I totally agree with you on this. I hate being lied to for any reason, even if it's to spare my feelings.

Truth over lies no matter how much it hurts. When I find out I have been lied too, it hurts way more than the actual truth will everytime.

Being lied to.
This is the reason I have trust issues. I've had an S/O cheat on me. Even though it would have hurt if she had been up front and we ended it there (which happened anyway) I would prefer the truth.
I don't think I'll ever understand the concept of cheating on someone. Why bother?
If the relationship is so bad that you feel the need to cheat, then get the hell out of it.

It is denigrating to be lied to to spare feelings. How does someone else know how well I can deal with truth? You need to be able to trust people. An attachment issue with liars is healthy.

Falsehoods are more destructive; doubly so. For the sense that the other person thinks so little of you; and secondly that they would misinform you period.

Lies are definitely worse, but there should also be a skill level to truth-telling. If just shooting me a glance communicates the truth, that's preferable to being told aloud in front of a group of people that I just said the dumbest thing you've heard all day. If one can avoid it until a better time "Let's talk about that later" works fine - but do talk about it later - don't "forget" what you were going to say. But certainly if you say something too gently for me to understand, or if you aren't sure I'm getting the message, be as blunt as necessary. Just don't go for public humiliation first.

Lying is a waste of everyone's time.

Lied to definitely.

A white lie is fine but other lies have to last forever and you're going to find out anyway which to me is worse as there's then its more than a lie.

I prefer the truth, for all the reasons stated in the posts below. However, I also try to remember that nothing is black and white. I try to understand why I was lied to: was it self-serving on their part, did they do it to injure me in some way, or did they do it in a misguided attempt to spare my feelings, was it personal and meant to be insulting? None of these reasons justifies lying to me, imo, but it does help me understand why, and the reason(s) for the lie(s) helps me decide how to deal with it and the person. Sometimes, it's just not personal--in fact, I would think that most of the time it has more to do with the person lying than with me.

I really don't like being lied to, but also sometimes people just need to use a bit of good sense and diplomacy.

Some people wield the truth like a weapon. Take some time and consider how to frame it best, but don't lie.

Also, humans lie A LOT, even without knowing it.

My vote for which is worse is being lied to in order to spare feelings. That being said, how the truth is told also matters. The tone of voice can carry a lot of weight.

I hate lies but I must say that at times just keeping one's mouth shut is better than either.

I think lying leaves more room for larger and even worse problems, plus I care about truth no matter how harsh it may be.

The truth. Always. When it's delivered from a place of love, it doesn't hurt. As much.

There's lies, and then there's lies ...

" oh yeah, I read that email you sent " (when they really didn't and have to fudge their responses regarding it )

Is mighty different from : " I've stopped seeing my ex, and it's all over now ... "

Important stuff ? I'll take truth every time !

Whenever I find out I have been lied to not only do I feel hurt/angry/sad over whatever the lie was about but I also feel stupid.....everyone knew but me???? I feel that the person who has lied to me has had some power over me. That said, I do believe there is a place and time for 'white' lies...such as the example given (not telling someone their house has been burglarized while they are on vacation).

Hmm… I'm going to go slightly against consensus and say that in some cases I'd prefer the lie, or at least a spin on the truth. If it's obvious I'm feeling insecure about something, for argument let's say a presentation where I was especially nervous, a lie that I did "pretty well" might help me relax the next time, while the unvarnished truth might make me even more self conscious. Sometimes what people want or need is support and reassurance rather than honest criticism. And other times they absolutely need to hear the truth for their own sake. I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all approach for all people and all circumstances.

Being the youngest of 5, my family feels that I Still need to be " protected" from painful situations or deaths..considering how much I've been through you'd think they'd realize I'm capable of handling it....but No..to them I'm still the baby....uuuugh!

I would take the hard truth and move past it...any old day of the week! In fact, I have been making an observation about myself, when people keep stuff in order to spare my feelings and I found it caused me to feel a loss of confidence...some kind of weakness! Like having a rug pulled...from under me. In other words, I am not strengthened at all!

I just realized I voted wrong. I would rather be told the truth

I cannot think of a situation I would actually prefer a comforting lie to a painful truth.

I'm actually surprised at the results of the poll. I'm a "tell it to me straight" kind-of guy.

There's nothing worse than finding out later that you've been lied to because of one reason or another. A lie to me concerns me - otherwise it wouldn't be a lie. Therefore, others lying to me removes me from whatever situation the lie is about. That removes my ability to act appropriately in regards to that situation.

Anyway, there's nothing worse than that EXCEPT for catching someone out in that sort of lie.

They both suck equally.

Being lied to for any reason.