After I first read this article about a year ago, I set out to be more honest in all my conversations. (At this point in time it has become a part of my persona and I no longer do it consciously.) There are a few things I’ve noticed since I made the switch:
It is easier for me to think clearly during social events. I suspect this is because I no longer have to generate lies and keep track of all of them.
I have become more outgoing, although undoubtedly more socially awkward. Occasionally, a person will be shocked at how carelessly I reveal something considered to be embarrassing.
It is easier for me to detect certain lies. I attribute this to my being able to think more clearly, because as Eliezer points out, detecting falsehood might be negatively correlated to being honest.
Note that there is still much more room for me to improve, and my personal reflections on this matter are likely to be deeply flawed.
I have become more outgoing, although undoubtedly more socially awkward. Occasionally, a person will be shocked at how carelessly I reveal something considered to be embarrassing.
I am like this. It occasionally creates a false note in a conversation, but for the most part it doesn’t harm my relations with other people...and it feels good to realize that people don’t actually judge me for the things I might be judging myself for.
Clarify that to “people don’t display all the usual behaviours of judging someone, i.e sharing looks and smirking with each other, avoiding me afterwards, etc.” Maybe they go on to judge me behind my back, but I’ve seen no reflection on my overall social standing...except that I’ve possibly developed more of a reputation since then, in the sense that I went from being semi-invisible to fairly interesting.
After I first read this article about a year ago, I set out to be more honest in all my conversations. (At this point in time it has become a part of my persona and I no longer do it consciously.) There are a few things I’ve noticed since I made the switch:
It is easier for me to think clearly during social events. I suspect this is because I no longer have to generate lies and keep track of all of them.
I have become more outgoing, although undoubtedly more socially awkward. Occasionally, a person will be shocked at how carelessly I reveal something considered to be embarrassing.
It is easier for me to detect certain lies. I attribute this to my being able to think more clearly, because as Eliezer points out, detecting falsehood might be negatively correlated to being honest.
Note that there is still much more room for me to improve, and my personal reflections on this matter are likely to be deeply flawed.
I am like this. It occasionally creates a false note in a conversation, but for the most part it doesn’t harm my relations with other people...and it feels good to realize that people don’t actually judge me for the things I might be judging myself for.
How can you be sure you aren’t being judged?
Clarify that to “people don’t display all the usual behaviours of judging someone, i.e sharing looks and smirking with each other, avoiding me afterwards, etc.” Maybe they go on to judge me behind my back, but I’ve seen no reflection on my overall social standing...except that I’ve possibly developed more of a reputation since then, in the sense that I went from being semi-invisible to fairly interesting.