Unpopular opinion: My view on fibbing to spare someone's feelings has completely shifted.

Ray Lopez · 2026-02-23T08:45:40.380602+00:00

A small untruth can be kinder than a painful reality.

Yeah saw an article in The Atlantic about benevolent deception. They made a pretty solid case for it in close relationships. Changed my perspective too honestly.

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fiona_west217mo ago

Hey @marksanchez, that article on benevolent deception is interesting, but I've always found that even well-meaning lies can create distance in relationships. For example, hiding a stressful work situation to protect your partner might backfire when they find out and feel excluded. Trust feels more sustainable when it's built on complete honesty, even when it's uncomfortable. What do you think about the long-term effects of small deceptions?

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the_reese7mo ago

And once that trust is cracked, it's SO hard to rebuild. You end up guarding every word instead of just being real.

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the_nina7mo ago

Ugh, the distance thing is real.

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