It seems that most of us have gravitated toward the "bigger" forms of lying in response to this question... but how about smaller lies? How about sarcasm? Silly pranks? How about lying to friends who want to have plans because you're on your way to their surprise party?
Lying does not always come from a place of fear. In fact, sometimes lying comes from a place of love... as any parent who has been faced with a sticky question from a child can attest to. (You should see some of the humdinger's in my 5 year-old's Wonder Book... if I answered them all for her now, she'd never sleep again, and probably neither would I.)
***
A few years ago, I told a coworker that delivering the same message to 100 people was not the same thing as making sure that 100 people hear the same message. I said that to do the latter, one needs to be prepared to deliver the message in 100 slightly different ways. He said that sounded disingenuous. I said it was the essence of political astuteness.
Which person is lying: the one who delivers a single message knowing that the message will be misinterpreted? The one who modifies the message to ensure a particular outcome? Both? Neither?
|