Honesty

Part 1

1. What does it mean to be honest - can you explain in an example?

   
   

2. When was the last time you were truly honest about something important, and was it difficult to do?

   
   

3. Is honesty harder than lying?

   
   

4. Why do you think we lie?

   
   
   
   

5. Is it always good to tell what you think is true?

   
   

6. Is it good to express your opinion if no one asked you?

   
   
   
   

7. Does society teach us to be dishonest?

   
   

8. Can one be honest and kind at the same time?

   
   

9. Where are people more honest, in your home country or in Sweden? Can you give an example?

   
   

10. Were people more honest in the past?

    
    
    
    

11. You received a gift that you don't like. How do you react without being dishonest?

12. You are at a restaurant and you don't like the food. The waitress comes by and asks if everything tastes good. How do you react?

    
    

13. You are sitting on a train and the person next to you is listening to TikTok videos without headphones. How do you react?

    
    

14. You're sitting on a train and two teenagers put their feet up on the seats. Do you say anything?

    
    
    
    

15. Are children more honest than adults? Why yes or why not?

    
    

16. How did your parents react when they found out you lied to them?

    
    

17. Why do you think children lie?

    
    

18. How would you explain to a child that lying is not good?

    
    
    
    

19. Your 10-year-old son has drawn a picture. It’s obvious that he has no talent for drawing. You know that he expects you to praise him. What do you do?

    
    

20. Should one lie to their children about Santa Claus? Explain your answer.

    
    

21. You have an adopted child. Do you tell them that they are adopted?

    
    
    
    

22. Who are the people in your life from whom you can always expect truth?

    
    

23. Who are the people in your life that you are most honest with?

    
    

24. Why do we tend to be more honest with people we are closer to?

    
    
    
    

25. Your mother says you're too fat. How do you react?

    
    

26. Your brother or sister introduces you to their fiancé. You don't like them very much. After a few days, they ask you for your honest opinion about their fiancé. What do you say?

    
    

27. Your sister bought new shoes and asks you to give your honest opinion on how they suit her. You tell her the truth. She gets angry with you. How do you react?

    
    
    
    

28. Your spouse has gained 20 kg in the last six months. How do you tell them that you think they should lose weight?

    
    

29. Should one tell their partner if one has been unfaithful?

    
    
    
    

30. You are 10 years old. Your best friend keeps choosing activities for the two of you and dismisses all your suggestions as boring. How do you react?

    
    

31. Your friend has a new hairstyle that you don't like. How do you react?

    
    

32. You disagree with your friend about a new war between two countries. How do you react when they bring up the subject?

    
    
    
    

33. Can one be dishonest when giving a compliment?

    
    

34. What is flattery - can you explain it with an example?

    
    

35. Do you flatter people?

    
    

36. Do you know when others are just flattering you or when they give you a sincere compliment?

    
    

37. Are we sometimes dishonest with ourselves?

Part 2

38. Your colleague has a new dress. You don’t think it suits her. She asks for your opinion. What do you say?

    
    

39. Two colleagues are talking about two other colleagues who are having an affair even though they are both married. They ask you if you have heard about it. How do you react?

    
    
    
    

40. You are at a job interview. Your potential new boss tells you that it would be a good idea to come to work 15 minutes early without pay so that you can prepare for the job. How do you react?

    
    

41. You work in a team with a colleague who is new to the job and is much slower than you. Your boss doesn’t seem to care about your increased workload. How do you handle this situation?

    
    

42. You are being attacked by your colleagues because you are new to the job and haven't had time to learn the routines. Your boss calls you into his office and asks how things have been at work. What do you say?

    
    

43. Your colleague is looking for a new job and has asked you if you could be a reference for them. You don't think they are good at their job. How do you react?

    
    
    
    

44. Do you know the story of the emperor's new clothes? What is that story about?

    
    

45. Your boss is presenting a new project at a meeting. You believe the project will result in millions of dollars in losses for the company. Will you express your opinion?

    
    

46. At the meeting, a colleague says that the new way of working will be harmful to the company. You feel the same way. Do you support them by expressing the same concerns at the meeting?

    
    

47. Is not telling the truth the same as lying?

    
    
    
    

48. Which professions should be especially honest and why?

    
    

49. Can career choice affect how much a person lies?

    
    
    
    

50. Are good salespeople just good liars?

    
    

51. How should a doctor tell the truth to a dying patient?

    
    
    
    

52. You are a high school teacher. The students were assigned a project that they did sloppily. How do you give feedback on it?

    
    

53. You are a young female doctor doing your internship. An older surgeon tells you that you should gain some weight because men like women who are "softer under their hands". How do you react?

    
    
    
    

54. You are a nurse in a hospital. Your patient has severe pain when urinating. The doctor you told about it dismisses it as unimportant and refuses to examine the patient. Later that day, the patient's daughter comes to visit. Do you tell her about it?

    
    

55. You are a journalist at a major newspaper. Your editor tells you to write an article about a right-wing activist using unverified information. What do you do?

    
    
    
    

56. Can a politician be honest?

    
    

57. Should you lie to protect someone's life? For example, in times of war.

    
    

58. What do you think about the saying - all's fair in love and war? Do you agree with that?

    
    
    
    

59. Do people care about knowing the truth about things happening in the world? And what price are they willing to pay for it?

60. Do famous people have a greater responsibility to publicly express their opinions on social injustices?

61. The famous Italian scientist from the 16th and 17th centuries, Galileo Galilei, was to be sentenced to death by the Inquisition unless he renounced his belief that the Earth revolved around the Sun. So he did. Should he have done it?

    
    

62. The 5th century BC Greek philosopher, Socrates, was sentenced to death unless he renounced his ideas. He chose death. Do you think his death was in vain?

    
    
    
    

63. What are the consequences of lying? Can you give an example?

    
    

64. Was there a situation in your life where you were proud of being honest?

    
    

65. Was there a situation where you wished you were more honest?

    
    
    
    

66. In vino veritas - do you think people are more truthful when they are under the influence of alcohol?

    
    

67. Is honesty the luxury of rich people?

    
    
    
    

68. Do we really want to hear people's honest opinions about us? And why does it hurt?

    
    

69. It is said that a Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius, hired an assistant who had an unusual task. Every time Marcus Aurelius was praised, the assistant would whisper in his ear, "You are only human." Why do you think he did that?

70. Can the language we use affect our honesty? For example, when it comes to babies, it's okay to say diapers. But when it comes to older people, some say it's not right to say diapers but incontinence protection, even though we all know the two are the same thing.

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