Honesty, or laughter

[tigertail777]

If you could only choose one trait to have in someone who is close to you, which would you choose? Honesty or someone that makes you laugh?

I would choose honesty. Laughter does go a long way, but it sure isnt everything, particular when it comes to heart to heart discussion. Besides after a while, without honesty laughter is kind of hollow and shallow, you cant laugh at everything forever.

OK so... which would YOU choose and why?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

If I had to choose either a completely humorless companion that was honest or a funny companion that was a huge liar, I would kill myself.

It's like choosing between burning to death and drowning. Can't say I prefer either.

[Not Afraid]

With both traits being so vital to a great relationship, I couldn't choose just one. It's impossible!

[surfinmuse]

Yeah I think I'll be an all-or-nothing guy in this case, give me both honesty and laughter (honest, sincere laughter?), or gimme no relationship at all.

[MickeyD]

Yep. I too couldn't possibly choose just one or the other. Give me both or give me nothing at all.

[MerryPrankster]

Laughter. When I ask my husband if I have a big butt, I want him to laugh...hahahaha! And always say, "absolutely not, dear!". ;)

But seriously, I couldn't choose. I do love my laughter, but I detest a liar.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Tigertail - are you trying to decide what your specialty will be? ;)

[€uroMeinke]

Are we talking spouse, tax accountant, or bar tender - the answer depends on the role

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Are we talking spouse, tax accountant, or bar tender - the answer depends on the role

A great question, €uroMeinke!

Before I scrolled down and saw all the responses, my first reaction was, there is no way that I could make a decision in this regard. I absolutely have to be with someone who can make me laugh, that's one of the most important things in a relationship, as far as I'm concerned. Having said that, if we don't have honesty, we don't have anything. Having to choose between the two, I pick "C", no relationship at all.

[sleepyjeff]

I read the question very carefully and have come to the conclusion that I would want Honesty.............."someone that makes you laugh"....this doesn't say that they are humorless, just that they don't make you laugh. If the person laughs with you at things that you find funny that would be good enough for me.

Ideally, of course, I would like a good mix of the two with honesty being paramount.

[€uroMeinke]

Of course, it also depends on the lies, sometimes complete honesty can grate a bit or just be rather dull. Liars tell better stories.

[Not Afraid]

When I think of choosing, the laughter person is always like Jim Carrey or Robin Williams - some high maintenance dweeb who would irritate me in about, oh, 5 minutes.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

When I think of choosing, the laughter person is always like Jim Carrey or Robin Williams - some high maintenance dweeb who would irritate me in about, oh, 5 minutes.True, but when I really think about it, all my friends make me laugh. That's what hanging out is - amusing each other with banter.

[€uroMeinke]

And of course you want a companion that lies about how much fun you are - even when you aren't.

[wendybeth]

If I really had to choose, I'd go with honesty. To know that the person you are with is trustworthy is worth more than anything. Even if that honesty was painful (such as "Yes, your ass does look big in those pants", or "I don't love you anymore") at least you are not living a lie. Honesty is a big issue with me- I equate it with trust, and there are so few people that I really trust in this world.

[MickeyD]

About a year ago, I went on a date with a guy who had no discernable sense of humor. Or, if he had one, it didn't mesh with mine at all. I didn't go on another date with him, though he asked. The idea of sitting through another whole humorless date was slightly less appealing to me than the idea of having having a nail imbedded in my skull.

But honesty is also WAY up on my must list. I still couldn't choose between the two.

[tigertail777]

I had no idea this little question would spawn so many answers. I mostly asked because I have one of those nearly humorless friends, who is quite honest. This person I do love as a brother, but sometimes I want to hit him on the head with a frying pan, he cannot, will not take any kind of joke whatsoever. The only time he gets to be any semblence of normal in the laughter department is when he is dead tired, which when I go do stuff with him I feel guilty, but I try to make him dead tired on purpose. Otherwise he a) tries to feed me religion like it was the last food I would ever eat, b) goes on and on about how people should be more PC and things he doesnt like, or c) talks about the latest collectable piece in his comic book collecting empire. Repeat wash and rinse with very little variation. I have known him since Junior High, and frankly I feel that he has changed and not for the better. He was always pretty serious but never as bad as this or so stuck in a rut; he seems to have no desire to do anything better with his life at all, he doesnt strive for anything but where he's at and always complains about it. I want to remain friends, and I dont want to hurt his feelings, but I think for my own sanity I need to distance myself from him a bit.

The little question was just sort of my way of venting I guess. But the answers were very interesting. :)

[Gn2Dlnd]

If I had to choose either a completely humorless companion that was honest or a funny companion that was a huge liar, I would kill myself.

It's like choosing between burning to death and drowning. Can't say I prefer either.

Well, I've chosen the funy liar a couple too many times. :rolleyes:
I think it's why I've been single so long.

[SacTown Chronic]

The president is an accomplished liar who makes me laugh (when he doesn't make me cry). The relationship hasn't worked out for me at all. If I had to choose, I'd take an honest humorless person. Like John Kerry.

[scaeagles]

I'd take an honest person. Like John Kerry.

Now that's funny. All the women who want the funny guy are going for you.

[KoH]

About a year ago, I went on a date with a guy who had no discernable sense of humor. Or, if he had one, it didn't mesh with mine at all. I didn't go on another date with him, though he asked. The idea of sitting through another whole humorless date was slightly less appealing to me than the idea of having having a nail imbedded in my skull.

But honesty is also WAY up on my must list. I still couldn't choose between the two.


You should have gone on a couple more dates. My mantra in life is to make them laugh,but on a first date I am anything but funny. I am too worried about eating wrong, spitting while talking, flatulance, will my hairpiece slip, will my dentures fall out... wht if she notices my chest hair is glued on cat fur or that mu prothesis has fallen off and laying on the floor. These things would make one not funny.

[MerryPrankster]

I am too worried about eating wrong, spitting while talking, flatulance, will my hairpiece slip, will my dentures fall out... wht if she notices my chest hair is glued on cat fur or that mu prothesis has fallen off and laying on the floor. These things would make one not funny.

Or VERY funny...it depends on how you look at it. :eek: :D

[Claire]

The president is an accomplished liar who makes me laugh (when he doesn't make me cry). The relationship hasn't worked out for me at all. If I had to choose, I'd take an honest humorless person. Like John Kerry.

What he said.

I've had some humorless honest friends in my day and I've had the "nothing but laughs" flighty friends.....can't say that I am in touch with any of them anymore.

It has to be both or nada.

[MickeyD]

You should have gone on a couple more dates.

Nah. I have a pretty good feel for people. And I certainly know and understand what first date nerves are like. This guy wasn't nervous. He just wasn't funny.

[MerryPrankster]

Nah. I have a pretty good feel for people. And I certainly know and understand what first date nerves are like. This guy wasn't nervous. He just wasn't funny.

Or....he just didn't get your sense of humor. That happens to me a lot. My husband gets it. My sister gets it. Thank God we hang around together a lot. There's nothing quite like the blank look on someone's face when they don't get your jokes and wisecracks. :confused:

[Tramspotter]

don't be too hard on the humor impaired its quite a serious condition.

It's quite easy to loose your sense of humor if you let the little things get you down.

There are always going to be little things rearing their ugly heads.

Lifes too short.

There's also a lot of funny SHlT in the world.

I'm hoping to find my old sense of humor. (mine and not the one for other peeps benifit)

And damnit every time I ask at DL Lost and found they just look at me funny. Bastards.

BTW My self deprication therapist had me post this.

[MickeyD]

Or....he just didn't get your sense of humor. That happens to me a lot. My husband gets it. My sister gets it. Thank God we hang around together a lot. There's nothing quite like the blank look on someone's face when they don't get your jokes and wisecracks. :confused:

Yeah, that's what I mentioned before, his sense of humor might have just not meshed with mine. Either way, not worth my time.

[Gn2Dlnd]

It's quite easy to loose your sense of humor if you let the little things get you down.

Nothing harder to catch than a sense of humor on the loose.

And damnit every time I ask at DL Lost and found they just look at me funny. Bastards.

At least they look at you funny.

[Gemini Cricket]

You know, I'd have to say laughter. 'Cause I can always tell when a s/o of mine is lying. Always.
;)