If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

[scoletti]

Interesting fact of the day - 91% of us lie regularly.

I think the most startling part about this is not the fact that 91% of the human population lies or has lied or will lie. I think it’s generally expected for people to lie. But what makes this so startling is the modifier regularly. This means that lying for these people is a habit almost.

Comments

[kimberlybledel]

During our last talk you had told me that you couldn't lie to me and that you couldn't believe any one would want to lie to me either. As nice as that was, I have been lied to. I'm sure with that statistic it's been continuous, but I've told white lies. I don't like to intentionally hurt others nor do I want to be harsh so I bend the truth. I may revere honesty, but I'm not so sure I'd truly want it.

[scoletti]

I'm sure that most people have been lied to as well. I think it's not that I can't picture you being lied to, it might just be that I don't want you to be lied to. Does that make sense?

[f_semprebom]

The remaining nine percent who claim to not lie are totally lying.

[scoletti]

I have to agree with you on this one. Nice icon btw.

[f_semprebom]

That is actually my least favourite icon, but thank you!

[scoletti]

How does this last icon rate then?

[leung_k]

I agree, of course, with everything. I think the first thing in any sort of relationship is just to establish that trust and honesty, even though that sort of thing rarely surfaces except in desperate, usually sad, times. As sad as this sounds, the world wouldn't function without this balance, no matter how twisted, of truth and lies. If everyone were to just be completely, one-hundred-percent honest, the world would be in chaos because there will always be those who can't handle the consequences and break down instead.

[scoletti]

I agree with your idea of how lies contribute to overall balance. It's true. I mean, I lie and a lot of times it's to keep that balance in my life, you know?

Hey, sorry for dying last night. I die everynight now, it's awful. Chat later though, ok?

[leung_k]

Can you just imagine what it would be like if some self-conscious girl with a new bad haircut asks you if you like it, and you say no? ;) Seriously, there would be no truths if it weren't for lies, just like no good without evil.

It's okay, I sort of died as well. I'll make sure to keep you alive as often as I can! Definitely, but I may be around later than I usually am.

[scoletti]

Haha. The whole jeans and haircut thing shall always look good for us boys.

I will be waiting!

[kunis]

I try not to lie. Actually I don't even try, it just comes naturally that I don't do it. Or as often as other people do. Haha, you lied to your mother's face to spare yourself from an ass beating, I think that's an acceptable lie.

[scoletti]

That's a good trait then! So you're part of the infamous 9% then?

Haha. I thought so as well. I mean, that it was acceptable.

[kunis]

Haha yes I am, and I swear I'm not lying about it!

[scoletti]

Hmm...do I believe you or not? Hmmm..Haha. Just kidding. If you say you're not, then you're not. How have you been?

[burton_hil]

Surprisingly I thought that percentage would be higher. I agree, we all value honesty. I know for myself, I look for that quality in a person, whether it be a family member, a friend, a significant, other, etc. Unfortunately, I am not immune to lying either. For the most part I would like to think that I don't lie just for the sake of saving myself, but, like you pointed out in the entry, so as to not hurt someone else.

White lies freak me out. They are so frequent, and we commit them so many times that we don't even realize we're doing it. We just rationalize them as "not a big deal".

But I like that Mark Twain quote. It's so simple, but it's definitely good words to live by.

[scoletti]

I don't think anyone is immune though. Everybody lies at one point or another but I guess the real question is "why?"

White lies are quite scary. They're so common that they seem normal, you know? I like the quote too. Great minds think alike?

[burton_hil]

The answer to that would be an endless list.

I agree, they are so common that they seem normal, just something that happens all the time. No hurt, no foul.

[scoletti]

I'd be amazed if someone actually came up with the list, you know?

I wonder who named them white lies....