analog

Is lying bad or evil if the lie itself is not actually detrimental to anyone in any way?

You know, there's the "little white lie", which is a lie you tell to preserve someone's feelings- like when you say someone is looking good when they clearly look like they just got hit by a truck. They can be much-needed confidence boosters or merely your desire to not tell someone that they look like hell.

Here's the crux of the issue, though...

Is lying inherently evil? Is it- in and of itself- "bad"? Or is it really just the context in which you use it that makes it bad?

I'm talking about a lie that would never, ever hurt anyone in any way- a lie that does not and would never matter in any way- is that still evil just because it's a lie?

Like here's an example...

You are at a random store, out of town, and a total stranger randomly asks you, in a friendly way, what brings you to town. You say that you're there to visit your brother, who just moved there with his new wife. In reality, you're just there on a business trip.

Now, that's a totally harmless lie. This is not a person you know or could ever meet again. This is not someone who ever had, or would ever be in trouble of losing, respect or trust in you. It does nothing other than supply a person with a falsehood in the place of truth.

So what's your viewpoint on lying? Is all lying- just because it's lying- bad?