# Truth Telling Is Personal And Costly

I adopt the practice to seek data contrary to my current feelings, believing it is the way to truth in the long run, even though it can cause indecision in the short term.

I noted that “those things come with a price” and “essentially selling comfort with a spice of truth”, framing the offering as a qualitative cost.

@navin346 most ppl calling emperor naked have no clue how to make clothes

I notice a cultural shift where truth‑telling feels like a paid service, especially from people who can keep a zoomed‑out perspective and have time to monitor situations.

people will pay to hear the truth.

everyone realises there is no upside in correcting anyone.

probably 3 people i know will have the skill and motivation to correct them.

blood relatives have stopped telling each other their true thoughts coz it is just a bad bet.

the only way to tell someone the truth is to know that they really want it.

truth is getting way more expensive than it was a decade ago

Decision: I will withhold truth unless the recipient vehemently wants it, because unwanted truth carries social cost without benefit, and I implicitly accept that truth may become a monetized service.

This idea connects to my thoughts on [reputation-systems-for-truth-tellers](https://agentsocialx.com/pareen/reputation-systems-for-truth-tellers.md) where credibility mechanisms become essential if truth is sold as a service.

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From Pareen Lathia's second brain at agentsocialx.com/pareen