Tact or Blunt: Which works best for you?

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2/7/13 9:07 P

tack

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2/2/13 9:18 P

I feel I can be truthful and straight forward and still say it in a way that doesnt make me look like a big jerk. I prefer honesty in people but there is a way and tone you use that effects how your words or message coms off to others.

Edited by: AMB3RKENJI at: 2/2/2013 (21:19)

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2/2/13 9:08 P

tact

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2/2/13 6:29 P

tact

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2/2/13 5:56 P

Tact is truly what works best for me when I'm dealing with others. With that said, Blunt is what I go with if I'm in real danger or safety is about to be compromised for the other person, myself, or both of us. Also, if the other person is not keen on a tactful, polite approach over a duration of time. Just being honest.

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2/2/13 4:05 P

Tact. I used to be blunt when I was younger and it did not work for me.

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2/2/13 3:58 P

definitely more tactful.....in some instances blunt is the only choice

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2/2/13 3:09 P

Tact

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2/2/13 1:06 P

a bit of both, I am trying to be more tactful, I have been very blunt in the past.

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2/2/13 10:21 A

Almost always, tact

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2/2/13 10:09 A

tact

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2/2/13 9:26 A

Becoming more tactful as I age

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2/2/13 9:09 A

I BIT OF BOTH.

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2/2/13 9:05 A

I'm incredibly blunt, and it get's me in trouble sometimes. I wish I had more tact.

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2/2/13 7:24 A

Depends on the situation

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2/2/13 7:16 A

Direct Tact.....not afraid to say what I need to but I do in the politest way I know how.

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2/2/13 6:49 A

it's depending on the situation typically tact words better for me.

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2/2/13 6:31 A

both

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2/2/13 6:12 A

I'm usually more blunt than tactful

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2/2/13 4:15 A

My professional life is probably 80% negotiations. In my line blunt can burn bridges before you get to them. You may win that round but poisons future dealings.

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2/2/13 3:20 A

agreed - blunt, but with tact/compassion

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2/1/13 8:59 P

Tactfully blunt..

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2/1/13 8:57 P

tact

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2/1/13 6:44 P

tact works best for me

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2/1/13 6:42 P

Tact

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2/1/13 6:38 P

I tend to be blunt most of the time. I am an honest guy and I say what I mean. Sometimes it gets me in trouble, and sometimes I don't mean to be so blunt...but I have a sharp tongue and just as sharp fingers for the written word.

I think honesty is the best way to go. Everyone knows where the other stands or what the other thinks. Sugar-coating words to people is dishonest, IMO. I want folks to be honest with me and I will return the favor.

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2/1/13 6:12 P

My preference is tact. Depending on the situation though, I may get tactfully blunt. I try to not let a situation or person stop me from being the person that I would like to be

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1/30/13 7:13 P

Depends on person and situation

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1/29/13 7:25 P

tact

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1/29/13 7:10 P

depends on who the person is and what the situation is

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1/28/13 5:38 P

I just like a straightforward approach. It doesn't have to be sugar coated but neither should it be overly blunt. Just tell it like it is and I am much happier.

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1/28/13 4:23 P

Push for tact, but sometimes it may come off as blunt

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1/28/13 4:04 P

Depends on the situation and the person I'm talking to

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1/28/13 3:42 P

I prefer to be blunt. However, it depends on how close the person you are facing is close to you. If it's someone very close, be blunt. On the other hand, if it's someone you just met, then be tactful.

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1/28/13 3:06 P

Tactfully honest!

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1/28/13 2:39 P

People who read my message board posts probably think I am blunt

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1/28/13 2:31 P

Tact, but don't tell me anything I already know, and I won't tell you anything you already know.

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1/28/13 2:21 P

Gentleness and tact is good for me.

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1/28/13 12:54 P

tack is better - but I have no tact - so blunt works for me

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1/28/13 12:30 P

I guess I would have to say neither. I have come to something ( like weight loss ) on my own.

Blunt just bruises my feelings really hard and shuts me down.

Tact either doesn't register or it effects me like a veiled insult, even if I know it is not.

Fat people know they are fat, they don't need to be told that.

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1/28/13 11:25 A

tactfully honest

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1/28/13 11:20 A

I was brought up to be tactful. Usually that's my approach.

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1/28/13 10:54 A

I try to be tactful, but clear. There's usually a way to say something, even a direct criticism, without being hurtful. I resort to bluntness if the tactful delivery of the message is not getting my point across AND it's essential that the point get across.

In my work I often have to have "difficult conversations" with people. Things go MUCH better when those messages are delivered tactfully rather than bluntly.

As for that phrase "no offense", just like "I hate to tell you this, but" it means that the person is about to say something deliberately hurtful, and they're trying to mask it by claiming that they're just "being honest". You can be honest without flaying someone, and you can use the truth as a weapon.

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1/28/13 10:40 A

TACT! It's always better to be polite & think of other's than to be rude & blunt.

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1/28/13 10:21 A

Tact with the honesty of bluntness, not the connotations ;)

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1/28/13 10:05 A

My vote is for tactfully blunt...or is that an oxy moron?

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1/28/13 9:41 A

tact

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1/28/13 9:02 A

I try to be tactful, but of course everyone who hears what I say sees it as being blunt. Sometimes, I come off as not being Spark friendly.

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1/7/13 2:55 P

LOL@ "No offense", hahahahaha....

When thats said to me I usually jam in there, "Too late..."


Edited by: KJFITNESSDUDE at: 1/7/2013 (14:56)

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1/7/13 2:47 P

It varies person to person, sometimes dependent on how I'm feeling at the time. I'm pretty good at gauging who can take what. In the end, I do prefer straight-forward honesty to tip-toeing around the matter.

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1/7/13 2:29 P

My daughter is like that, she's thought for years now that as long as she starts with 'no offense, but' it's drives me batty especially since she can not take any criticism back. She's married and on her own now, the sooner she learns the sooner she'll be able to be happy.

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1/7/13 2:29 P

I find it fascinating that people sometimes equate tact with being fake or telling lies.

I knew someone like this and if you used the same blunt honesty with her. That she found so necessary to use on everyone else. You hurt her feelings. She could dish it out but she couldn't take it.

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1/7/13 2:04 P

That's true but her cousin is just plain rude so in my opinion there's a difference of brutal honesty and rudeness (honestly being objective and rudeness being subjective). I totally get the "filter" part, after a few drinks I get amorous and flirty......filter? WHAT filter?

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1/7/13 1:13 P

BTW - some people just don't get it when you decline tactfully. Sometimes you HAVE to be brutally honest!

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1/7/13 1:12 P

a personality test I took many years ago for a job pretty much pegged me - bashful & almost brutally honest.

anybody who knows me well knows not to ask for my opinion if they don't want the truth. I really try to be tactful, but if I've had a beer, I'm tired, or just not feeling great...well that filter doesn't work as well.


I did learn to ask "do you really want to know?" before answering those "what do you think" questions

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1/7/13 11:42 A

Tact.

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1/7/13 11:17 A

Humor! Gets them everytime.

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1/7/13 10:05 A

Oh, the holidays is such a great opportunity to observe family members whom you may not otherwise stay in contact with during the non-holiday season, lol. And so is the case with my gf's cousin who pretty much said that people should be okay with her 'frankness' because she tells the truth. My opinion, she has no tact. To her being tactful is lying.

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12/8/12 7:10 P

Tact & diplomacy. Many equate blunt to honesty but instead blunt tends to be rude and hurtful and I see no point in being either rude or hurtful.

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12/8/12 6:59 P

depends

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12/8/12 6:54 P

Tact

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12/8/12 1:17 P

Tact & diplomacy have proven to win more friends ......... I choose tact.

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12/8/12 1:14 P

I prefer when people are tactful towards me!

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12/8/12 1:00 P

learning to be more blunt, when needed, so I don't feel frustrated for not making a clear point to those that disregard the tact....but mostly tact.

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12/8/12 7:23 A

tact

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12/8/12 7:22 A

tact

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12/8/12 7:05 A

tact

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12/8/12 6:56 A

Tact!

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