I was watching an old episode of The Mentalist while folding laundry and it was showing flashbacks to his childhood working at a carnival- his father wants to market a "healing crystal" to a dying girl to make some money. It's false hope, there's no way that it will cure her, but are a few days of peace of mind that might result from it a good thing?
I'm just wondering... is false hope in something- be it a placebo, a beleif system or what- better than having no hope at all, or is it better to ignore things that aren't true?
I'd say it depends on the situation and the person. Some people find peace in hope (hope by definition is sort of 'against enormous odds') and some people find peace in a no-bullshit truth. If the truth makes a person give up earlier than they have to, then it'd be more beneficial to believe in even a small percentage of chance, hope that the situation will change for the better, to keep trucking.
About the girl, it depends on her religious/philosophical views. It's wrong to con a dying girl...but on the other hand, maybe she wants to die with a smile on her face, something beautiful about having hope until the very, very last moment until you literally can't hope anymore. Why die in angst, waiting for death must be terrible I'd think, counting down the hours. But then, there are people who needs certainty, who wants to be able to handle the brutal truth and adjust themselves accordingly, something about pride, mental strength, people who know they are going to die and find it within themselves to be able to give a thumbs up and say peace out with their last breath.
Now that's strictly about death.
About belief systems - DON'T LIE TO ME! Don't try to convince me that there is another form of existence when you can't give me substantial proof. I rather deal with reality than listen to wishy washy lies. This isn't anti-religious, this is philosophical.
About placebos - ehm, medical ones? If it's about death, my response is above. If it means you won't die but will keep waiting for your uhm arm to become normal again, then that is cruel to keep someone waiting like that. It's better to learn as soon as you can to deal with the facts.
I am different about death because death is the ultimate finality, you won't wake up again to be disappointed, you won't wait too long either. I draw a line here. If false hope intrudes with living and your ability to handle your situation with no chance of improvement/change, then it is cruel, if it does not and it eases your final few hours, then it's dependable on the person.
Halfway through, I lost my train of thoughts, warning. Personally, I want the no-bullshit truth in all three categories and I want to be given the chance to deal/adjust to it by my own strengths and weaknesses, by my own unique combination of the two. Don't you lie to me. Don't make it easier for me. I'd like to see what I am made of.