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billege · 04-27-2003, 09:09 PM

Lies are social lubricant.

There are foul intentioned lies that are used to dishonestly get from someone else, what one wants. These are the lies that suck.

Mostly, because if one has been taken in by a lie two things are true: Someone trusted, is not to be; and, one's judgement has been fooled. I don't think anyone likes being made a fool.

There are decent lies. She puts on the outfit she loves, she thinks makes her look absolutely stunning; he doesn't like it. He says he does. If this is a pattern, and he also lies about big things, this is bad. If he is honest when it counts, then (if you get off your horse) then it does not. In the large view, this isn't shit.

I see a lot of people on an honesty trip, and I think it involves some self delusion, or "lying to one's self." Being honest is HARD. I have personally bit some bullets that sucked. I have suffered the consequences of my own actions, through my honesty, when I could have lied and gotten away with it. I know how tough it is to be honest. I honestly (pun!) can say that the vast majority of humanity is too morally weak to be completely honest with themselves, much less the rest of the world.

There are people who create, and maintain, a whole persona they speak about to others. Their actions may not jibe with their words at all, but that is only apparent to others. Are these people lying? No. They have created, and MUST maintain a picture of what they think they are like. In fact, they BELIEVE they really are like they say. So, if one believes it to be true, one is not lying about it. These are some of the saddest people I see, but they don't know it.

You may know someone that speaks boldly about the heroic and manly actions he has taken. Many turn out to be false. Instead of hating him, how many of you could see the lonley, scared, boy with a destroyed self image? Better yet, how many would take the intense amount of effort required to help this "liar?"
If the answer truly was "most people" the world would be a better place.

Most people don't knock down the house of cards someone else has established because they don't want their own knocked down.

Fat chicks think they look skinney, weak guys think they look like a muscle builder. Dumb people think they are brilliant (you know at LEAST one person like this), skinney girls complain about being fat, balding guys do the comb over.

Do you really think you don't lie? Do you wear makeup? I could say that makes you a liar. I'm not seeing even your true face; how could I possibly consider you truthful?

I see a whole thread of many people congradulating themselves on their capacity for telling the truth, no matter what.

Unfortunatly, I think I have to call you liars.

Surely, I'd like to be less cynical, and be more trusting, but then I'd be lying to myself.

Please note, I'm not judging, nor have I implied that these liars I've described are bad people. The person who lies maliciously for personal gain has no excuse. Our society has rules that exist for the betterment of all. The liars I'm describing, myself included, do so out of delusion, lack of bravery, politeness, and confusion.

Lizards can change color to blend into a bush. They lie. They say "I'm not here, I am a leaf." They do it to survive. It is in their very nature.

As it is in ours, as we do to survive.

04-27-2003, 09:09 PM	#22 (permalink)
billege Watcher Location: Ohio	Lies are social lubricant. There are foul intentioned lies that are used to dishonestly get from someone else, what one wants. These are the lies that suck. Mostly, because if one has been taken in by a lie two things are true: Someone trusted, is not to be; and, one's judgement has been fooled. I don't think anyone likes being made a fool. There are decent lies. She puts on the outfit she loves, she thinks makes her look absolutely stunning; he doesn't like it. He says he does. If this is a pattern, and he also lies about big things, this is bad. If he is honest when it counts, then (if you get off your horse) then it does not. In the large view, this isn't shit. I see a lot of people on an honesty trip, and I think it involves some self delusion, or "lying to one's self." Being honest is HARD. I have personally bit some bullets that sucked. I have suffered the consequences of my own actions, through my honesty, when I could have lied and gotten away with it. I know how tough it is to be honest. I honestly (pun!) can say that the vast majority of humanity is too morally weak to be completely honest with themselves, much less the rest of the world. There are people who create, and maintain, a whole persona they speak about to others. Their actions may not jibe with their words at all, but that is only apparent to others. Are these people lying? No. They have created, and MUST maintain a picture of what they think they are like. In fact, they BELIEVE they really are like they say. So, if one believes it to be true, one is not lying about it. These are some of the saddest people I see, but they don't know it. You may know someone that speaks boldly about the heroic and manly actions he has taken. Many turn out to be false. Instead of hating him, how many of you could see the lonley, scared, boy with a destroyed self image? Better yet, how many would take the intense amount of effort required to help this "liar?" If the answer truly was "most people" the world would be a better place. Most people don't knock down the house of cards someone else has established because they don't want their own knocked down. Fat chicks think they look skinney, weak guys think they look like a muscle builder. Dumb people think they are brilliant (you know at LEAST one person like this), skinney girls complain about being fat, balding guys do the comb over. Do you really think you don't lie? Do you wear makeup? I could say that makes you a liar. I'm not seeing even your true face; how could I possibly consider you truthful? I see a whole thread of many people congradulating themselves on their capacity for telling the truth, no matter what. Unfortunatly, I think I have to call you liars. Surely, I'd like to be less cynical, and be more trusting, but then I'd be lying to myself. Please note, I'm not judging, nor have I implied that these liars I've described are bad people. The person who lies maliciously for personal gain has no excuse. Our society has rules that exist for the betterment of all. The liars I'm describing, myself included, do so out of delusion, lack of bravery, politeness, and confusion. Lizards can change color to blend into a bush. They lie. They say "I'm not here, I am a leaf." They do it to survive. It is in their very nature. As it is in ours, as we do to survive. __________________ I can sum up the clash of religion in one sentence: "My Invisible Friend is better than your Invisible Friend."