Telling the Educated Lie.

I can hear your brain go crackelackin’ just when you ran out of crackers. What is that all about? Just something I was thinking about the other day.

The Lying Game

“The Lying Game”. I am not talking about the 2011 television series, but about what sometimes is referred to as “The art of lying”. Interesting? No, not really. Yet.

Let’s assume everybody is not always telling the truth. Is that just an assumption, or is it a fact? We all have told a lie once, or at least not the complete truth. What is holding us back from lying sometimes?

It depends who you are lying to, I guess. If we feel we are lying the unpleasant feelings we get because of that are caused mainly because we are afraid to be caught and our built – in feelings of right and wrong.

White lies. Something we all do – yes, you to! Here we are lying, but by qualifying the lie as ‘not being harmful’ we’re OK with that, because we’re able to wipe of some of the causes that makes us feel bad. What about the one being lied to, white lie or not?

Promises

We all make promises in life. Some are life changing (I will love you forever) or small promises (I promise to do the dishes). Again something that could make us feel bad, if we would break the promise. Again it depends on how well we can justify it in our minds what’s wrong enough to feel really bad about. The amount of guilt we feel is in our mind, not in the one we make our promise too.

Broken Promises

Promises are like eggs. They beak easily and once they are cracked they are very difficult to glue back together without leaving some scratches or little cracks on the surface.

Never

Another tricky word, ‘never’. The same goes for the word ‘Always’. These are words that very often go with ‘promise’.

‘I promise will never drink again!’ My guess is, most of us said that to ourselves first thing after waking up with a throbbing head after that wild party we went to the night before.

‘I promise I will always love you.’ If you haven’t said this already, chances are you are going to say it to someone you love. Question? Exactly how long is always?

The Truth

The truth? In the 1992 drama movie, starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nickolson the following monologue took place on the big screen. Many believe this to be the most impressive monologue ever.

You can’t handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives…You don’t want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.
We use words like honor, code, loyalty…we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use ‘em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I’d rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you’re entitled to!

Impossible

What’s the truth? It depends on many things. It’s just like resolving an equation with to many undefined variables.

It’s almost impossible to sniff out an educated lie. But the next time you get an offer like this:

“New and never before tried technique that will always work, and is guaranteed to boost your on – line income forever to unlimited heights, while you never, ever have to leave the comfort of your house. We promise you feel we are always telling the truth and we never lie, according to millions and millions of people. We promise your income to boost sky high with absolutely no risk for you involved. Ever!

We are always right! Trust us!”

And there blows ‘the lie’ alarm. Not so hard to sniff that one out, huh? Trust me, I never lie.

Happy Ly’ing
// Jan