“I hate thatphrase — ‘to be completely honest.’ Why do people say that? As if I want you to lie to me.”

My friend was saying this as he and I were sitting at an outdoor bar that has swings instead of seats. We were trying to solve the problems of the world over beer and french fries. So why dopeople start off this way when they are about to admit something difficult about their lives?

It does seem like a silly caveat, but of course there is a reason wefeel the need to ramp up like that. We li...