(only half me...)

[learnedax]

You're dangerous 'cause you're honest
You're dangerous, you don't know what you want...
You're an accident waiting to happen
You're a piece of glass left there on the beach
...
Tact is just not saying true stuff. I'll pass.

Comments

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

You lied to me...cause I asked you to.

Tact is a whole lot of things.

[benndragon.livejournal.com]

"A pain in the ass" immediately comes to mind. . . tact is one of those "damned if you do, damned if you don't" sort of things.

[learnedax.livejournal.com]

Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies.
...
Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves.

Newton said "Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy", but I think that's more properly diplomacy. It's a grey area, though.

The second quote above, though, is about context almost as much as content, kind of like what the Kleptones are always talking about. I wonder if anyone's done mash-up poetry...

[learnedax.livejournal.com]

It's mostly a question of knowing whether the recipient wants honesty or tact. Some people want both, and they're tricky. Some people bemoan afterwards that they wanted honesty but at the time would reject it as tactless... and they are best to avoid where possible.

But knowing those distinctions could be considered part of tact itself.

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

False dichotomy: tact vs. truthfulness.

[umbran.livejournal.com]

Sir Isaac Newton was not exactly the world's most socially adept person. It is reasonable to expect he knew whereof he spoke, because he had to deal with his own mistakes often enough :)

Diplomacy is not always about not making enemies. Frequently, it is about making the right enemies, in the right way :)

[learnedax.livejournal.com]

True, I suppose I really mean tact vs. bluntness.

[learnedax.livejournal.com]

To my mind, and it is difficult to find a definitive answer on points this fine, tact is about not saying inappropriate things, whereas diplomacy is the broader area of reaching your goals in a socially optimized way.

[hfcougar.livejournal.com]

Or else, "Tact is knowing how to tell someone to go to hell, and still have them be happy to be on their way."

[hfcougar.livejournal.com]

Does this make my ass look big?

[plymouth.livejournal.com]

Tactless answer: "Yup, you look like the michelen man."
Tackful answer: "I think you might look better in something less form-fitting. How about this one?"

Both of these answers are true. (Er, to the theoretical situation. In real life I haven't a bloody clue what your ass looks like).

[hfcougar.livejournal.com]

It's a trick question anyway: Everything makes my ass look big. This has a lot to do with the fact that my ass is big.

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

So, really, you're saying nothing can MAKE your ass look big?

(with the possible exception of your ass?)

Of course, I'm far too tactful to say that.

[hfcougar.livejournal.com]

My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.

[tpau]

yes, but if you say the tactful answer, i still knwo you think my ass looks big... and i get pissed that you didnt' jsut say that...