NO LIE!
A cranky opinion
For cranky opinion
Saturday
The following is the opinion of a
cranky old man with no real credibility on the subject opined. Opposing opinions are welcome, just be nice.
I am not a
very good liar. I have no poker
face. If I do lie, my guilty expression
gives it away. I was taught to be honest.
Growing up if I got caught doing something I was not supposed to do my folks
were pretty understanding. The punishment
for the actual offense was never as severe as the punishment for lying about
it.
Not that I
am or was a choir boy, but I think most of my lies are to spare someone’s
feelings, or maybe when I used to call in sick from time to time.
Oh,
sometimes I might stretch the truth just a little if I feel it improves on a
story. Mrs. C often tells me regarding a
post, “I never said that!” and I
have to explain to her that the story is much better if she had, and so I say she did.
I certainly don’t
attempt to lie to Mrs. C. She reads me
like a book and her powers of observation are amazing.
Anyway, for
the most part I tell the truth and as a result I am pretty easily taken in by
those that don’t. I am programmed to
think people tell the truth. The flip
side of this is when I finally figure out that a person tends to bend the truth;
I never again believe a single thing they say.
I won’t tell them I don’t believe them, but I think to myself… “Maybe;
probably not, really, who knows?”
Some people
lie to impress. Some people lie for profit. Some people lie for sport. Some people just don’t know what the truth
is. They lie so much and so often that
they will lie about stupid stuff, stuff about which I could not care one way or
the other.
Why do
people so often answer a question with a stipulation of honesty? “Well,
to tell the truth”… “I’m not going to lie”… “I honestly have to say”… “I have
to be honest here”… “The truth is…”
When I hear
these phrases, I am immediately suspicious of whatever follows.
One of the
reason that people get away with lies, or think they are getting away with a
lie is that calling someone out on a lie is serious. It is at the least a relationship
buster.
“Are you calling me a liar?”
That challenge
alone allows many a liar, bullies that they can be, a free pass.
That is one
reason I hate to call liars out. It
seldom serves any purpose. It is usually
best to let it go and have as little to do with the person as possible. It does bother me though when I have to see
these people over and over. Their lies
don’t really affect me except I hate that they think I believe them. I hate that they must think I’m stupid. I hate that when I say, “Wow that is hard to believe,” They don’t realize that I am really
not impressed and that it means I really don’t believe you.
Sometimes of
course a lie is so ridiculous it is easy to trip the person up without really
calling them a liar. Then it is sort of
fun having them double up on the lies to try and explain.
I think this
is why most people do not like politicians.
Politicians are masters at telling things with a slant so they can
backtrack easily. They are skilled at
twisting facts to suit their purpose.
They can smile and pat you on the back while they are plotting to screw
you. They can seem sincere when in fact
they are conniving. I have no respect
for liars, I have no respect for most politicians.
Do you think I believe you? I’m not
going to lie, I’m not stupid!
The preceding was the opinion of a
cranky old man and not necessarily that of management…Mrs. Cranky.
I use "honestly" a lot but believe you me I'm not telling a lie when I use it :) I tend to tell the truth more than not but I have been known not to tell the whole story to protect people's privacy.
ReplyDeletebetty
Does using poetic license count as a lie?
ReplyDeleteI lied quite a lot at the checkout. People would ask me things and I would spin the first story that came into my head. I'd make stuff up. The thing about this is if you say things with enough conviction, and don't over exaggerate, people will believe you. If anyone ever said "did you just make that up?" I'd say "of course" and we'd all laugh. No harm done.
ReplyDeleteTell Mrs. Cranky you are approved by the best. Mark Twain said any story can be approved by changing the facts.
ReplyDeleteI understand how easy it is to write things the way they should have been. I try never to lie, but I have been known to "embellish," especially when writing dialogue. Just remember, like George Costanza once said, "It's not a lie if you believe it."
ReplyDeleteI'm a pretty good liar. I mostly lie because I don't like to hurt people and often the truth does do that. Would that be a white lie? Who ever color-coded lies. (I think I'll tell a mauve lie) ha
ReplyDeleteA girl friend asks me, "Does this dress make me look fat?"
Me..... "You're asking if this large floral print makes you look fat? Why of course Not, big flowers make you look like skinny-Minnie."
i try not to lie but i often 'soft sell' an opinion so as to not hurt feelings. and that's shading the truth, for sure.
ReplyDeleteI lie all the time. I do it to spare someone's feelings. Why people ask me pointed questions I haven't a clue, but they do and often.
ReplyDeleteAs for politicians? You've nailed them perfectly. I've not much use for any of them.
Have a fabulous day Cranky. My best to Mrs. C. ☺
Of course we don't trust politicians here -- it's Louisiana! As for lying, it's easier for me to tell the truth because i know i won't remember what i said to whom, and i'll get caught!
ReplyDeleteI don't lie only because I am no good at it. Like you--it shows like a neon sign on me. Then there is all that memory involved in a lie. I guess I am too lazy to practice the art.
ReplyDeleteI believe what people tell me. I think it is my biggest fault.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think you believe me. Let's play some poker.
ReplyDeleteLike you I'll tell a simple lie to spare someone's feelings, or to embellish a cute/funny story, but nothing more. I'm not smart enough to remember what I told to whom. Besides, you can't get into trouble telling the truth. Well, you CAN, but NOT telling the truth is much worse.
ReplyDelete'To a degree ...' - This post reminded me of a post i once wrote about how SD and I met and how he often ends a sentence with 'to a degree' as though he thinks he may not be totally believed, I may republish that one some time ... I'm a terrible liar so I find it much easier not to most of the time although I'm certainly guilty of embellishing the truth a little for the benefit of a blog post (but I'm sure you knew that already).
ReplyDeleteFunny thing about that "Are you calling me a liar?" bit; it seems like it's only jackasses that ever toss that one out, usually when there's nothing at stake, it's just factually incorrect. They just hate being told they're wrong. . .
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to answer it with, "No, but you might be a moron." Don't think that would necessarily achieve the desired result, either. . .