Pass the Blunt(ness)
In a society where the virtue of honesty is seldom practiced, the line between being too honest and being just honest enough is a thin one. If a stranger approaches you and asks if their outfit is ugly, you’re likely to tell them it looks good (whether or not it’s the truth). However, if your best friend has a hot date and is about to walk out in the ugliest dress are you supposed to tell them? Or do you put a smile on and tell them they look hot?
But what if the question wasn’t about a dress? What if someone asked you to point out their personality flaws? Would you be honest? If you asked someone to point out your flaws, would you want them to tell you the truth? From past experiences, even when I tell a friend about my dislike for a simple materialistic possession, they take it somewhat personally. If honesty isn’t appreciated in such an insignificant situation, its hard to think a friend would appreciate being told they’re selfish, or impatient, or lazy.
Personally, I don’t let someone in my “close” circle of friends unless I can count on them to be blunt when necessary. The idea of being totally forthright can be intimidating, but I think its fair to say that a TRUE friendship would be able to get past it and in fact become stronger because of it, right?
Next time, instead of complaining to others about your friends’ flaws, work up the nerve to tell people the truth. Whether its about an unflattering dress or their selfish ways, they’ll respect you for caring enough to be honest. And just maybe they, too, will learn to “pass the blunt”.
