Can we really say everything we think?

  We live in an era where freedom of speech is increasingly valued. And that’s a good thing - being able to say what you think is a fundamental right. But that freedom comes with a responsibility: to think before speaking, especially when what we say might hurt someone. Still, what we often see is freedom of speech being used as a shield to justify everything - even rudeness.
  A clear example of this is the show Big Brother. Even though I don’t watch much of it, I’ve noticed a recurring pattern: many contestants, in their
intro videos, say they are “straightforward.” It seems like the word has become a mandatory label - almost as if saying it gives them a free pass to say whatever they want, however they want. We also hear a lot about “my truth,” as if each person lives in an unquestionable bubble. And while it’s true that we all have different perspectives, there’s only one truth - the rest are interpretations.
  Back to bluntness: there’s a huge difference between being direct and being rude. But a lot of people don’t seem to know where that line is. A simple example? Being direct would be noticing that someone forgot to clean up and speaking to them politely. Being rude is waiting for the infamous “hot seats” to say, in front of everyone, that the person is “disgusting” or a “pig.” That’s not being straightforward - that’s just being disrespectful.
  Another issue is how we use the excuse “I’m just being honest, I say what I think” as if that frees us from all responsibility. But saying everything you think, unfiltered, isn’t a sign of authenticity - it’s a lack of empathy. It’s forgetting that, on the other side, there’s someone listening, someone who feels, and someone who might be hurt by our words. And more than that: often, what we say with such “honesty” is less about the other person and more about our own need to unload something.
  Freedom of speech is a right. But it can’t be used as an excuse for casual cruelty. And being blunt can be a virtue - when it comes with empathy, common sense, and respect. True bluntness doesn’t need to shout. It doesn’t need to humiliate. It just needs to be honest… and human.
So the question remains:
  Are we really saying what we think… or just saying what brings us relief, without thinking of others?