Nor do I like being told upsetting news-unless there is a good reason. I can't help but feel that there is an element of cruelty, if not sadism, in friends telling one another upsetting things for no reason except to observe their reactions.
In her book "A Widow's Story," Joyce Carol Oates reflects on the discomfort of receiving upsetting news from friends without a justifiable cause. She expresses a strong aversion to such situations, feeling that the act of sharing distressing information can often be rooted in a cruel desire to elicit emotional reactions rather than to provide meaningful support.
Oates suggests that friends should be mindful and considerate when discussing sensitive topics, as...
