Telling it like it is can get tiring though, not everyone respects it the way you do.

I am generally know for telling it like it is. Especially the older I get the more I can get away with it. I find that most people don't want the truth as Jack would say "you cant handle the truth". I find that saying what people want to hear is mostly a waste of time. But it is always important to be tactful and aware of peoples feelings

Yes, it is a great gift I am blessed with as well, being in love and partnered with Sheilagh, she, thankfully, always tells it like it is. When it comes to the Battle of the Bands, I truly believe the "Tall Boys" were one of the top three. The (straight, white) judges weren't "unbiased" they had their subjective beliefs, and others of us had ours. I thought the lack of diversity in the judges was , at best, appalling and I said so at the time. Sometimes "what we want to hear" is actually reality.

Fred: No one else can read this, right? I mean, it's private, correct? Well, you know that, as promised, I tried to buy off the other 4 judges to land them in the Tall Boys camp, but Odey, Justin, William, and Larry were despicably ethical. Or the $$ weren't right. Next year, we'll plan ahead better to fix the results. Remember, keep this just between us.... ;^)

Telling it is like it is - it's very important. Of course it's also important to know you are doing that and if the medicine is bitter try to make it a little more palatable, if only by letting the person you are talking to know that the news isn't what they want to hear.

It always depends on the situation and tact and timing are important. With this disclaimer, I would much rather someone be up front and tell the truth than lead me down a phony path. The trust always come out, why not have it sooner rather than later. I am always honest and direct, sometimes to a fault. I tell it like it is in a business situation and make sure my clients are aware of the insurance programs they are looking at. Better to know the details before claim time. It's OK with me if that doesn't work for someone else. I learned along time ago that I can't please everyone. So be it.

Oh, and don't tell David that I read his post...

Sometimes there is a difference between being honest and forthright and simply spewing your emotions. I'm sure the judges who donated their time for a social event are thrilled to be called biased simply because of the transgression of being straight and white. Perhaps sometimes our personal experiences limit our own perception of reality.

First of all Happy Birthday Fred. I join you in your disappointment. Based upon our criteria the outcome should have been different. It seems that the Judges purposely avoided any group connected to the committee.

I didnt call the judges biased because they are straight and white, if it sounded that way I am sorry. It's just that NO ONE is unbiased whatever their race, creed, color, sexual orientation or shoe size. Additionally, in an organization as large and diverse as ours that spectrum could be better represented in the appointment of judges.

You mean people suck up to you? I don't believe it.

So now you're accusing the judges of all having small feet!?! ;) Have a nice weekend, the weather is getting nicer!!!

PS- The "Tall Boys" were great and I have the video to prove it.

As lawyers, we have to deal with that issue everyday with our clients don't we? Sometimes, it would just be easier to tell them what they want to hear and not tell them the truth.

As for the suck-up issue, I know you don't want to hear this, but I'm with Don.

i think you're very lucky to have joanne.

I've married to my wife for exactly half the number of years you've been married to Joanne, Margarita performs the same 'service' to me-- no spin, no nonsense, cut through the BS, etc. I think we've both very fortunate.

I wasn't able to attend the Battle of the Bands event (long scheduled previous commitment), and I'm sorry Alex's troupe didn't win, but as you correctly point out, another life lesson learned is never a bad thing.

I wonder how the result would have been if I were not ruled off the panel because a member I brought into Gotham had a band that battled and since he was not yet a member (at the time of the application for the BOTB), I got ruled off. BTW, note to Cheryl, this committee's band, based on your criteria, won....
As to the kiss up issue, very interesting line between being nice and loyal and being suck-up in Gothamese and K-A in my own lingo. A political media expert who I use for most mailing and printing work when it is my choice to make in political campaigns, advised me several years back not to argue with a client who wants something albeit not in the client's interest. He believes in delivering want the client wants if they cannot be convinced easily that what they wants make little or less or no sense at all. It is one of my signature m.o.'s that I will argue with the client until I wear them down if needed to prevent a bad decision or outcome.