Tag Archives: truthfullness

Making it up

When in doubt you can always create a story, excuse or pure invention. This can be to decieve others or it could just be a clever marketing device.

When creating a story (i.e., making it up) it is important to do no harm. Inadvertently libelling, insulting or motivating an action not in someones best interest are to be avoided.

Of course marketing is intended to elicit positive action, sales, recognition, or support and it can be a bit subjective whether this is beneficial to others.

Humor

Keeping it light while sending a message (e.g., an obvious exaggeration or story) can often be an effective technique . In this way the exaggerated or often made up point can be useful in highlighting a hidden truth.

Satire is an example of this technique. The danger lies in the level of acceptance of the veracity of the story. If believed, when not intended as anything more than a philosophical message, harm could ensue.

Truth and Accuracy

Reputations are made and lost on the percieved level of trust granted them by others. Use of exaggeration and story telling can be an effective communication technique but overuse or misuse can erode the level of trust others have for you.

It is imperative a careful balance be exercised between the use of veracity and making it up. Each method has pros and cons and ca n be useful communication techniques but to avoid being misspercieved one must be cautious in how the technique is used.

Honesty

If your behaviour is free of deceit and untruthfullness, you are percieved as honest.  Assessing if someones practicing honesty requires knowledge of truth.

It is important to note that incorrect facts, shared with sincerity do not constitute dishonest behaviour.   That is behaviour that derives from genuine feelings, albeit potentially misguided.

Judging

Determining if someones behaviour is honest or not often derives from others personal judgement.  This is not always simple and can involve assumptions, always a tricky practice.

In the famous parable about truthfullness, George Washington cut down a cherry tree and displayed the value of true honesty by admitting to it, when asked.

The tree was cut down, that is a fact.  No one saw who did it so believing George to be truthfull is based on the assumption he would not lie about a misdeed.

I have no idea if George cut down the tree or not.  Personally I cannot be sure he was not accepting the blame to protect someone else or even to establish a perception that he was a truthful person.

Proof and Evidence

Our judicial system is founded on the believe facts should be used to judge honesty.  This is to avoid assigning dishonest behaviour arbitrarily.

Overall, there is no perfect way to judge a persons level of honesty, however, keeping an open mind and researching, validating and freely communicating your opinions are good practices to help avoid making erroneous judgements.