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This argument only works to a point. No amount of living indoors will make me sick of it as a lifestyle – I don't enjoy camping for more than a day or so. I enjoy living indoors because it's better – no bugs, controlled temperature, comfortable surroundings, safety, running water, toilets, electricity, on and on.

In the same way, candor is simply better than being bullshitted. Moreover, candor vs. politeness is a false dichotomy. You can be thoughtful and honest at the same time.

I'd say that the shifts we see toward more honest business come as a simple result of network effects created by the web. Do right by people? Word gets around faster than ever and you are rewarded with additional business. Screw people over? Everyone will find out just how bad you are to work with – and you'll pay for it lost revenues. It's a potent carrot and stick.




The logic only works on masses of people, not individuals.




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