Do you believe honesty is the best policy?

[NewRich]

We all know, as I'm sure we were taught, that we should tell the truth. You may heard honesty is the best policy. But in some cases for example, if you have a court case right? They don't have enough evidence to convict you of a crime. Do you lie for freedom or tell what really happen to be locked down?

Or if you cheated on your spouse, if she doesn't know, should you keep it a secret and play the what she don't know don't hurt game or tell the truth and come clean? Hopefully we all know that everything will catch up to us, if nothing else karma will but what do you think of this policy?

[Forum Admin 2]

I think it all depends on the situation and the effect it will have on the most important people in your life. Plus one needs to weigh out the pros and cons of not telling the truth. In some instances this can end a marriage or even a relationship. The other question that you need to ask yourself is "Can I live with this deception of not being honest?" :)

[daymo]

i guess if i could keep my freedom from being imprisoned i could probably tell some white lies. i'd rather have freedom than be locked up.

cheating in relationships is very different. i dont think you should need to cheat in a relationship yet so many people do even celebrities.....i've always been honest and upfront. in most cases its easier to be honest than cover something up

[Forum Admin 2]

That was greatly said Daymo. Why be with someone if you are going to step out? I have never figured that out, with the added line, but "i love you so much". Uhhhhh okay.....

It is nice to hear that we have some honest members within this forum. Sad world we live in and its nice to see that hope is still alive and thriving:)

[Moderator 1]

From a marketing aspect, it is good to be as honest and genuine as possible. Even if you have never used or purchased the product yourself, you are not SELLING the product - remember this. You are pre-selling it. You are the middle man/woman so to speak.

If you have not purchased or used a product or service, you can do a review/FAQ/report on your findings. You can collect data by researching and write about your findings.

Great thread everyone! :)

[Teddy]

I always believe honesty is the best way to live life. If you do something that has consequences then be prepared to accept them. If you can't accept the consequences then don't do it...

[Forum Admin 2]

Exactly Teddy! :)

[bookguy]

Personal relationships are a lot like business relationships. It is easy to destroy your integrity and credibility by being dishonest once, but it is very difficult to restore these in the eyes of people who were deceived and hurt. Even if you are able to eventually make it right again with a loved one or a friend, you may very well have lost a customer or two forever. Something to think about.

[KitKat]

Well said bookguy! :D

[Forum Admin 2]

Great to see you in the forum again bookguy! Well said indeed:)

[daymo]

is bookguy a veteran marketer.

(forum admin 2) you mentioned great to see in forum again....as if bookguy had been away from the forum for a while?

[bookguy]

Hi daymo!

No, I'm not a marketer of any kind. Actually I am a reference librarian by day, and yes, I've been away from the forum for a while.

[gangster3591]

From a marketing aspect, it is good to be as honest and genuine as possible. Even if you have never used or purchased the product yourself, you are not SELLING the product - remember this. You are pre-selling it. You are the middle man/woman so to speak :)

The question is too broadly stated. Best policy.. to what end?
One can imagine many situations where honesty may not be the best policy.
As for business, if one is primarily interested in value and service to customers, then honesty must definitely be the best policy.
On the other hand, there are those primarily interested in personal gain. Such individuals have few qualms about cheating and hurting people, if that is what it takes to achieve their goals.
Yet many say "what goes around comes around". I hope so.
The question boils down to one of personal qualities.

[Forum Admin 2]

So true!! This is one reason why doing a thorough search on the given product is a must. :)

[modernmother]

I do believe that honest is the best policy in most cases. Once in a while, I little white lie won't hurt, especially if the truth will hurt someone's feelings. For example, I just sat through my sons school musical the other day and some of it was down right awful. I would never tell anybody that their performance stank. Other than something like that, I do think the truth should be told. In my experience, I am always more upset that someone lied to me then I would be if they would have just told the truth. If someone is truthful, even if they did something wrong, they are at least trying to work through the problem instead of hiding it. I respect people who are honest.

[Forum Admin 2]

Great input!! Its great to have you with us modernmother:)

[volybal3]

I would agree that it depends on the situation.
However, when talking about business, I truely
believe that this is a must. This is the core of
your business and if you are not honest, people
will eventually see through you and shy away
from you and your business.

[Moderator 1]

Good insight - we appreciate your input! :)

[Forum Admin 2]

An online business is similiar to a physical job. All your traits will represent who you are. Just because viewers cannot see you face to face does not mean that they cannot read between the lines when reading through ones writing. :)

[Teddy]

I totally agree. In business especially otherwise you will have no respect or trust. In my day job I look after corporates IT and one client especially has their LAN span from South Africa to Germany to America to Brazil and India. I can get into that network from anywhere in the world and have free access to everything. If I was not honest I would not have gained their trust or respect to have the access I do. It is important !!

[Moderator 1]

Great example Teddy! :)

[MatoryIncorp]

Honesty is always the best policy, to me anyway. Even when you DON'T tell the person something it's a lie. But, there are always individual exceptions lol.

[Moderator 1]

As long as you research and report what your findings are, it is not lying. If you have tried the product, it is even better to share your personal experience. :)

[Forum Admin 2]

As long as you are trying to be up front, one should do fine. Most people these days do a little bit more research on products. They tend to look for the pros and cons before deciding :)

[Jamie]

When i came out of the British Army i went selling windows for a time but did not like the way i was told to sell them at any costs. They wanted me to lie to the customer on how much money they will save in thewinter and how more secure they are than there competitors.

I would be there with old age pensiors and they have worked and saved all thier lives and this company expected me to lie to them to get that money. I done that job for 3 days and glad to say i did not earn a penny.

So in business i believe if you are honest you will be rewarded in some way for that. In relationships i feel that if you feel the need to stray you should not be in any form of a relationship as it is not fair the other person.

I will tell my wife a white lie by if i go to the pub and watch the football and she asks how many pints i have had i might say 3 when i have had 4. But this is not hurting anybody so i believe honesty is the best policy.

[Moderator 1]

LOL Jamie - I think all husbands do that - but don't think us ladies are fooled! We have that sixth sense! We know how many you really had! LOL!

[Forum Admin 2]

I have even seen a few wives say the same thing. Nobody is really fooling anyone LOL Plus it is all in the swagger and slurs....:)

[Jamie]

Thats what my wife keeps telling me MOD1 (frightning).

[Forum Admin 2]

LOL That is to funny!! :)

[Moderator 1]

I told you! LOL :)

[Mytara]

I believe in Karma so I find it very hard to lie. I like to treat people the way I would like to be treated - with love & respect. It doesn't always happen but I give it my best shot! For every action there is always a reaction, and therefore the consequences we end up with are of our own doing (whether in this lifetime or a past lifetime). I would like to think that by following this I will never be in the position to have to make the choice of whether to lie to keep my freedom! I guess I would have to pay the price!

[Jamie]

Very nicely put Mytara.

[Moderator 1]

We appreciate your insight Mytara :)

[shmeeko69]

There are geniune and fake people in all walks of life, but I always maintain that being honest and having integrity, will always stand you in good stead.

Honesty is always the best policy .................

Mark :rolleyes:

[Forum Admin 2]

Mytara,

treat people the way I would like to be treated - with love & respect This is how it should be and consequences for our own actions should not be p***ed on to others for blame. Take responsiblity! That is what I try to instill in my family members. :)

[Forum Admin 2]

Mark,

Whats that old saying? "If you can't be honest with yourself, who can you be honest with?"

Honesty and Respect play a huge role in our everday life :)

[Paul D'Arcy]

Mark,

Whats that old saying? "If you can't be honest with yourself, who can you be honest with?"

Honesty and Respect play a huge role in our everday life :)

Here here! Absolutely!
Self evaluation is so critical to successful relationships, successful business and living a successful life.

If you are dishonest, you cheat everyone of the best possible person you can be -including yourself...
And that is the biggest cheat of all!

:)

~Paul

[Moderator 1]

Very true Paul! :)

[j11_cook]

Honesty IS the best policy. Being dishonest will always catch up to you and one little white lie always leads to another little white lie, and another, and another, and so on. Then you would end up having to explain more than just one lie, once you are caught. Lying can be very hurtful and makes you untrustworthy to people you love the most.

Always, Always tell the truth. Even if that means you will get in trouble a little now, it is no comparison to the trouble you would be in, if you told a lie.

Not to mention the old saying, "What goes around, will always come around two or three fold." I have seen this happen many times in my life to other people.

[Forum Admin 2]

This is mean to say, but I wish I had seen just a little bit more of this Not to mention the old saying, "What goes around, will always come around two or three fold." I have seen this happen many times in my life to other people. :)

[Moderator 1]

Thanks for your input Jennifer :)