What do you think of Lying?

[PrettyKitty1]

I wonder how many people think lying is good or bad, and why? Is lying truly necessary to achieve something?

You guys are more than welcome to support your answers based on religion, personal experiences or politics.

[April2]

I haven't lied during an interview, that I know of. It would be pretty risky, I'd think. I mean, they could find out. I tell them what my experience is and my strengths, etc. I do try to be honest. I mean, if they ask what your weaknesses are, I'd pick one that's not so bad rather than the one that wouldn't look so good but I'd still try to be truthful. Does that make sense?
I do think you will lose respect for someone when they've lied to you. It's hard to build back up that trust. It's just best to be honest.

[babypooh]

Oh, I hate lying and I hate being lied to because I feel betrayed and just so disappointed. But I have to admit that I do lie to my parents sometimes when I don't want them to worry about something :( I'm ashamed of it and I hate lying....but I would hate to worry my mom and see her drinking her teas to calm down and she can't sleep, she gets chest pains and all that :( Is that wrong? Hmm, I know it is.....but I try to avoid worrying my mother, most of all...

[babypooh]

Great question, PK, I was thinking about that just recently...

[PrettyKitty1]

April, not THAT lie. You cannot lie about your background or experience although some people lie about that. Believe me, they do. I have a co-worker who said he was good with Microsoft Office. Well guess what, he doesn’t even know how to copy-paste cells. He just needed to get the job, so he’d say anything to PLEASE and sugar coat.

Sometimes, some people find themselves interviewing for a job they really don’t want but  MUST try to get (for X and numerous obvious reasons) and so they tend to tell the interviewer that they’d be more than happy to be part of the team and blah blah blah? In reality, they jut need to get the job not because they will enjoy it or like it but because there is no free lunch anywhere. Wouldn’t this be an acceptable thing to do? You lie to be able to pay rent. How’s that?

I’ve seen that a lot, especially lately, with so many unemployed, highly qualified individuals who are desperate to get a job no matter how, even if it they will get paid $20,000 less (yearly).

These discussions, we have at work all the time. Economic crisis sometimes calls for desperate measures.

[babypooh]

I agree. When I was in disability I was glad I was even getting $1200 a month! Times have been so tough for so long, I was glad to get anything!

[MJIthewriter]

Since I seem to feel everything I say or do is part of a universal consiousness (lacking theory of mind), it's hard for me to lie without feeling like everyone would be aware of it anyway, I'm honest to a fault... (I've had to learn that not everyone is aware of my thought process, even though I am aware of it, but still it's a mental override.)

If it weren't for me knowing some social graces I probably would be giving people a very honest (read: blunt) opinion to the question "How do I look?" if I didn't think it was good.
In those cases I may try to say they look good but try to offer suggestion for improvement.

Also I've learned to say "Fine" to the question "How is your day going?"  If I were to give a true complete answer, then I'd probably bore the person or create an awkward moment... Sometimes I say "Tired." That works too and it is honest. I seem to always feel tired.

Outright honesty can be a problem at times... I can insert foot in mouth.

Sometimes if under pressure, I may say a lie reflexivly, but tend to confess later when no longer under pressure.
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Even the most honest person may not always tell the truth, because our sense of truth is based on our perceptions.  Ask several people witnessing a car wreck and you'll find varrying stories.