if this person is not in denial, but in fact is fully aware of his/hers problem (alcoholism),
indulging in brutal honesty by rubbing that fact in, is plain stupid and obnoxious – not honest. Doing it in public would be double so. Never resolved anything. On the contrary – counterproductive and harmful.
I am glad to see that only couple of people on this thread consider it to be honesty.
Yes, that's how many of us operate. Not all, though.
There are people who don't care for the truth per se, but would take any opportunity to tell their alleged *truth* for the sole purpose to hurt another person.
Hmmm... I really think it's a personality depravities thing as opposed to social or language skills, Jan.
There are people in CS forums with decent language skills who clearly get satisfaction out of the brutality,
there are also many people with poor English (since it's an international forum) who despise such approach and would never lower themselves down that level.
Laura25 Forum Posts (8,178)
That was brutally honest, E. LOL! 
What being brutally honest means to you?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...But if it's meant as a collective *we*,
the statement in your post was wrong.
I strongly disagree with your assessment.
Seriously, it's very distasteful to express one's opinion presenting it as if it's a universal factual opinion.
You asked.
P.S.
You are not the only one doing it in forums, btw.
P.P.S.
Oh, and hello, E.