Chapter 40
‘To be honest’ it’s ‘no problem’
You know when you come across phrases uttered by someone that subconsciously make you feel uneasy? What about ‘to be honest’ or ‘honestly’ or ‘if I’m honest’? What effect do these ‘honesty’ phrases have on you?
‘To be honest’, or similar variations, is something we hear when talking to friends and family, people at work and when listening to public figures on the media. It’s endemic.
Think about when you’re engaged in conversation with someone, or you’re listening to a speech and then you hear the words: ‘Well, to be honest with you . . .’. What’s the implication? What does that mean?
Are they saying: ‘Listen carefully. Change of tactics. I’m now going to start telling the truth!’
‘To be honest, I’d ...
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