Blunt vs. Sugarcoat

While at work today JoJo walked up to me and said "I am having a bad hair day, what do you think?" I took a second, I looked at her hair and I agreed with her. I then giggled and said yeah, it even looks worse then SeaBiscuit's hair. Okay, so I know I was in the wrong by adding the insult, but it really was funny. JoJo even laughed for a second, at least until she realized that for once in someone's life SeaBiscuit actually looked better than someone else. She then told me that although, I was funny, she didn't want to talk to me for five minutes because I was in time out. I laughed, it isn't the first time I have been put in time-out by JoJo.

Another girl walked up and asked "why I was in time-out?" I explained to her what I said and she just laughed. We got to talking about whether it is better to be blunt or sugarcoat. My argument is if, you ask me a question you obviously want a truthful answer, otherwise there is no point in wasting the time or energy asking the question. Back in Florida I had a friend Babu that loved when I was around, because he would say that I don't gift wrap anything. I will always tell you exactly like it is. To this day, I still do that. I don't mean to be mean or harsh, but honest! I can't stand it when a chick that weighs about 110 pounds says something to the effect "I am so fat." What is that about? Instead of agreeing or disagreeing, I simply say something like "why are you fishing today?" Fishing for compliments that it is. They never know how to respond, yet they stop asking me if they are fat. Problem solved! I don't have to hear them fish for compliments and I don't have to hear about their obesity or lack of obesity.

I am getting off topic...Focus! Okay, so back to the point. I decided to take a poll at work. Is it better to be blunt or to sugarcoat the answer. Nine out of 12 people said they prefer blunt, however, 8 out of 9 said that the other people's feelings should be taken into consideration. That makes no sense to me! Of course, I was the 1 out of 9 that didn't care about the feelings. Why ask a question if you don't want an honest answer. Example, does my hair look bad today?...MY ANSWER- yes, it does...the new improved answer is - well, it looked better yesterday. I still like my answer better, but the new and improved answer isn't a lie, so I guess I can learn to accept it! The 3 people that said they would prefer things sugarcoated said, that it isn't nice to be so brutal. When did brutal and blunt start going together? You can be blunt without being brutal, correct? Well, we will see. I have been challenged to sugarcoat my bluntedness for 7 straight days. I will do my best to apply some gift wrap, consider people's feelings, while keeping the honesty of my answers.

Deep down, I still believe that blunt is the way to go. Their is no way to misinterpret the act of being blunt. However, maybe after a week of sugarcoating things I will soon realize that it is nice to sugarcoat things.