At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements ;)
So, today I'm cribbing from Younger. Because it was an interesting set up.
What if you found out a horrible secret about a good friend's significant other who just passed away? Would you reveal the secret? Or would you keep it to yourself?
(In case you're wondering where the question came from, here is the recap of the episode. I'm keeping "secret" deliberately unspecific, so that secret could be anything. It doesn't have to be the one that inspired the question.)
It would probably do more harm than good to the friend.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Alex said. If it was something that wouldn't affect anything, I would just leave it be.
ReplyDeletebetty
But if the one left behind is now idolizing the significant other? And the secret would knock them off that pedestal?
DeleteLet the dead keep their secrets. Unless it makes for a good write.
ReplyDeleteOh, either way would make for a good write...
DeleteOne has to ask the question, "How beneficial would it be to divulge that secret?" If it would not help in any way then why divulge. In the end you would be just adding to the pain. If it helped ease the person's pain and helps the friend understand her spouse more, then I would...depends on the situation.
ReplyDeleteAlways the truth! But then again it depends if the other person appreciates the truth or not
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on the situation and the people involved. If revealing it would only hurt people, then I wouldn't. But if something needed to be done about it, then yes, I'd feel obligated.
ReplyDeleteI probably would not tell the secret. But I do know of a lady who found out after her husband died that he had been married before and had kids (he had never told her and they were married over 40 years) and that he had been dishonorably discharged from the Navy! Boy was she mad!!
ReplyDeleteDid he have kids with the second wife? Because both sets of kids would want to meet at some point.
DeleteIt would depend on the secret of course. But it comes back to how would it affect the friend. Would he/she want to know or is it something that should stay buried?
ReplyDeleteNo, I would not share the secret. There would be no point in hurting the friend or harming the reputation of the individual who passed away.
ReplyDeleteUnless the individual who passed away had an undeservedly good reputation, don't you think? What if he/she had done something criminal...?
DeleteYep, if the dead'en deserved a comeuppance even in death then let rip I reckon. Yeh I am a cow.
ReplyDeleteI think it would depend on what they did, right? If all it did was hurt the SO, it might not be worth it.
DeleteNo, I would not share the secret. My philosophy would be "let it be". Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be in the majority with this question.
DeleteLet it be is not always the right thing. May be the easiest thing especially in an uncomfortable position but not always the right thing to choose...
ReplyDeleteI think I would probably keep it to myself. Sometimes it's not worth bringing up … especially to a grieving friend. And especially if you want to keep the grieving friend as a friend.
ReplyDeleteEven if the friend might be helped by the revelation?
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