Last Friday, Colter called me after school to tell me about his day. He said, "I have some good news and some bad news." I said, "OK, give me the bad news first." There was a long silence. Then, he reminded me there was good news, too. Yes, I said, I can't wait to hear it, but give me the bad news first. After another long silence, he did.
I realized after we hung up that it was difficult for him to reverse the order from: good news, bad news.
But for as long as I can remember, I have wanted my bad news first. I like to get it out of the way, know what I'm dealing with, and then enjoy the good news with no aftertaste. In fact, whenever I receive good news it's hard for me to enjoy it, since I feel conditioned to wait for the bad news that often follows.
I prefer the bad news first. Hearing the bad before the good makes the good news seem even better!
Posted by: Stefanie | March 31, 2005 at 05:39 PM
I guess I'm the oddball!
I always want the good news first. Maybe it's the Scarlett in me. I want to enjoy the good news while it's mostly untainted. I'll think about the bad tomorrow [or in 5 minutes].
If I get the bad news first followed by the good news, I wind up quickly dismissing the good to deal with the bad. And then it's just all bad.
Posted by: Jane Smith | March 26, 2005 at 10:58 AM
Bad news first...though sometimes wtih kids, the "good news" isn't always that great either.
Posted by: Catt | March 20, 2005 at 02:45 PM
I can't enjoy the good news if bad news follows it. I like the bad stuff first too!
Why torture myself??
Posted by: RobinP | March 20, 2005 at 08:26 AM
Angelo thinks I am a bad news first person. I am trying to remember when we had bad news and good news come at the same time.
Posted by: VJ | March 18, 2005 at 10:55 PM
Bad news first, definitely! Otherwise it kills the excitement of the good news. And once I hear the bad news, I know that's as bad as it gets. Although occasionally my husband gets confused and mis-classifies them, and tells me what he thinks is the bad news first and then what he thinks is the good news, but then I think he got them wrong! That has led to some very funny conversations and silly disagreements.
Posted by: Elise | March 17, 2005 at 11:09 PM
I feel exactly as you do - I always want the bad news first!
Posted by: Christine | March 17, 2005 at 09:06 PM
I'm in the Bad News First group. But why do so many people prefer to GIVE the good news first?
Posted by: oceanguy | March 17, 2005 at 03:57 PM
Yeah, get it out of the way, deal with it, fix it, then say fine: what's good?
Posted by: Philip | March 17, 2005 at 02:47 PM
Bad...give me the bad stuff first...
Posted by: Grace | March 17, 2005 at 10:34 AM
bad news first here also
Posted by: Cathy | March 16, 2005 at 10:15 PM
I definitely want to get the bad news first. I can't enjoy good news knowing that the bad news could wipe out the goodness of the good news.
Plus, I like to resolve problems as quickly as possible before it can escalate to an even bigger problem. So, if bad news involves me needing to fix the problem in some way, I'd rather get the news sooner than later.
Posted by: betty | March 16, 2005 at 03:43 PM
i;m with you - gimme the bad news first
Posted by: barbara | March 16, 2005 at 06:00 AM
Have always wanted the bad stuff first.
Posted by: Margie | March 15, 2005 at 06:49 PM
I'm with you - give me something to look forward to after hearing something I don't like. Mealtime is the same way - eat the "have to" stuff first and save the goodies for last!
Posted by: kelly | March 14, 2005 at 09:12 PM
who likes the good news first anyway?
of course bad news first!
Posted by: irene | March 14, 2005 at 07:57 PM
Definitely, no question, hands down: bad news first. The good news perks things up so nicely - especially if there is good news. My family's been known to say that, then confess that "there is no good news" when prompted for it.
Posted by: Katie | March 14, 2005 at 06:31 PM
I like the bad news first. That way you end up on a good note.
Posted by: heather | March 14, 2005 at 05:27 PM
I've heard that no news is good news.
If I *must*get news...it should be entirely good news.
If I can't choose my news, I'd like the bad news whispered and glossed over completely, quickly followed thereafter by the good news which shall be shouted and mulled over accordingly.
Posted by: laurenbove | March 14, 2005 at 04:27 PM
Hope the bad news wasn't too bad!
Definitely like bad news before good news. It's like having dinner and then dessert.
Posted by: kat | March 14, 2005 at 02:51 PM
Definitely like the bad news first, for the same reasons as you.
Posted by: Donna | March 14, 2005 at 02:21 PM
Bad news first, so I am not let down after hearing the good news.
Posted by: Shelly | March 14, 2005 at 01:04 PM