You’ve heard the saying, “Liar, liar, pants on fire!” Well, do you smell smoke?
You should!
Experts say that people are against lying – in principle. But in real life, they’re quick to tell white lies in order to protect friendships and relationships.
According to the Associated Press, over half of the respondents in a recent poll said lying was never justified. But 7 out of 10 of the same people also felt it was okay to lie under certain circumstances. For example, you don't want your kids to eat too much, so you say all the cookies are gone. Or you don't feel like going out, so you tell your friends something important came up.
The 18th-century German philosopher Immanuel Kant believed that all lying was bad. Every single lie, even one that could save someone's life. But noted ethics columnist Randy Cohen says that most moral philosophers would disagree. In fact, Cohen proudly proclaims that he’s a big fan of lying. An obvious example is lying to protect someone from serious harm, like saying that you can’t find the car keys to keep them from driving drunk. But much less extreme cases often call for lies.
His favorite example: Your spouse, who is about to accept a big award on stage at a convention, asks if they look fat. The only answer is, “You look wonderful”. Anything else would be cruel. Psychologist Dr. Julian Keenan also discovered that 95 percent of children lie - and they start as young as 2. You've heard it! The "No, I didn't eat the cookie!" comment - when you can see the crumbs all over their clothes!
Men and women also lie about very different things. For example, women tend to lie about their age, weight and looks. Men, on the other hand, exaggerate their job title, how much money they make, and their grade point average.
Still, every lie has its cost – especially when it comes to credibility. Once someone finds out that you lied, you lose status in their eyes. And they suddenly wonder – what else have you lied to them about.
So, what do you think – is lying to protect someone’s feelings okay? Or should you always tell the truth about everything? Give me a call at 866-865-TESH and give me an earful.
Experts say that people are against lying – in principle. But in real life, they’re quick to tell white lies in order to protect friendships and relationships.
According to the Associated Press, over half of the respondents in a recent poll said lying was never justified. But 7 out of 10 of the same people also felt it was okay to lie under certain circumstances. For example, you don't want your kids to eat too much, so you say all the cookies are gone. Or you don't feel like going out, so you tell your friends something important came up.
The 18th-century German philosopher Immanuel Kant believed that all lying was bad. Every single lie, even one that could save someone's life. But noted ethics columnist Randy Cohen says that most moral philosophers would disagree. In fact, Cohen proudly proclaims that he’s a big fan of lying. An obvious example is lying to protect someone from serious harm, like saying that you can’t find the car keys to keep them from driving drunk. But much less extreme cases often call for lies.
His favorite example: Your spouse, who is about to accept a big award on stage at a convention, asks if they look fat. The only answer is, “You look wonderful”. Anything else would be cruel. Psychologist Dr. Julian Keenan also discovered that 95 percent of children lie - and they start as young as 2. You've heard it! The "No, I didn't eat the cookie!" comment - when you can see the crumbs all over their clothes!
Men and women also lie about very different things. For example, women tend to lie about their age, weight and looks. Men, on the other hand, exaggerate their job title, how much money they make, and their grade point average.
Still, every lie has its cost – especially when it comes to credibility. Once someone finds out that you lied, you lose status in their eyes. And they suddenly wonder – what else have you lied to them about.
So, what do you think – is lying to protect someone’s feelings okay? Or should you always tell the truth about everything? Give me a call at 866-865-TESH and give me an earful.
