Lies, lies, lies...

[King Jacob]

Here we go! An entire thread dedicated to our pal and enemy, the lie! :smile2:

How often do you lie? I know it's something we shouldn't do and we hopefully don't want to do, but we do it anyway. The question is...how often? Do you tell lies everyday? Even if they are just silly ones? Or do you just tell a lie once every couple of months? If that's even possible...

And what's your view of lies? Are all lies despicable and worthy of an eternal damnation among other things? Or are lies perfectly acceptable as long as they don't hurt anyone?

And what sort of things do you lie about?

The floor is yours...

[Nero]

The floor is yours...

Actually, the floor belongs to my company. It is not mine. You liar.

[Kymatty]

I lie every day...

whether to myself (often) or to others (not so often) but don't we all, in some way or another

[bookworm101]

A lie is bad, and yes I've told them:sad:.

[Bryan James]

(In a crowded elevator) : "It wasn't me!"

[Srbo]

I`m not saying I`m not lying once in a while, but what I do far more often than lying is:
I just don`t say anything if the answer would lead to a lie.

Of course, it depends on how the question is directed and is it a delicate situation or not.

In any case, for some reason, I never lied about the big things that I did or that happened in my life...it sounds silly, but, for instance the most common lie I say is, when my wife asks me if I cleaned the cats litter box, I say " yes".
And of course I didn`t.:laugh:

Just stupid stuff like that, but the big things - it`s always the truth...or nothing at all.

[themadone06]

I lie usually to get myself out of trouble if I can find a believable alibi or story. You should hear the lies I come up with when I miss class.

However, I do have problems lying to friends and family. I can not tell a lie to gain an advantage in life. I have been denied from jobs because I was too truthful and I wasn't able to bend my truth into something they liked.

Compared to other people I view myself as a very good lier... like George Costanza good. My facial expressions do not change or anything. I have been in several instances where i have told a bold face lie to someones face and then they say, "you know what I know I shouldn't believe you, but for some reason I do".

It is my gift, and it isn't a lie if you believe it is true.

[Roseasharn]

"I was dead at the time. I was on the moon. With Steve!"

[rjt65]

I love my job --I love my job I love my job....:cool2:

[malarabid]

If all lies were bad, then we would not have exciting fiction.

Some lies are more equal than other lies.

[PatInTheHat]

I prefer the term "spin" thank you very much:eyebrow:...that's a lie:down:.
I'm really rather brutaly honest...honest..am too:rolleyes:!
An open book one might say, and so what if the title just so happens to be "The Art of Deception: A Love Story:zip:", it's open...well, okay, not at this very moment, it's uhhh, at the cleaners, yeah, at the book cleaners and and it's a magic book, yeah it has magic that makes me tell the truth aaalll the time............
:p

[Natjen24]

Yes, I lie. Don't like to, but what can you do.
Telling the truth sometimes just isn't an option.

[TBlack]

(In a crowded elevator) : "It wasn't me!"
Bryan's lyin'... I saw him tryin'... now we're all cryin', "Next floor Please!"

[CorbinKale]

I quote myself so I don't have to retype it. :)


I saw ALL of the Republican leaders denounce Wilson's outburst as uncivilized and unprofessional on TV. Maybe the news is biased in Canada, that they wouldn't show both parties united in their criticism of Wilson. A Presidential Address is NOT the place to call the President a liar, even when he is lying.

Liberals have a terrible sense of what a lie is, though. They see it as a inaccurate statement. This is not true. For example, say I lay the keys on the table and tell you that that is where they are. When you look on the table and the keys are not there, a Liberal would say, "You lied!" (Bush lied!)Of course, that is NOT a lie, it is just an incorrect statement. I believed the keys (WMD) were on the table and was unaware that they had been moved.

The CORRECT definition of a lie is 'a statement, or lack thereof, made with the intent to deceive'. Using the example above, say I knew that someone had moved the keys after I put them on the table. When you ask for the keys, I say, "I put them on the table." While that statement is factually correct, my intent was to deceive, as I knew the keys were not on the table. It is, therefore, a lie.

Obama KNEW that there was no provision IN THE PROPOSED BILLS to provide health care for illegal aliens, so his statement was factually correct. However, he also knew that the proposed bills did not PREVENT illegal aliens from receiving health care using the funding from the legislation. He worded his statement carefully to be factually correct, while still lying. He DAMNED WELL knew that the Democrats had voted down every amendment that would PREVENT illegal aliens from taking advantage of the bill.

The slickest way to lie is to tell 'just enough truth', then shut up. Obama has mastered this technique. Wilson was correct in his accusation, but he picked the wrong venue. Freedom of speech is not the freedom to shout down other's freedom of speech.

[ally88]

Yes Jacob we all lie...I hate to disappoint folk here, but even I do it. :oo:

Usually little white lies to save hurting someones feelings but I've also told a couple of whoppers in the past to get me out of some awkward situations.
I try not to let this happen much though, so I'm pretty guarded in most things I do. I don't share easily with others, which is strange as I'm the first person people come to for help.
I find the best thing to do is say nothing at all then there is no need to lie. But if a lie is called for it's always best to have some aspect of the truth in there and simply embellish. That way it's not really lying, more storytelling.

[Matticus]

Reminds me of a famous Homer Simpson quote...

"Marge, I'm not going to lie to you"

<walks away>

[Anni M]

A lie is bad, and yes I've told them:sad:. Me too, especially when my ass is on the griddle :biggrin2: just widdle white ones...I can't lie worth a s**t...:oo:

[King Jacob]

An open book one might say, and so what if the title just so happens to be "The Art of Deception: A Love Story:zip:", it's open...well, okay, not at this very moment, it's uhhh, at the cleaners, yeah, at the book cleaners and and it's a magic book, yeah it has magic that makes me tell the truth aaalll the time............
:p

For some reason, and I'm not sure why, I'm getting the impression that you're lying...:biggrin2:

[PatInTheHat]

For some reason, and I'm not sure why, I'm getting the impression that you're lying...

:eek2:
I'm aghast!
Well I could be, you know, if I knew what that meant:umm:.
(how could ya tell...awww, were my lips movin' again?:eyebrow:

Okay okay okay ya got me, so the book (it is at the cleaners..I swear) ain't magic...I am!
:rolleyes:

[boogerb53]

Yes, I lie. Don't like to, but what can you do.
Telling the truth sometimes just isn't an option.

OMG! I was trying to decide how to put my answer when I came across this and I could not have said it better myself!

I have lied to keep from hurting someone. Somethings cannot be said out loud. And being lied to myself, I still take that stand. Once you hear something you absolutely, positively, without a doubt CANNOT UNHEAR IT!!!!

[Cowboy]

Why lie? The truth is stranger than fiction.

[Sugar Marie]

Yep, but if he knew that I really wanted to say "yes" most of the times that I say "no", when I'm po'd at him, then I would lose a considerable amount of the leverage that I've built up over the years.

Anyway, a day or two of delayed gratification never hurt anybody.

:D

[BlueCeleste]

Yes I have lied, who hasn't?
I've told small ones to strangers, big ones to myslef and bigger ones to my family. I have lied by omission.
Then it was eating me up inside, so I made a change and consciously stopped lying. Well at least to friends and family. I do still lie on occasion, especially to those persistant guys who keep asking me out. Sometime the truth just won't do.
I stop lying to friends cause I figured if you don't like what I'm saying, then well there is nothing I can do to change that. I've stopped jumping through hoops and lying about who I am to get people to like me...it too tiresome. I enjoy being honest and having real honest people around me.

[Anni M]

I lie every day...

whether to myself (often) or to others (not so often) but don't we all, in some way or another
Missed this earlier...:down: sowwy

Kymatty, how very true. Even if it's a sort of "I haven't seen you in years!! You look GREATTT!!!!" or "I can't come to the phone right now' little lie, it's a lie all the same.

Kudos for your honesty.:smile2: I wonder what the grey lie is, the lie which separates the little lies from the bigguns. Like 'Nope, I haven't seen your cat!! Would you like a bowl of stew, dearie??

just askin'. :dunno:

LOL

[PatInTheHat]

I writing a book (oh yes I am...maaayyybe:rolleyes:) it's called:
Lying With Liars For Fun & Profit-Get Layed & Get Payed: A Pimpin' Primer

Why the Medical Industrial Complex (& possibly Wall St., yeah I know:cool:) as I understand it, is verrrry interested in buying in bulk for Congressional gift giving:y::y:!
I stand to pull in maybe a whoppin' buck forty, some high end pizza coupons and a flu shot!
Gee whiz, I shoulda got into this writing game a long time ago, the bennies are eeenormious, who knew:dunno:?

[SKfan2006]

i have. but mostly silly ones. but i usually do a thing called withholding the truth since i have a job i really hate and if i said what i think is the right thing i'd get fired. so i mostly have to be mum about stuff and my frustration at the stupid desicions of the higher ups.

[mojomofo]

In any case, for some reason, I never lied about the big things that I did or that happened in my life...it sounds silly, but, for instance the most common lie I say is, when my wife asks me if I cleaned the cats litter box, I say " yes".
And of course I didn`t.:laugh:

Just stupid stuff like that, but the big things - it`s always the truth...or nothing at all.

Srbo, are you related to my husband? I can't tell you the number of times he has told me yes, the clothes in the dryer were folded, and they are still in the friggin dryer! And now they are wrinkled. :mad2: Doesn't help that he is completely unrepentant, either....

I try not to lie at all, but I do. Not about big things, but little things. Like "oh, sorry, I can't work a double shift because I have made plans." And I tell my daughter that if she doesn't brush her teeth they will rot right out of her head. Which isn't a lie, more of an exaggeration. Or that if she doesn't eat her veggies she will get scurvy. (Even though it seems she would probably prefer scurvy to choking down some greens.)

[Srbo]

Srbo, are you related to my husband?

Don`t know.
Maybe he is my brother from another mother.:laugh:

[mojomofo]

Don`t know.
Maybe he is my brother from another mother.:laugh:

Stranger things have happened. Although how awesome would it be to find out you were distantly related to someone on the MB?

[spanishjoe74]

i find that lies tend to travel in pairs: "of course i know what i'm doing" is closely followed by its best buddy "it was broken when i got here!"

[rjt65]

The Red Sox are the best team in baseball!


:eek2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2:

[Mr Nobody]

Lying is sometimes necessary. It's not what we're taught, but it's true. Lying is an essential part of interaction, because it allows us to 'give' face and 'save' face, i.e. 'No, sweetheart. It's a lovely jumper.' :wink2:
Provided you lie well, it can spare a lot of hurt feelings. Lie poorly, however...
Of course, lying should be avoided where possible, and you should never lie about feelings towards another person (like saying you love someone just because you're still quite fond of them and don't want to see them hurt, even if love went out the window a long time back), but...sometimes...lying has to be done and has its place.

[Patricia A]

When I was a kid I was a notorious liar and used to get a kick out of telling people whoppers. It's all fun and games till you get caught then it's an embarrassing tap dance into social leprosy.
My memory is too faulty these days to lie as a rule. But I'll tell a short term lie, like maybe once in a blue moon I'll call in at work when I'm not really sick, but I have to remember to keep my big trap shut about going to the movies with my buds that day etc.

[scratchesass]

And the Yankee's are NOT overpaid! There should definately not be a salary cap in baseball!

[scratchesass]

Shoooooo, anyways, me an my girlfriend, who is Morgan Fairchild..... Yeah... Thats's the ticket.....

[michal]

Being a commercial writer and an SEO one at that, let's face it: I lie for a living :laugh:. But that's fine by me. I was raised by a lie loving family - we often hide the truth from each other and expect (and often hope) for other family members to conceal the truth from us.
While my parents would not have accepted any of the kids lying to get out of trouble, we were taught that "what they don't know don't hurt them". I believe that in many cases people tell the truth just to make themselves feel better (and in so they make the other person feel awful just for the purpose of taking things off their chests).

[arista]

I think that my theory on lying has changed greatly over the years...I believe it is best to tell the truth, makes life a lot simpler. ..

[poisonbat]

I have lived a life of lies for many years. I lived in horrible relationships and lied about bruises, being happy, even the old "who was that on the phone" repetitive question. But that life is long gone. I am brutally honest with my family even though sometimes it hurts and I expect the same in return. I would rather be told the truth once and deal with sorrow or an issue than to find out later have to deal with sorrow the issue and the feeling of betrayal from being lied to. Strangers, honestly I rarely tell them anything about my personal life if asked, so yeah I lie to them. I just don't open myself up to strangers. :bat:

[PatInTheHat]

The Red Sox are the best team in baseball!


:eek2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2:

What, is Luis Tiant pitching again...he'd be what, in his twenties by now..gotta be:biggrin2:?
(any true Sox fan should get that in reference to this thread...I'm a Reds fan..Cincinnati that is...Mr. Tiant was pretty phenomenal against the Machine!)

[pandora]

I lie to myself constantly.
*waking up*
.......it's gonna be a great day!!! Your not that tired!
......working is good for ya!
.......just keep swimming, just keep swimming! (from Nemo)

[Prince of Darkness]

Hi,

I lie a hundred times daily. These are mostly small things, like while chatting with somebody I will say I am watching TV when I am reading, or something like that.

Other times it is really serious, but my lies are always geared at causing as little pain as possible.

IMHO, lies are not evil or punishable. Sometimes it is better to lie than to tell the truth, it seems to me that it can be an act of caring and unselfishness - saying, "Look at me, world, I am a liar! And I would rather lie and protect somebody else than tell the truth and hurt them, punish me for their happiness."

Long days and pleasant nights

[tillyn]

I try not to lie, i figured that out when i was little. I always got caught. Made a conscience decision many years ago not to. You can read it on my face when i don't want to say something. Not to say if you ask me if you look fat i wouldn't say no. even if you are.(i won't hurt someone's feelings if possible.) People at work tell me i'm blunt. I say what's on my mind.

[CorbinKale]

Here is an anecdote on a recent lie, and our current society.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=8831434

Once you have read the story, imagine this on a larger scale. When the promise of 'free stuff' turns out to be a lie. Prepare, accordingly. You damn well won't be able to say you didn't see it coming.