Which do you think is more helpful, a creative or an honest answer?

Excellent question.

The way you've supported your Question, I would have to say the creative answer would be more helpful as it takes into account the "context" of the question and asker. There are many different directions by which even the same question can be asked. Take for example a question as common as "What is the meaning of life?". The same question may be asked by a philosopher seeking a new level of wisdom as by a bullied teen considering suicide. This is why knowing why questions are asked might sometimes (but not always) be important.

That being said, creative and honest are not mutually exclusive. An answer can be both honest and creative. This speaks to the ability of the answerer to try to convey the picture in his mind that best helps answer the question. If honest answers can be good and creative answers can be good, the trick then will be to attempt to answer with a healthy blend of both. Sometimes blunt force and facts are necessary to drive a point home. Other times subtle reminders or another way to look at things is all that is needed.

Sincere questions are also something I look out for in deciding what to answer. These are most easily paired with sincere answers (which can again be both honest and creative).

Good luck, Asul.

Oh Gen! It's not an either/or question. The answer depends upon the question!! There are too many variables. If you're a teacher and a student asks you if you think they can become a doctor and you honestly believe, based upon intelligence test scores and their performance in class, that they haven't a prayer, should you be honest or creative. Teachers and scores can be wrong. To questions in fundamental mathematics, there are only honest answers, although I must admit to a certain degree of admiration for those students who have invented creative ones. How do you deal with an honest answer which serves no other purpose than to hurt someones feelings? What do you do if you are told that increased taxes are ruining the middle class and destroying the economy? Do you tell the truth as a statistician would, or become creative as a politician would? Often philosophical questions are asked with only two choices given. Unfortunately, (or fortunately) life often presents us with a variety of choices and they often vary depending upon circumstances, or in this case, the question. I don't suppose this answers your question, Gen, I'm sorry. All I've written is just an opinion, but I've written in the hope that I've given you something to think about. It's a chronic condition shared by many teachers and it used to drive my poor students crazy. How simple (and uninteresting) life would be if there were only two choices to every question.

Great question and some great answers already registered, especially liked Sin's answer which looked both honest and creative as defined by your question.

I want to share another perspective on this. This is a Group forum and not one-to-one mailing or chatting. I feel that in such a place the Q&A belong to all who care to go through them as they choose........ and not exclusively to the asker and the answerer restricted to his/her own answer. Many a time I ask a question that I think is worth considering by others because I learned something new through that already...... this is not an honest question because I am really not so much keen to know or find out the answer as I simply want others to learn from it as I myself happened to do..... yet this is a sincere question with a good purpose which I think well befits this kind of a forum. A similar purpose could equally be sincerely followed in answering a question too. Creativity immensely helps this kind of questions and answers to attract and influence more people to consider the contribution (whether a Q or an A), but it is important not to give in to complexity or intrigue in the quest for creativity or else the purpose won't be well served.

Therefore I think there is more to a Q or an A here in Y!A than what concerns the specific individual, even as the basic requirements of the 'asker' can not probably be ignored completely...... this is where 'creativity' can come very handy to serve the purpose of the 'asker' as well as those of the other participants and generally whoever cares to go through. Creativity with sincerity of purpose (as interpreted broadly with respect to the whole group)...... that according to me may be what we need to try and accomplish here through our contributions (incidentally, we can contribute, sometimes better, through our Questions also as I often find while trying to answer your 'creative yet sincere' questions).

As I mentioned, I am just placing another perspective here on the important question raised by you.

I think, Honest Answers are the Direct Opinions, Which May be Acceptable or Not. Creative Answers Itself is the One with the Opinions, Indirectly as "Vaalzai Pazlathil Uschi Kuthiyadhu Poal" ( Pin is Itching in the Banana)

Hi Asul, I think it's imperative to be honest and direct with most of my responses. However, if a question is phrased in a poetic fashion, I may be more lyrical in my response. You just get a feel for what the asker needs and you try your best to provide it.

i dont see why it cant be both,

i dont see why the honesty is based on how you want to answer,

i tend to honestly answer qs not based on what i want but what i think about the q and the answer, i actually think 'creative'ones that arent honest dont help the asker and are solely for the answerer not the other way around

poetic answers are nice,and i have probably given a few, but if they are just poetic and not honest then theres not a lot of answer to them ,

its just a nice wee dity,

;-)

An honest answer based on the inspiration from the ONE, especially for the one who answers, and going through the answerer... That's helpful, because it comes from IT directly into your heart. It helps both: the asker and the answerer... and those who read it.

That's poetic... that's honest... that's real... and therefore helpful!!! :-)))

:-)

Creatively honest, Asul. That's the way to go. And since true honest creativity obviously comes from inspiration, well there you have it. Try to think less in terms of dichotomies, and more in an all-encompassing way. That is how God thinks. That's why He is God.

It really depends on what truth you are trying to get. Every situation is different. I would need more info! But first and foremost you should ask the person honestly what you want to know. You may be surprised and get an honest answer!

Honest answers are better for saying yes or positive things. Creative answers can be used as cushions for negativity.