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I disagree that honesty is the BEST policy, but, I do think that honesty in appropriate situations is a good policy. I think honesty is overrated and being honest at all times can be harmful to some people's self esteem or mental stability. Honesty can sometimes just simply hurt someone's feelings.

I don't mean that people should blatantly lie to one another on a regular basis or that they should just tell people what they want to hear, but, I think everyone should exercise judgment when being honest with someone. I've found this to be appropriate in certain situations.

Take, for example, your sister's new outfit. It doesn't flatter her. Quite the contrary, it makes her look older, heavier and just outright ridiculous. When she asks you how she looks in it, do you tell her that? No. You smile and say something to the effect of "Well, it's not something I would wear, but if you like it go for it". This lets you be honest, since you wouldn't wear it yourself, without being completely honest and telling her that she shouldn't wear it either.

What about Grandma's cookies that she forces on you each time you visit? They are hard, dry and downright nasty. You always eat one and when she offers more, you agree to take some home. Only, you don't take them home, you deposit them in the nearest trash can out of Grandma's sight. You can't say to Grandma: "These cookies are awful, why do you keep making them when no one can eat them?". That would be honesty, right?

When you see someone who has a pretty dress or nice eyes, you see nothing wrong with telling them. "Your eyes are so pretty." "That dress is so nice." If you're going to be completely honest, why not tell someone that their clothes look terrible. Why not go on to say that you hate their hair, shoes or whatever. This would be being honest if it is how you really feel, but that would not be the nice thing to do.

To say that honesty is the best policy may be politically correct, but it is not necessarily always correct.

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