The above statement is a lie, however, had I not revealed this and you had just happened to stumble across this blog, you would have been none the wiser. The question is then, why do people lie? Is it through insecurity? For personal gain? Or for the protection of others? It may well be all three.
There are a variety of reasons as to why people lie. Whether they do it well or not, is a completely different story. I believe that in most cases, if someone has to tell a lie, they are trying to cover something up.Take the story of Santa Claus for example, parents all around the world lead their children to believe that Santa is real. There is no real reason behind this (why do kids need to believe that a big, fat guy in a red suit delivers their presents on Christmas Eve?) apart from allowing years of belief in the impossible. Perhaps it goes further than that, could it be that parents are protecting their children from the real world? Why not allow them to believe in the unbelievable for a few years?
Most would probably think it ridiculous to consider this a lie, but false information is being given, and the reality is being withheld. There is no maliciousness behind it, but does that make it okay?
From personal experience, I have met people that boast about all there supposed possessions and how they have done all manner of things, yet when questioned about it a few months down the line, they look puzzled. Until of course you remind them and they make a poor attempt to cover up their sudden forgetfulness and fill you in on all the details. You sit there enduring 10 minutes of the most exaggerated story and realise, this person is quite simply lying their socks off. So what is the reason behind this type of lying? My belief, insecurity. Why else would a person need to construct a lifestyle outside of their own just to make conversation? Again though, it needs to be considered whether this type of lie can be considered malicious, as this person may have certain problems and adversity that they are trying to escape, and they are given resolve through telling lies.
So when does it become wrong to tell a lie? The obvious answer here has to be when it is morally wrong to do so. If someone was to lie to the police to cover up theft or a stabbing, this is when I would believe that the lie is malicious, purposefully withholding information when people have had wrong done to them. I also think it is wrong for leading figures in society to lie to the public in order to get ahead.
Conservative leader David Cameron has been accused of telling the British public 'one big fat lie' according to home secretary Alan Johnson, he claims that the Tory leader is misleading the public to believe that UK crime figures are increasing.
The motive behind this, appears to be to get more votes from the British public at the next general election for the Tories to get in power. Interesting to consider that a 'liar' could soon be in charge of the country.
country.http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/0310/1224265978162.html
It seems there is no real explanation behind lying, other than the fact that it is part of human nature. At some point throughout your life, you have told a lie, you have had a lie told to you and probably will have one told to you again.
It seems there is no real explanation behind lying, other than the fact that it is part of human nature. At some point throughout your life, you have told a lie, you have had a lie told to you and probably will have one told to you again.
On an end note though, consider one thing, would you always want to be told the truth?
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