which do you feel is better? to tell it the way it is or to tell it so you don't hurt feelings?

honesty is always best

Ah, there's the rub. Whether it is nobler to drop off the cliff, or slowly lower with a rope.

The question more accurately asks, should you tell the person the truth or lie to avoid possible pain?

The answer is to tell the truth. However, the problem is how does a person clearly and directly get a negative message across without destroying the other person. Is there a way to tell it like it is without hurting the other person for whom "it" could be a very hurtful thing to know?

In some cases, yes, in other cases, no.

But, all one should be as articulate, sensitive, and diplomatic as possible. Time should be taken and careful thought should be made BEFORE the confrontation. There should be no pride, no hidden agenda, no weaseling out of responsibility, and no half-truths involved. With love and kindness, one can find the right words to tell the truth without destruction. There may be pain - that often cannot be avoided, nor should the communicator try at all costs to avoid it - but, it will pass.

Time heals all wounds, but there may be scar tissue left behind. That's part of life. Be honest, but be kind.

You can be tactful and honest at the same time. People need to know the truth (as long as it IS the truth and not just a personal opinion).... There are different ways of telling the one story. Choose the best time, the softest way, and choice words so as to avoid offending where possible.

Always tell the truth! My kids Mom lies all the time. So they are starting to think that lying is the thing to do. I told them that every lie you tell you must remember....FOREVER...or you will be caught in a lie! I don't know about you, but if your mind was a computer...you would be using a lot of the memory of it just to remember your lies???? Always tell the truth...people get over you telling them something that hurts their feelings.

Either way you tell it.....it's going to hurt. But the truth will set you free.

You don't ever have to be mean spirited when telling it the way that it is.

Either way though.....it hurts. In the long run; whomever it is will someday thank you for telling it the way that it is; hurt or not.

If a conversation has come down to it, tell the truth. Blowing smoke up the other person's butt is just extending their emotional roller-coaster. Even if they don't like the answer, they will come to respect your honesty.

Think about it- your best friend in the world is the person who never bullshits you, right? Don't you think your partner deserves the same level of respect?

I tend to tell how it is. It has gotten me in trouble in life. But my feeling is at least when people come to me for advice or ask my opinion, they know they are getting the truth.

They say that honesty is always the best, and it is, be as honest as you can, If you`re not honest and you get found out then you`ll hurt their feellings anyway. so start off as you mean to go on.

Depends on what it is you have to tell. You can do it tactfully and gently to spare the other person's feelings. Other times a person need to be blunt and speak their mind.

TELL IT LIKE IT IS!

If some one really loves you, wants what is best for you,

truth will always win out! And they will be there anyway!

Tell it in a way that promototes growth. Growth rarely comes from demeaning someone.