designdebris

THOUGHTS
I think a lot, I can't help it. You'll find out soon enough.
(normally when doing something mundane)

Deception?

(note: I've not read this through... it might not make sense)

Lying is lying is lying.... isn't it? or is it?I remember having a conversation a while ago about lying and is it a bad thing. Some would say yes, unquestionably... lying is deception and to deceive is wrong.

Cool... point taken... i agree.

That is until you think about why people lie in the first place. Personally sometimes it's outta fear, or to prevent a personal attack, to protect myself in someway from the potiential harm of words that are known to be coming. Is that wrong?.... yes say some.... unquestionably. But it takes a very strong person to say to a mugger... "yes... I have just taken £200 outta the bank, help yourself".... the majority would say "no" and hope the thief falls for it. Hmm... still unquestionable? .... yes say some.... unquestionably.

ok lets look at deception...... oooo the big one... very bad..... unquestionably. Hmm... or is it.

What's worse mentally and socially... honestly lying in order to deceive or withholding the truth in order to deceive? Some people feel they can justify deception, if they withhold the truth... do you withhold the truth with a clear conscience?.... hmm..... unquestionably.

What about the social stigma of lying? Maybe our education, upbringing and peer pressure is the true cause of lying... our judgement becoming clouded to the 'real' right and wrongs based on common sense. Being educated to the degree that lying is always wrong fails to help and only confuses indiviuals that find they have to lie in certain situations in order to survive... a little extreme maybe... but when your backs against the wall an you're at the lowest point... gut reactions and common sense don't cloud your judgement.... they actually give your mind clarity... and being forced to defend yourself when under attack, surely can't be wrong, can it?

so now... is lying, or deception or the stigma of lying the issue?... or all three?

ahh.....who cares..... my point to all this is. lying is wrong becuse its intentional deception. But deception isn't necessarily wrong... sometimes have to deceive to survive... we don't live in a perfect world... so we have to adjust according.... just don't beat yourself up over deception... and more importantly don't let the weight of one word.... 'lie', or 'liar', or lying'.... have anymore weight or precedence over the words 'withholding the truth' they are essentially the same and we need both... purely because living without either is so unrealistic in the year 2002.

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This Words was prompted by thoughts of a friend who with held the truth and deceived constantly... but felt it was justified because (technically) they weren't lying (as in the dictionary definition).... I didn't object to this thought process... as I know it's essential... (sadly)... but I could never understand why someone would beat themself up over it (mentally)... lying isn't black and white... there's a big grey area that you're allowed to feel mentally comfortable with.