Truthfulness…
It’s something that most are looking for, but I believe that some of them do not know what they are asking for. Ya, especially ladies. I’m not a sexist, but I reckon that I possess a tinge of old-fashioned thinking. But girls, I do think that the whole truth is not what you really want.
(Ok, the above is only my point of view; you may differ if you wish to.)
Anyway, this doesn’t apply only to Eve’s daughters of course; everyone, in my opinion, has this problem. Oftentimes, we ask others to tell us the truth and nothing but the truth. Have we reflected upon whether we can face the truth?
First of all, being truthful is not at all an easy task. Aren’t we untruthful to ourselves at times even? Sometimes, we do lie to ourselves. There are things that we believe or wish to believe in, and others that we don’t. When the “don’ts” appear, we tend to be confused. What is the truth and what is only our belief…
Then, to be truthful to others is another matter to be considered. How truthful can we be? Are we supposed to tell the truth all the time? Without fail? Even to the extent of hurting others? Where does the boundary lie? How can we tell the truth and expect others to accept it because we are telling the truth?
There is a friend who has once reprimanded me for being too frank. He said that in telling the truth, we still have to care for others’ feeling. It’s always easier to be said than done. But I understand what he’s trying to tell me. We can’t just throw the solid truth at everyone and expect them to digest it. We have to mash and filter it before trying to force it down their throat. *wink*
So, here comes the million dollar question: How truthful shall we be?
Don’t ask me. Tell only what you think you should. Hide the rest.
Happy? Of course not! How can we be contented with such an answer!
Anyway, it’s our choice. “To be or not to be.” That’s our question…
May 25th, 2006 at 5:18 am
how abt being truthful with gentleness, with love, with the intention to encourage, and to show that we care enough to be truthful?
May 26th, 2006 at 8:40 pm
haha..”truthful” seems to be a very difficult question to u..
most of my frens noe my characteristic very well…
only those who really treat u as their “real” fren will tell u the truth although they noe the “truth” may make u unhappy…
To me…
i oways be straightforward as you noe..
but for those who dunno me tht well of course will think tht i’m too “straight”..
i noe sumtimes too frank will hurt ppl feeling…
but truthful oso symbolise ur concern & sincerelity to a fren fr the bottom of ur heart…
because..
nowadays hardly to hear the “truth” fr others mouth…
because “real” fren wan u to see the truth although the truth may afect ur frenship but “normal” fren will hide the truth because they dunwan to lose u as a fren…
wat u prefer?
haha…
above r all my personal opinions…
Anyway..i dunnoe wat other think but i hope tht u can be frank to me all the time..
coz’ i really hope tht u r one of my “real” fren… =P
December 11th, 2006 at 6:20 pm
You are asking the right questions my friend, in which the majority are not well aware of. Anyway, universality proves nothing, and however, might be suspect.
Here’s a food for thought from a French Philosopher:
Being faithful, in the spehere of thinking, does not mean refusing to change one’s ideas (dogmatism), or subordinating them to something other than themselves (faith) or taking them for absolutes (fanaticism); it means refreshing to change one’s ideas in the absence of strong, valid reasons - because one cannot always be examining - it means holding as time, until subsequent reexamination, ideas whose truth has been clearly and solidly established. In other words, neither dogmatism or inconstancy..
There is indeed no end in the search of answers, the absolute truth is that there is no truth. In fact, what matters more is not what you have learned, but how that you have learned applies to you, and being relevant to your honest self.
Philosophizing is quite a dangerous thing to do. Some people prefer not to think, thereby ending the growth of thought process. I sniff at those who’d say, ‘don’t think so much!’ It marks the end of the thought process.
But bear in mind that philosophizing is going to bring you into bouts of ups and downs, which lasts long. To some, a few months, but to others, a few years. It is bound to make you depressed, happy the next moment, and your friends will start wondering if you a schizo. The more extremes you experience, the tougher you will become. But also, in what Neitzsche said, ‘if it doesnt kill you, its going to make you stronger’. Just remember not to let it ‘kill’ you.
Im not trying to sound morbid, but this is what life is. Philosophy is a poison in knowledge. If you could survive this poison, you will emerge a new person.
Happy philosophizing, people!