The Importance of Being Frank

We've all been in situations where we try to be too nice and pretend to agree with someone when actually we don't.

Some believe that such behaviour is self-demeaning and is therefore wrong. Others defend it by saying that within its limits, such behaviour is an occasional compromise for the sake of better cooperation.

I strongly believe that it is wrong to do so - and it has nothing to do with self-respect.

When we pretend to agree with someone, the person whom we are dealing with generally ends up believing that we actually share his opinion. So he behaves with us accordingly, only to realise on a later day that we don't actually agree with him.

The result of this long story is that, while trying to be nice, we actually cheat the person whom we were dealing with. The intention of trying to be nice doesn't justify it : cheating is cheating.