Well, Davey, I don't know that the truth hurts, depending on which truth, and who ye're speaking to. I think laying out the truth raises the ability of those around you to face the truth, which does them a favor by making them stronger. And it is sure easier to understand than a fabric of PR tissues. "Tell the truth and shame the devil" is (normally) good advice. But I am not going to discuss. say, my sex life with Gargoyle no matter how moral I feel! :>) Why? Don't trust him.

Being strong enough to speak the truth and handle the consequences is a great virtue, to my mind.

But I have seen scalawags use that to justify saying really nasty things "because it's just the truth" (when it isn't). So the courage you show is wise, perhaps tempered with the wisdom that "truth" is relative to viewpoint. A slimeball sees the world in a more hurtful way, and his telling of the so-called truth can be more harm than virtue, because it is filtered through his own emotional distortions. "Consider the source" is great wisdom, too.

Despite such sophistry, I am glad you follow the code you describe...proud to know you, therefore.