by Irrira Rikki

Created on: December 21, 2008   Last Updated: December 04, 2010

Being honest can help, even if in brutal frankness, when used in a linguistic process the ear it is directed at, understands this.

At times it can have the effect of shock treatment to the senses, waking up what needs to be heard when the red light of stop, goes on. Or when another wants something we know is harmful to them, we give them the vicious facts which they may not want to hear.

We need to be gentle in breaking the truth to a child who needs trustworthy guidelines in life to begin with. The best is through demonstration of simply living within the boundaries of honesty, as nothing remains more permanently in their memory, on a daily basis than to witness. They know where they stand then, regardless of what they thought or even believed, as they grow.

Sooner or later, that manifestation of always being honest with them, becomes an open door within their understanding. Even to the point of realization in turning to us for a truthful opinion. It could be they need confidentiality, which becomes trustfulness being the key which paved the way.

Reverse psychology when subtly used, can be extremely effective if a child is acting ugly. Being brutally open in retaliation to their frankness may seem cruel, but their unexpected reaction can twist back on themselves, by using their own terminology which they understand. It can turn them right around to seeing their ill-nature as an attitude, into even becoming firm friends!

The same would go for a roughly spoken, always cursing, teens or adult persons, who couldn't give a hoot. Gentle, repetitive honesty would not reach their ears so accustomed to their terminology. They need to hear their own echoes resound in brutal directness for their own backwash of verbal assault. They might walk away, but their ears will be their memory which keeps ringing a bell until they do take note.

Language is a vital point of communication, and to know what to say, depends on the mind-set and situation of who brutal frankness is directed at. It is not what is said, but how it is said, which keeps it direct, even if aggressive.

When working in the gutters of life's streets it becomes a whole new crop to harvest. Is it brutal to cut down souls as we do the wheat to harvest ? Where there is promise for retrieval, it is simply something which has to be done, as even wheat has ears. These ears, to whom one is brutally honest, actually hear speech they can identify with.

Honesty versus brutal frankness, are one and the same thing within their real context. One just has more impact than the other when called for. Where someone is threatened, or needs rescuing, good hard truths of facts are the difference between life or death. There are so many times both verbal actions are called for, in too many situations.

Harm is only when the user of any language within honesty and brutal frankness, is not given correctly, and the communication aspect is misunderstood. The chain re-action of this happening can then be a whole new situation to deal with.

In real life situations, it can be the catalyst to saving a life, despite how harsh it may seem at the time of delivery. Both have impact, according to their needs.

The only thing brutal about honest frankness, is why and how either are activated.

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