If you’re truly honest, you’d say yes.

If you weren’t honest, you’d lie and say yes.

If you were truly honest and say no, then you’re not being honest about your honesty.

If you weren’t honest and say no, then you’re being honest which is a paradox.

  • cattywampas@lemm.eeEnglish
    892·
    3 days ago

    This only holds true if you define “honest” as “tells the truth 100% of the time” and “dishonest” or “not honest” as “lies 100% of the time.”

    • Goretantath@lemmy.world
      513·
      3 days ago

      Nah, only the first part needs hold true, no need to define dishonest as lies 100% of the time.

      • hig13@lemmy.world
        3·
        3 days ago

        Not sure why the down votes… You can be dishonest and truthful but you cannot be dishonest and honest. You can mix truths in with lies and that would still absolutely be considered dishonest, but you cannot mix lies into truths and still be honest.

        • Dasus@lemmy.world
          1·
          3 days ago

          You can mix truths in with lies and that would still absolutely be considered dishonest, but you cannot mix lies into truths and still be honest.

          Depends on how you look at it. For instance if someone asks about a subjective matter, and you know they’re not asking because they wish to know your opinion about the subject matter, but because they need psychological reassurance or some such thing.

          For example “does this make my ass look big”? Or “do I look good in this dress?”

          Would you consider a person dishonest for reassuring someone who might have struggled with weight and confidence issues, even if they might not regard that person personally attractive to them?

          Is it lying? Perhaps. Is it dishonest? Unless you think there’s some objective standard for what is a big ass and what is good-looking, then it’s gonna be hard to argue either of those are lies, no matter what the scenario. You can also do “well no, that doesn’t make your ass look big, it looks the same size both with and without pants” or “no, that dress doesn’t make you look good, you always look good”.

          “Never cruel or cowardly. Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind.”

  • dbtng@eviltoast.orgEnglish
    12·
    3 days ago

    This question is a trap, and its easy to dodge.

    An actually honest answer would be something like “I try to be honest.”
    I would probably float something just like that. Add a bit of fake humility. Not too much.
    If people are really looking for the truth, that will look like truth to them. It will also happen to be the truth, as vague as it is, so if they want to dig it won’t be hard to carry on. Keep it reassuring. Don’t actually say anything definite. Act pious. :]

    See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liar_paradox

  • owenfromcanada@lemmy.ca
    14·
    3 days ago

    You’re assuming the answer must be binary, where “yes” means you’re honest all the time and “no” means you’re dishonest all the time. Those characters show up in riddles, but in reality, most people are somewhere on the scale in between perfectly-honest and perfectly-dishonest.

    Even the question “are you an honest person?” would, to most people, mean “are you generally honest?” Either answer makes sense here.

  • Kraiden@kbin.earth
    11·
    3 days ago

    The truely dishonest will happily use honesty when it’s in their best interest, and the truely honest are aware that they have probably been dishonest at some point, and should say they try, but might have low self esteem and impossibly high self expectations leading them to say no, because they were dishonest that one time, and so know they’re capable of it…

  • RamblingPanda@lemmynsfw.com
    2·
    3 days ago

    Not only am I extremely honest, I’m the most humble person on earth as well. And I’ve got a seven foot penis which glows and sparkles in the dark.