CHICAGO, IL — Self-proclaimed truth-teller Greg Dawson, 34, who prides himself on “just telling it like it is,” was reportedly left shaken this week after encountering the exact brand of brutal honesty he regularly dishes out.

“I just believe in being real with people,” said Dawson, whose entire personality revolves around offering unsolicited, no-filter opinions. “If your outfit is terrible, I’ll tell you. If your project at work sucks, I’ll say it. But when my coworker said my ‘leadership skills are non-existent’ and my haircut ‘looks like an accident,’ I realized maybe people should learn to be a little nicer.”

Those close to Dawson report that he often claims to value honesty above all else but has the emotional resilience of a wet napkin when on the receiving end. “Greg once told me my cooking tasted like ‘a failed science experiment,’” said longtime friend Sarah Patel. “But when I pointed out that his dating profile made him seem ‘painfully unlikable,’ he sulked for three days and deleted his Coffee Meets Bagel account.”

Experts confirm that Dawson’s reaction is part of a growing trend of self-proclaimed truth-tellers discovering they, in fact, prefer delicate handling. “Many people who embrace brutal honesty don’t actually want honesty—they want a free pass to be mean without consequences,” said behavioural psychologist Dr. Linda Reyes. “The moment the mirror is turned on them, they suddenly find the concept of ‘just being real’ deeply upsetting.”

At press time, Dawson was reportedly reevaluating his life philosophy after a barista informed him that, just like his opinions, his tipping habits and chest were ‘flat’. To soften her blow, the barista followed up with a ‘no offense, man, just being honest’.