If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all.

Yay or Nay? Explain your answer....purty please

Nay!

I believe in honesty...good or bad!

Yay - It always comes back to how I would feel if someone said something not so nice about me. The Golden Rule is golden for a reason.

well that's easy... if you are going to take the time to figure out something bad to say about a person then while you are at it you should also think of something nice to say about that person. for example "So and so can never keep her big mouth shut, but she always has nice hair" ha ha

that way when i do say something bad about a person i don't feel AS BAD later on.

its just a matter of balance

I would never volunteer something acrimonious or rude but if a person asks for my opinion - they should be prepared for the honest, polite truth (or my opinion).

I never looked at that saying in this way. I always took it to mean don't insult people. I see this different than being honest.

In other words...don't attack people out of the blue. That's how I always took this saying. Now you guys have me thinking (which is NEVER a good thing )

That is what my granny taught us.

I feel that if the only reason your going to open your mouth is to lash out at others tape it up!!!!!

Being honest with others when they ask for and opinion is one thing but being down right hateful is uncalled for...

maybe it's a Texas thing That's how I always took that saying too

One thing is for sure I loathe dishonesty in anyone, I mean can you trust them if they are going to constantly tell you falsehoods(lies), see now I have a big mansion and a large mercedes convertible (if you knew me that is not true) but see how easy it is to be something your not.

Best to be just yourself....and no lies!

Oh lawdy! Brace yourselves! She's THINKING!!!

I have Texas blood and this is how I was raised as well.

can you not be honest without being mean or rude?

HUSH Melody

Oh my mom, my mom, let me tell you about her. She believes in telling it how it is as bluntly as possible. Cruelty is her speciality. Now if she knows you and likes you, she may give a bit of a break. But she ain't holdin nothin back.

So some questions:

Do you mean to someones' face or behind their back?

Second, is it someone who is close to you or not?

Reason for the questions are:

I am nicer on these forums than I am in real life. But I do not gossip. So I will tell you exactly how I feel about you to your face. I try to use the communication skills and not be accusatory so it is just me expressing myself.

If your new do looks like crap, I am gonna tell you it don't look so good.
If you have on clothes that I think are unfavorable to you, I'm a gonna tell you they are not doing you right.

If your man is sneakin around on you with your best friend, I am going to tell you if I am close to you. If I am not close to you, you are on your own.

If I know something not favorable about you chances are that it will never come to light from me whether I know you well or not. Unless it effects me in some way, then I will have to talk to you about it.

So always saying something nice is not even in my vocabulary. I say something nice if I feel nice about whatever is going on.

For the most part, that is how I live my life. Which is not an easy thing for someone who is as outspoken as I am!

Hush? What is this word "hush"?

Huh...? That's funny, Mama always told me, "The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice!"

Do you mean to someones' face or behind their back?
I don't say anything that I wouldn't own up to or say to there face. I never really saw a difference in talking behind backs and to the face, expect if the person doesn't own up to it.

Second, is it someone who is close to you or not?
This is another one...I will say what's on my mind whether close or not. I don't use that criteria in how I say something to someone. TO me rude and mean is the same regardless of who you say it to.

Not sure if this clears it up. This is just me. Everyone is different in their views (nothing wrong with that) I can only answer this for myself.

I try to be tactful....

I really do....

but it all just comes rushing out of my mouth at once.

The truth that is.

Nay -- pretty darn silent world....

Have you ever been in a room full of women and a certain woman walks into the room? All women are so nice to her to her face. Oh but when she walks out of the room all hell breaks loose about her. She is so wrong that even the ground she walks on is tainted.

Nice to your face and tear you down when you ain't around. Women are notorious for this.

Makes them all dishonest in my opinion.