Does this dress make me look fat?
Many a lesser man than Achilles have been felled by telling the truth in circumstances such as this. The truth, let’s remember, is always context-dependent and intentionality matters. Are you bending the facts to deceive others so that you might personally benefit at the cost of the others’ well-being? If so, the word “lying” might be an appropriate descriptor. But if you’re offering your perspective with a modicum of wisdom–to either be encouraging, or to avoid unnecessary insult, or to avoid making the greater appear as a lesser, we can consider speaking in ways that distort the facts but remain true in spirit. The world of literature and fiction are structured on this premise and it’s why the great stories of our Civilization still over more value than pretty much anything else humans have built: yeah, go re-read Moby Dick.
There are many liars in this world in the most literal sense and if they are running public companies, things will not end well.
Lawson appears not to be one of them: his character and Twilio’s accomplishments thus far would not have been possible if that was the case.
Hugs,
Monkey (long TWLO)