By Loyd Cook
May 02, 2008 10:06 pm
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Truth. That’s what we do to the best of our ability at a newspaper. We do everything we can to find out the whole truth and nothing but the truth whenever and wherever we can.
It’s a pursuit that we live out in our work lives every day, 40 hours or more each week, 52 weeks a year. Along the way, it becomes a personal way of living out your own life outside of work.
But, think about it. Do we as a people really want truth pushed in our face each day?
How many times have you asked someone “how’s it going?” and got back a detailed list of the issues in that person’s life when all you wanted was them say “just fine” or “not bad at all”?
Therein lies the rub.
While we often bemoan the lack of communication and honesty from people we interact with each day, in reality we want an edited version of their reality. Getting all the details really isn’t our main interest, even with a good acquaintance or a best friend.
It seems to permeate all facets of our personal lives.
A spouse asks their significant other how the day went. Does he or she really want to know? Or do they want an answer that lets them know it was good, bad or indifferent, without all the gory details? Is it more a case of just wanting enough information to guide them in the direction of comfort or congratulations, whatever the case may be?
We want to know the reason for why an item at the grocery store has suddenly gotten so expensive, but we don’t really want to hear a per-unit cost breakdown or a discourse of the narrow profit margin of the business. We just want to know that there’s a good reason for the price increase.
Guys will understand this one.
You see a pretty lady, one that’s obviously waaaaaay out of your league, but it’s someone you know somewhat. She looks especially pretty that day, hair fixed just so, makeup applied just right, a happy smile on her face because it’s a good day for her.
You just have the pay the compliment on how pretty she looks because if a pretty lady can’t get a lot of compliments, what’s the use in being pretty? Right?
And (guys will again get this), with no ulterior motive on your own part, you know what response you’re going to get.
“You’re soooo sweet.”
After awhile, you pay the compliment, wait the half-beat, then internally giggle when the response comes — which you know is intended as the proverbial “kiss of death.”
So, does a pretty lady just like feeling good for herself? And doesn’t want someone to be truthful about her impact walking down the street?
Truth is a funny commodity. Even the good truths seem to carry a price tag sometimes.
But, when you’re in the truth business, that’s what you are ... and hope to be as best you can at spreading it, every day, until it’s all over.
So what do you really think about truth?
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Loyd Cook is a Daily Sun staff writer. He may be contacted via e-mail at lcook@corsicanadailysun.com
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