What's the difference betwwen being frank and tactless?

[Anonymous]

Throughout my experience, there's a difference between being frank and being tactless. Aside from the spelling.

I've dealt with a lot of frank and tactless people way back twenty months ago...

I'm kind of wondering if you also had the experience of meeting these kind of people?

It's one thing in common though is that it's common by both men and women... Perhaps it's one thing that we can't remove from a person.

Most people, probably don't know the difference of the two... I'll be honest, I had my moments.

And I admit, I'm not armed with the right words to perfectly describe the differences of being frank and being tactless

can it also be associated with having too much pride?

To put simply, frankness and tactlessness are both positive and negative

this time I want to hear your opinions on this one

State your opinions, please... :) thanks

Updates

+1 y

Thanks for the responses :D it's good to hear other views on this ^.^

[loveAXOXO]

"Tactless. Adj. Lacking or showing a lack of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with others; revealing lack of perceptiveness or judgment or finesse."

"Frank. Adj. Honest and straightforward in speech or attitude; outspoken or blunt; open and avowed; undisguised."

The way I see it is like this: a frank individual, such as myself, will freely say, "That dress looks awful on you", before the person buys it. A tactless person will go up to someone at a party and say, "Wow! That dress looks awful on you!", not caring how many people overhear.

The difference? I am honest and as they say, the truth hurts. However, I know when it is appropriate to display such honesty and when it isn't. When circumstances arise in which it would be wholly inappropriate to offer unbridled criticism, I tame myself. I realize that in such cases it would be far meaner to be honest than to lie. On the other hand, a tactless person is incapable of making such a distinction. They are unable to judge a situation and determine whether it is best to remain silent or to offer their opinion and because of that, they are seen as offensive and rude. In short, a tactless person is blunt with no regard to appropriateness.

[Leos123]

Well... I'm tackless. But that doesn't mean that I'm not considerate. Most of the times, it's a well meant comment that goes on the wrong way/wrong word/wrong intonation. Sometimes it's misinterpreted as rude but honestly, it's unintentional.

Frankness on the other hand is you know what you mean. Even if it's rude.

[Anonymous]

SCENARIO: Your friend is in a crowded dressing room at a department store trying on an outfit for an upcoming date. She comes out of the dressing room in a dress that highlights her backfat, rolls and love handles and the color of the dress makes her look sallow and sickly.

FRANK: That dress isn't very flattering. Try the other one.

TACTLESS: That dress makes you look fat as hell and the color makes you look like you are about to die of dysentery. Take that ugly sh*t off before someone else sees you!

I have met a lot of people who are tactless but think that they are frank or "honest/blunt" as they put it. I think it's always good to be honest but that doesn't mean you should forget basic consideration and empathy for others either.

[Simple-Simonette]

Frankness: That shirt does not suit you.

Tactlessness: That shirt makes you look ugly.

There's a difference between being honest and inoffensive and being ugly about the truth. You can be tactfully frank - expressing a perception without attacking the individual.

[AnonymouslyKnown]

Well Frank is my friend from Seat-Okay, I'm just gonna let this joke die. It's been done too many times already =/.

Being frank is just being honest while still being considerate of the other person. Sometimes you need to be downright rude in order to make a point.

it's when you completely disregard the other persons feelings, opinions, or personality and just blurt out whatever you have to say, without caring if you hurt them or not.

[cjwright79]

Frank means being direct and forthright. Tactless means the same, but with no interest in avoiding insulting or disparaging comments.

[Rainbows]

Being frank is telling the truth as much as you can without hurting somebody's feelings, being tactless is telling the truth with complete disregard for somebody's feelings.