Honesty: best policy or lonely word?

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POP QUIZ!
You’ve just seen a show that your friend is in (let’s call him/her ‘Max’). You’ve stayed after to say hello, and Max asks you, “Hey, whadja think?”* You:
A.) tell Max exactly what you thought (whether or not you liked it); or
B.) say, “Nice work!” (whether or not you liked it).

HINT: I’m telling you right now that there is only one right answer to this question.

Alright, I’ll give you another hint – the answer is B, people, OPTION B!!! Option A is not only wrong, but it is so wrong in so many ways. Dude, seriously … really uncool. (Of course, this only becomes a problem if one did not like the show. But who are we kidding … the people who answered “A” never like anything.)

Also (heads up)! You may not cheat and say something like, “Max, you were great! But the show sucks ass.” Not allowed. No good. Lord-a-mercy, TRUST ME! It doesn’t make Max feel any better that s/he was the only good part in a clump of cowboogers. An expense of spirit in a waste of shame … that way, madness lies.

So you hated it. SO WHAT? So the hell what?! Here’s the thing. It’s Max, your friend, right? Ya know? Let’s approach it with a little love, huh? We’ve all had to entire runs of crap-ass shows, and the difference between major depression and skin-of-the-teeth salvation might be the love of a friend who cares enough not to tell the truth until at least 2 weeks after the closing cast party.

Can’t abide dishonesty? Think honesty is more important than kindness? That your truth is more important than your friends’ feelings? That’s sad and also I smite you, you egoful prig! Get a job as a reviewer for The Stranger.

*NOTE TO ‘MAX’: Never, ever ask this question. Seriously. They’ll tell you.

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