inBOIL

Yes. If it's to avoid offending someone who has the power and inclination to make your life miserable, it's usually less stressful to lie than accept the consequences of being truthful. Also, a little white lie can be more comfortable to deliver when the truth is unflattering, and with no added stress/risk if you'll never see the person again. For example, if a stranger were hitting on me (hey, it could happen...in theory) I'd much rather say "sorry, I have a girlfriend" than "sorry, I don't find you attractive."

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And you believe Bush and the liberals and divorced parents and gays and blacks and the Christian right and fossil fuels and Xbox are all to blame, meanwhile you yourselves create an ad where your kid hits you in the head with a baseball and you don't understand the message that the problem is you.