Lying. But like, for a good reason...

pbsuxok1znja4r

Something I've been curious and thinking about a lot lately. How often (if at all) do we tell a lie or a fib or a white lie or bend the truth in order to either make things a lot simpler or spare someone's feelings, etc? And what, to you, are the justifiable causes for said 'dishonesty'? Where do you draw the line? When did you and did you not do it and how did that work out? Can mostly honesty coupled with a few well-placed fibs actually be the best policy?

Of course the really professional liars will never admit to doing it. I never lie, btw

Well, discuss...

Macker

Every day ,I swear honey I only had 1 pint with the lads when infact I had 2 on my own reading the paper ....bliss

Rb

The only people I ever lie to are my parents, which is for their own good really. Nothing major either, if I don't want them knowing something I just won't tell them but if they happen to find out something or are suspicious of something, I'll just throw a little white lie their way.
I see no reason to lie to anyone else, except when I'm working where its perfectly ok to lie about why I couldn't come in one day or am unavailable to work etc.

Ickle Magoo

I will lie to avoid hurting someones feelings or to make them feel good ie "Of course you can loose 25lbs by the end of next month" - I won't lie to gain anything myself ie on a CV or being unfaithful or something...:)

Ruu_Old

I would be too much like Jim Carey's character in Liar, Liar. Sometimes I wish I wasn't though. "I..CAN'T..LIE!"

Ickle Magoo

Ruu wrote:

I would be too much like Jim Carey's character in Liar, Liar. Sometimes I wish I wasn't though. "I..CAN'T..LIE!"

I'm a terrible liar too, it's written all over my face - unfortunately! :mad:

Adam

Oh come now Ruu...you can't be perfect!

Either that or you're an animal dominatrix in the sack! We all need a release somewhere, and I for one can't find yours!

Sure I lie now and again, usually it's just to simplify matters. Like not telling a girl I'm interested in that I shared a bed with my ex last week. Nothing happened, and it changes nothing, therefore it shouldn't be an issue. But on the off chance that she, being female, turns it into an issue, I just don't tell her!

Problem solved

Ruu_Old

fade_to_grey wrote:

Oh come now Ruu...you can't be perfect!

Either that or you're an animal dominatrix in the sack! We all need a release somewhere, and I for one can't find yours!

Sure I lie now and again, usually it's just to simplify matters. Like not telling a girl I'm interested in that I shared a bed with my ex last week. Nothing happened, and it changes nothing, therefore it shouldn't be an issue. But on the off chance that she, being female, turns it into an issue, I just don't tell her!

Problem solved

I steal sweets from kids in real life, makes me feel like a big man.:p Our sekrit though.

Black Swan

"Hi!" Blue says to her flatmate. "Geeee, you look terrible! Those dark rings under your eyes from cramming for exams make you look like a raccoon, and your skin looks so pastey that you could extra for the Cript Creature. Not to mention that you look like you have put on extra pounds? Too much junk food while studying? Oh, have a nice day!"

cormie

I only lie at the poker table. I'm too honest, if I don't want to tell somebody something, I'll go about it without being dishonest. I was pretty much fired from a job before because of my honesty:)

\m/_(>_<)_\m/

what a tangled web we weave when at first we practice to deceive.

Archeron

The only real lies for me is pretending I like/can stand people that I really dislike. Thats usually just a peace keeping method in work though as its easier to work with people when you kinda sorta get along with them (even if they are the worlds greatest sh*t pots.)

connundrum

I lie way too easily, but I honestly think that I'm doing it for the best result in every situation. Sometimes I lie when it totally isn't necessary, and its only after I've done it that I see that it was in fact unnecessary.

I always say something and then when questioned about it, will maneuver around it until it looks like I'm lying. I really should think for about 5 minutes before either giving an answer or making a statement. Again, I'm not actually lying, but I feel that I'm expanding on my point and thinking about it as I expand.. which does sound like I'm creating a lie as I speak.

I need to think more talk less basically.

Silly silly silly

bluto63

Ah, just the occasional lie. Nothing that'll cause worldwide scandal

me and the biz

I've been caught out once or twice in a big embarassing way, learnt my lesson and don't lie (well, big things). I'm just not good at it.

Mrs_Doyle

When I was in school I was the best liar ever! I never suffered from guilt, and could look someone, namely my parents on teachers, square in the eye and lie to to them.
However, my lying skills have totally declined over the years, and I hate calling in sick when I'm not sick, cos I know when I am asked how I am feeling the following day that I will get all squirmish and fidgety and not be able to convincingly tell them things like "Oh I am much better now, thanks for asking, that darned 24 hour flu, its a real pain".

Mrs_Doyle

connundrum wrote:

I lie way too easily, but I honestly think that I'm doing it for the best result in every situation. Sometimes I lie when it totally isn't necessary, and its only after I've done it that I see that it was in fact unnecessary.

I always say something and then when questioned about it, will maneuver around it until it looks like I'm lying. I really should think for about 5 minutes before either giving an answer or making a statement. Again, I'm not actually lying, but I feel that I'm expanding on my point and thinking about it as I expand.. which does sound like I'm creating a lie as I speak.

I need to think more talk less basically.

Silly silly silly

You really are a filthy liar! You lie about the stupidist things!!!!

Most recent example:

Connundrum: So anyhows, I told my boss about the accident in the car, and explained that was why I was late.
Mr_Doyle: You had an accident in your car? Why didn't you tell me? Is everything OK?
Connundrum: Oh, I didn't really have an accident, that's what I said to that woman I was supposed to meet
Mrs_Doyle: What woman? Why would you lie?
Connundrum: Ah it seemed like a good idea at the time. I had to meet a woman from the exhibition, but I think we got our wires crossed and I think one of us was in the wrong place at the wrong time, so I said I had an accident so she wouldn't start moaning about it.
Mrs_Doyle: Jesus, well you shouldn't tempt faith like that. You could have just told her the truth.
Connundrum: Ah yeah, I am not sure why I said it really.
Mrs_Doyle: So why did you lie to your boss?
Connundrum: Ah I dunno, things were just going that way.
Mrs_Doyle:Oh, well thats perfectly normal then, right ya are Ted!

Feral Mutant

Everything I say is a lie
. . . . . . .
You heard me

bluto63

except that. And that. and that, and that and that....and that

Hail 2 Da Chimp

I dont get the name of this thread, like lying to get a hooker out of jail cuz you need to buy drugs from her

petes

I never lie*






*Thats a lie

madhitchhiker

i'd lie for a reason, but lying so as not to hurt another's feeling is a no no. i'd prefer to be hurt by knowing the truth, some sort of consolation and it is acceptable for me. other than that, i could say, i always tell the truth.

seamus

I don't really lie much. When necessary I tend to be economical with the truth, generally when that information is something which the other party doesn't really need to know.

tbh

In a job I had years ago, my boss was always trying to avoid meeting our clients - it was one of those kind of companies. He had a list of excuses and a list of customers in a grid, and whenever someone would ring looking for him, he'd use up any excuses that he hadn't already used. I still remember most of them:

"My Mam Died" (his mam was dead already, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been!)
"My Mam is Sick"
"Some bastard robbed my car" (always delivered like that)
"I got mugged and my wallet is gone - my keys were in it and I have to get the locks on everything changed"
"I broke my arm ski-ing"
"My sister (didn't have one) is having a nervous breakdown and I have to mind the kids"


unbelievable. literally. Most of the customers knew what he was up to but the types of lies he used couldn't really be challenged. It caught up with him in the end tho.

Myself, I only lie when the truth would hurt the person unnecessarily. I wouldn't lie to "is everything ok" if it wasn't, but I would for "Oh god did everyone think I was really drunk last night?"

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

thelordofcheese

A lie which is half a truth is ever the blackest of lies -- Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Which is usually the kind most people tell, or at least i do... still being blinding honest will usually lead to you being quite short on friends, people don't like being told warts and all truth all of the time, there are times when it's called for, and times when it's best just to lie.

darkflower

i'd lie if necessary to avoid further damage. but i'd usually feel guilty after that. couldn't even eat.

Crucifix

I rarely lie, but I often say things that aren't true when trying to be funny. And unfortunately people have occasionally not realised I was joking (their own fault, I'm hilarious!) which has lead to problems.

The Scientist wrote:

Lying is just easier.
full stop.

And I agree with this. I've had people thinking I was lying about relatively serious things just because I seemed nervous, but if I was lying I wouldn't have been nervous at all.

pbsuxok1znja4r

The Scientist wrote:

Lying is just easier.
full stop.


T.Sc.

Depends on the consequences of which option you pick.
I think that specific consequences aside, all else being equal, it's easier to tell the truth. It takes energy to maintain a lie, I find.

sonic juice

I get criticized all time for my voracious honesty,so now i have to lie a lot more to keep everyone happy

darkflower

sonic juice wrote:

I get criticized all time for my voracious honesty,so now i have to lie a lot more to keep everyone happy

very true! some people would love you more when you lie.

DilbertPartII

Lying may be bad...but it feels good!:D

azezil

I don't so much lie as tell partial truths...

As was quoted by Natalie Portman in the movie Closer :


Lying's the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off - but it's better if you do. ...

tensecyclist

lying even if it is for a good reason is still lying. hurt their feelings if you must.:p

dr.bollocko

The consequences of our actions grab us by the scruff of our necks, quite indifferent to our claim that we have “gotten better” in the meantime.
- Friedrich Nietzsche

Tar.Aldarion

I lie if it is for the best.
I decide if it is for the best or if it is not.

GK¦ Ixion²

I can lie casually about unimportant things if i thought that they would trouble me at some stage by telling the truth.

But i try to avoid lying when it comes to larger more important things.Especially when the reprecussions of being caught heavily outweigh the profits of getting away with it.

magnum69

lie and feel free from the bondage of hurt. will make everyone happy.;)

free2fly

I have told little white lies such as when someone askes "How are you?" and I say "I'm ok." even if I'm absolutely miserable. It's just easier than explaining why I'm miserable. I'm a horrible liar and everyone that knows me can tell when I'm lying. I'd much rather be honest when I can. I keeps life a lot simpler. Trying to keep lies straight is far too much work.

free2fly

I have told little white lies such as when someone askes "How are you?" and I say "I'm ok." even if I'm absolutely miserable. It's just easier than explaining why I'm miserable. I'm a horrible liar and everyone that knows me can tell when I'm lying. I'd much rather be honest when I can. I keeps life a lot simpler. Trying to keep lies straight is far too much work. And people can be very hurt if they find out that you have lied to them. It can lessen their trust in you.

Siogfinsceal

I find it much to easy to lie- you had to lie when I was growing up the rents were way too strict. I have no problem looking someoen straight in the eye and lying if it suits me. Id never be unfaithful or anything like that but theres no harm in lying about little things esp when its to do with work or to get out of going somewhere you dont want to go.
Ironically Im also known for being brutally honest esp in work and it always gets me in trouble - Im not always know n for having tact...so it just goes to prove people do not like to hear the truth!!

OliviaM

if lying means better working relationship among others and happier atmosphere, i'd gladly lie.:D

carryboy

Lying is easier to do that telling plain truth especially on bad moments. So i lie!:p

molypiper

Lying isn't always bad. We need to lie every now and then to save unnecessary trouble. So i lie!

murrayeel

constant lying is a crime. but if it is for a good cause then it is acceptable.:p