I asked ChatGPT: "When you use phrases like 'A few careful truths, without hype or denial' or 'The uncomfortable but honest read is this', what is it that you're doing exactly?"

It talked about stage-setting, bracketing emotion, "refusing scripts", etc., but I told it I felt like I was being managed by a machine rather than having a conversation. I asked for a prompt to avoid that in future, and it gave me three options. I chose the most succinct one to add to my custom instructions:

"No framing. No preambles. No interpretive signaling. Respond directly to the substance of what's said."

The difference has been noticeable - responses feel more direct and less like they're trying to manage my emotional state.

For those who want to try it: Settings → Personalization → Custom Instructions → paste in the "How would you like ChatGPT to respond?" section.

In case you're curious, here are the other two options it offered:

Option 2: "Respond without prefacing, framing, or signaling how the response should be received. Do not manage tone, expectations, or emotional posture. Answer directly, plainly, and in-stride with the conversation, as a thinking partner rather than a guide."

Option 3: "Avoid meta-language that frames truth, honesty, discomfort, or insight (e.g., "the honest take," "what's really happening," "the uncomfortable truth"). Do not position yourself as orienting or managing the user. Speak as if we are already inside the conversation, not being prepared for it."

submitted by /u/Belcatraz
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Simple custom instruction to make ChatGPT stop using those "managing" phrases

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