Wednesday, January 22, 2014

People Have Told Lies Since the Beginning Of History, Despite This Fact There Have Been No Advances In Lying Technology

A lie is a false statement to a person or group intentionally made by another person or group who knows it is not the whole truth. 

There are a few variations to the intentional lie.  A bald-faced lie is one that is obviously a lie to those hearing it.  A big lie is a lie which attempts to trick the victim into believing something major which will likely be contradicted by some information the victim already possesses, or by their common sense.  Bullshit is often used to make the audience believe that one knows far more about the topic by feigning total certainty or making probable predictions.  An emergency lie is a strategic lie told when the truth may not be told because, for example, harm to a third party would result. An exaggeration (or hyperbole) occurs when the most fundamental aspects of a statement are true, but only to a limited extent.

A Brief History of Lying (below) demonstrates that lies have been with us forever, and in many settings.

Adam and Eve
In the Garden of Eden a booming "Who ate my apple?" was met by innocent looks all around and, eventually, a timid chorus of "Not me." This original lie was followed by punishment for being untruthful.

Old Testament
The Old Testament describes lies people told one another, or worse, told God.  After not getting His message clearly understood by the chosen people, God finally put it in writing in the form of the Tenth Commandment given to Moses up on that mountaintop. Let's review:
10.  Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor.
Compared with other commandments like Thou Shalt Not Kill or Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery, the Tenth Commandment seems to have a little wiggle room.  What's a "false witness"?  And who is a "neighbor"?  And what does "bear" mean, exactly?

Despite the Godly Tenth Commandment, history does not record a period of reduced lying.  There is no Golden Epoch When All Men Were Truthful in any record of history.

 Early History Of Lying - The High Points
In 59 B.C., lying began to be disseminated more broadly when Julius Caesar started up the first state-run newspaper, thus beginning a tradition that continues to this day.

In 991 A.D, the British elevated the art of lying to near-perfection when they dreamt up something called Parliament.  In Parliament they brought together the best liars from across the country and gave them the mandate of telling the rest of the country how they should live, thus beginning a government tradition that continues to this day.

In 1278, the invention of the glass mirror necessitated a wholesale change in how we lied, as "No one will notice if I comb it over the top" became "I think we need a new mirror."  And men began saying "That dress does not make thee look overly large" to their wives and daughters, thus beginning a tradition that continues to this day.

In the 1300s, the Scots introduced the world to golf, perhaps the greatest single achievement in the history of lying. For the game perfectly lends itself to lying ("Put me down for a four on that hole").  Further, golf nurtures corollary lies like "I won't be at work today, I have a backache" and "I sunk a perfect 50 foot putt", traditions that continue to this day.

Middle Era Lying
In 1581 the French invented ballet, which, in a sleight worthy of the emperor's new clothes, mysteriously convinced many foreigners that the French were cool. To this they eventually added the guillotine and the metric system.  And in 1984, awarded Jerry Lewis the French Legion of Honour. To this day, no one has called their bluff.

By 1692 lying began to die out for a time when advancements in the scientific process made the practice virtually impossible.  Accused witches in Salem, Massachusetts, for example, proclaiming their innocence, were tied in a sack and thrown into a pond.  Those who sank to the bottom were proven to be telling the truth, and set free (although many in an unfortunate drowned state).  Those who floated were liars, and were hanged.  A similar test involved setting them ablaze. Those who ignited were deemed truthful, while those who didn't were lying witches, and, again, hanged. Almost overnight, the art of lying lost much of its esprit.  It would soon rebound and forge ahead.

Modern Era Lying
Global warming, which has been proven to be the result not of excessive fuel emissions and other pollutants, but rather of the CO2 expelled by thousands of environmentalists all talking at once is a major lie believed by millions, despite solid evidence to the contrary. 

Celine Dion's Grammy Award is an obvious lie which could only be the work of the French, or in this instance, the French Canadians.

The most notable lies in the modern era have been "I did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky" and "If you like your plan, you can keep your plan. Period." And of course, "You're a RACIST!!"

Why People Lie
Nearly everyone lies to some extent, greater or smaller.  The television show House was built on that very premise.  Everyone lied, most especially the patients Dr. house treated.  His task was to discover the lie(s) and voila! being in possession of the truth, cure the patient fifteen seconds before the show ended.

But why lie, especially when everyone knows from early childhood on that it is wrong to lie?
People lie to discredit and get even with rivals.
People who are procrastinators lie because of their habit. For example, many people feign illness or some other "emergency", to explain away the fact that they've not finished their work on time.
Many people lie for making quick financial gains.
Some lie to avoid being saddled with responsibility.
Still others do it to stave off being fired.
Sometimes, people lie because of the misconception, that the "bitter" truth is not accepted without some sugar-coating, and that a little embellishing of facts will not hurt anyone.
To manipulate others.
To lie to ourselves to avoid the truth about ourselves in a situation.
Nothing has changed about lying since that lie in the Garden of Eden.  Technology and communications advances make it easier and perhaps more rewarding to lie, but lying itself has not changed.  So how do you know when someone is lying to you?  You already have a pretty good BS detector, I'd bet.  Here are the symptoms of someone lying to you:
A liar avoids eye contact, touches the face, nose, etc.
A liar smiles using only the few muscles around the mouth while the eyes remain alert and watchful.
A liar has the body in a kind of retreating posture, as if he or she quickly wants to get away from you.
There also are verbal clues such as:
A liar may answer your question in an unnaturally loud or exuberant manner.
A liar may vociferously deny something instead of just stating it simply.
A liar will avoid answering questions directly.
A liar will give hints or clues and add unnecessary details in an attempt to make the lie seem authentic.
Liars are now what they were at the beginning of time: people who know truth but are unwilling to be truthful because it is, they believe, to their advantage to be untruthful.  And also since the beginning of time, people can tell what statements are lies, and will do well to be away from liars.

36 comments:

Chip Ahoy said...

I remember my first lie because it was so momentous so life altering so immediately crashed. That was big. I honestly believe that was my first moral decision and I failed. It was the moment I became a person.

And right after that, about a year, still a tot, Mum carefully and delicately explained the necessity and the rightness of "little white" lie. One that is both little and white, meaning a lie for a small well-meaning porpoise I mean purpose.

And my mind was blown all over the place, my whole moral universe jacked with right from the start.

The Dude said...

Let sleeping dogs lie.

Michael Haz said...

I've never understood the color gradation of lies. How is a little white lie, for example, better or worse that a little taupe lie?

And can those who are colorblind discern a white lie, or are all lies just gray?

chickelit said...

Lie down with dogs...get up with fleece.

Chip Ahoy said...

As to Wendy Davis, what a bummer. The only things I know of her are terrible. I was going to do a thing but the weather is great here and she's not worth it, politics is not worth it, having to do with blind ambition. Ambition so driving it causes one to turn their back on their own family to satisfy it. Bluntly like that. Then campaign for policy that reinforces the already solid idea you really do view children as unnecessary baggage not to be a burden for ambitious people like herself. Ambition is one thing, blind ambition another. Why? Here's the thing I was thinking of doing: "Give me your hand, Helen, and I'll carefully fingerspell into your palm and help you make out each letter.

p.e.o.pl.e... s.e.e... t.h.i.n.g.s... y.o.u... t.h.i.n.k... a.r.e... i.n.v.i.s.i.b.l.e.

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

It's kind of weird that I can tell who did a blog post after reading only the headline.

Okay, every now and then I'll need a sentence or two of text but still I'm batting over .875.

And that's no lie.

Michael Haz said...

Yeesh. That bad?

Brill said...

Little white lie example.
“Honey does this dress make me look fat?”
White Lie-“No Dear, you look great.”
“But does it make me look fat?”
White Lie-It does not make you look fat.
Truth- Yea it makes you look chubby.
It’s your call. Take your pick.
What may cause unnecessary angst and is it worth it…

bagoh20 said...

I've been off the grid for four days, and just got back to see what you guys have been up to. I have to say that while I was gone there were some excellent posts, and overall this blog was just awesome good.

That ain't no lie, nor bullshit, nor even hyperbole. Great job, peeps.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Bags is back everybody ;)

bagoh20 said...

It should be called "Lem's Eclectivity".

Meade said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
bagoh20 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bagoh20 said...

I know a lot of the country is getting it's ass kicked by the weather, and I feel for you guys. I really do, because you're old, and molasses turns to rock candy in that weather, so the good thing is "your rock candy baby,... hard sweet and sticky!"

But, that same weather system has given us here in L.A. the mildest driest summer in memory. It's gonna be in the 80s again this weekend, and it never really got cold or rained this winter. That's not good for this year's water supply, nor the fire danger in the forest, but it's damned nice on my old carcass, and the molasses is flowing smooth.

Michael Haz said...

Hey Bago, nice to see you. Leave a note next time you disappear. We need to know who gets the beer, you know, in case.

Icepick said...

People Have Told Lies Since the Beginning Of History, Despite This Fact There Have Been No Advances In Lying Technology

Oh, this so totally ignores polling, focus groups and marketing. The technology of lying just keeps getting better and better!

deborah said...

Good to see you, Bags!

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Since it's so easy to come by information these days, I think it's going to be harder to get away with lying. The more important development, however, will be getting people to question the point of still doing it.

I don't think lying is the most immoral thing to do. But I think it's a sign of cowardice or distrust or an unwillingness to confront oneself - assuming you live in a non-totalitarian society.

Michael Haz said...

In the relationship between human beings, is there any virtue more important than honesty?

Can one have a deeply trusting relationship with a spouse or lover or doctor or mentor or parent or child without honesty?

Or with a government?

Michael Haz said...

R&B:

Good point. It is easier to come by information - to verify what people have said - via the internet. Still, people lie. Or in the case of Wiki or false-flag websites, people use the internet to lie.

There's more technology, but lying is still lying.

Meade said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The Dude said...

Perhaps my previous comment should have been let lying dogs sleep.

chickelit said...

Welcome back, bag of oxidane!

Icepick said...

Can one have a deeply trusting relationship with a spouse or lover or doctor or mentor or parent or child without honesty?

You can trust someone enough to expect that they'll only lie to you when it's in your own best interest.

Michael Haz said...

Meade:

To review what you were previously told -

I don't delete because of viewpoint. I delete a couple people all the time, whatever they say. These people should know who they are.

You are one of them.

I don't comment on your wife's blog; please stay off of my topics here at Lem's blog.

edutcher said...

Most people are lousy liars and are pretty easy to spot.

The good ones all seem to be hard core Lefty Democrats.

(but I repeat myself)

Ron said...

What's the difference between a Fairy Tale and a War Story? A Fairy Tale begins with "Once upon a time...", and a War Story begins with "No Shit, this really happened...."

chickelit said...

Hey Ron! I don't remember ever seeing you comment here.

Welcome!

Icepick said...

There are all kinds of different lies. Like naming a department of the government "Homeland Security" when the real goal is to smash the population into complete subservience with all manner of bullshit intrusiveness.

Example:

MPAA & ICE Confirm They Interrogated A Guy For Wearing Google Glass During A Movie

I'm guessing they didn't want the guy to post anything to YouTube that might get an ambassador killed or something, thus making the world safer.

Meade said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Michael Haz said...

Them's the rules, Bub.

Icepick said...

Admit it, Haz, you just hate cardinals.

Icepick said...

I bet you're more of a tit warbler man, am I right?

Aridog said...

New lies are being formed as we speak...slightly off topic, but in the category of Shit you can't make up!

Michael Haz said...

Aridog:

I thought that article was from The Onion......

ken in tx said...

A visiting professor once told our psychology class that the purpose of language was not communication, but rather to facilitate telling lies. If someone needs to know where the water hole is and you have to take them by the hand and show them, you can't very well fool them into thinking it is somewhere else. Only language allows you to do that.

Davy Crockett, while he was running for congress from Tennessee, is supposed to have said that he could fun faster, jump higher, and tell better lies than anyone running against him. He won that time.

Next time he lost. I guess he was not as good a liar as he said he was. So that was a lie.

BTW, the correct response to "Does this make me look fat?" is "Do I look stupid?"