Lying - Why?

[sft42]

Why do people lie? I'm not talking about whoppers or the type of lies told to cover up for mistakes or crimes but the little white lies that everyone seems to tell.....Is it to appear to be a more exciting person? more interesting? theories please.

[coemgen]

Do you mean the lies similar to "I used to be friends with the lead singer of ....etc?, I won a million on the National Lottery but didn't collect it as it would have changed my life too much? I have actually heard the above statements from people and know they are untrue.I think people maybe feel that their lives are a bit boring and decide to invent little interesting tales to tell to make them appear a little different. Or maybe they want to impress others. I don't know. I think we all embroider things to a certain degree.

[froggequene]

Would you really admit to a chocoholic that you ate the last chocolate digestive?

[boognish76]

Would you tell your Mother her new hat looks like a pimple on a bull's arse? No, you wouldn't (hopefully) - you say she looks very nice and everyone will have a nice Christmas. That is what is meant by a 'white lie' - when telling the truth would hurt someone and possibly result in a physical assault upon yourself. People who lie about having won a blue at Cambridge or had a trial with Manchester United, etc. are trying to make themselves seem more interesting and probably covering up for a deep insecurity that their actual lives are not worthy of interest. It's probably worth remembering that all comedians are professional liars - no one ever actually walked into a bar with duck on their head.

[Cathy]

I think that sometimes people remember things differently with time. If you have a good story that you tell lots of people you can end up changing it accidently. It can also be exagerated to make it funnier.

[FRUITbat]

is a lie a lie when the teller truely believes it to be true?

[xyzzyplugh]

two words; Peer pressure. Good question FRUITbat

[wildwood]

The 'little' lies are not always self fulfilling. Would you go around and tell every little child that Father Xmas is a myth?
To take misrepresentation to the extreme... isn't shaving or face make-up a form of lying? Even a cat will look back and snarl when it slips on the lino in the kitchen while chasing an imaginary mouse. Many other animals will puff themselves up to make themselves look bigger when confronted by a suitor or a competition.

[xyzzyplugh]

okay wildwood, but shaving isn't lying; unshaveness can be quite irritating. Also make-up is more self adornment than lying; would you then say, washing, is lying? or housepainting?? Not being facetious, just laboring a point. :-) Merry Christmas.

[gazzawazza]

What do you mean??? (only joking)!!!