Are you stuck in movie logic?

Overall reception of the article

• Several commenters found the piece insightful and said it should be taught in professional development; others derided it as naïve, “AI slop”-like, or emotionally tone-deaf.
• Many agreed that “movie logic” (conflict sustained by not naming the obvious issue) is both pervasive in fiction and recognizably present in dysfunctional workplaces, friendships, and marriages.
• Others argued the advice is oversimplified: you can’t fix deep psychological patterns with three conversational tricks.

Debate over the Good Will Hunting example

• The article’s flagship example was widely called out as wrong: in that film, everyone does tell Will he’s wasting his talent; his problem is believing it and processing his trauma.
• Several noted the film is explicitly about how inner change requires experience and emotional readiness, not just someone finally saying the magic sentence.
• This was used to argue that real change rarely comes from a single frank conversation or “epiphany.”

Communication, conflict aversion, and feedback

• Many recognized themselves or their cultures (especially Midwestern U.S.) as kind but conflict‑averse, leading to unclear priorities and hidden tensions.
• Others emphasized how hard it is to receive feedback: sunk-cost thinking, emotional investment, and fear of vulnerability often override stated desires for honesty.
• One thread argued basic communication skills are rare and may worsen as people outsource writing/thinking to AI tools.

When bluntness fails or harms

• Multiple anecdotes described “clearing the air” making relationships colder, awkward, or unrecoverable, especially with conflict‑avoidant people or those with serious mental/behavioral issues.
• Commenters stressed that directness can feel like attack, leave “scars,” or destroy tolerable-but-imperfect dynamics; judgment is needed about when not to raise issues.

Movies, exposition, and “idiot plots”

• Several invoked “Idiot Plot” and discussed how poor communication and withheld info drive drama in films and TV.
• Others noted that in real life, people also avoid uncomfortable topics; movies often mirror, rather than distort, this avoidance.

Deeper psychological and cultural angles

• Some tied the issue to self-deception: people can’t communicate honestly because they’re not honest with themselves.
• Cultural differences (e.g., blunt vs. circumspect societies) were cited as crucial context for how “direct” talk lands.
• A few mentioned therapy and game theory: surfacing implicit knowledge changes the “game,” but usually requires outside help and long-term work, not one neat conversation.