mine, and these were their responses;

As you can see it was almost a split decision. Some would rather be lied to than be told the truth and some preferred to be told the truth upfront.

The thing about the truth is it contains facts, good or bad. You sugar coat it a little, then it crosses the line between truth and lie. This makes telling the truth the best option especially if you want to help someone. Like Kafui said, the truth usually ends up hurting people, so why would someone continue to be honest with another when there is a chance that they’re likely to end up being hurt? After hurting the person too there is a very high chance that the friendship between them will not be the same which is quite sad especially if you care about the person and don’t want to offend them.

Then there is lying to the person. That option always seems the safest. Simply saying or not stating facts when unquestioned about something. Imagine your close friend asking you “Chale, I dey mel?” Then your response is “Nah chale” when indeed your friend stinks like that lake on the way to Korle-Bu. It’s sad but chale if you told them the truth, they would be offended and might even be upset you didn’t tell them before. KFBfc people, last year must have been tough for you. I Digress.

But yeah, it’s never easy to be entirely honest. I know people who also refuse to be honest because they don’t want to risk complacency. A friend who works at a reputable law firm, told me how he doesn’t commend his junior associates at all as it keeps them on their toes, and stops them from becoming complacent. From his point of view, even a “Good job” for a job well done isn’t necessary. Can his refusal to make such comments be considered a lie?

Lemme get personal small. A few weeks ago someone told me something that brought me down to earth. The person was honest to me and it pained me plenty and things. I could have enjoyed life as it was but chale the truth was best in those particular circumstances and its helping me to work and access certain things. I’m almost certain that in the long run if I had been told the truth later things would be worse than they are right now and I would be harder hit.

So I guess we generally can’t decide whether we’d rather be lied to, to keep things as they are and stay happy with ourselves. Or rather be told the truth and react to it appropriately to “better ourselves” or know what’s actually going on or be happy being lied to. But the question is, would you rather be “fool” who is being lied too?

Personally, truth is always the best. Despite being blunt about most things, I always hesitate when it comes to being honest about personal things that could affect a friendship. But isn’t the whole point of a friendship to help improve each other one way or another? Anyway, what do I know.

Glorious.