Bending meaning.

[grimsprice]

Ok, so to start, this is going to be a thread containing an anecdote related to Christianity and its hypocrisy. Yes, Yes, Yes, i know that starting religious threads is bad, but this isn't about Christianity. Thats just my anecdote. So if this devolves into religious bashing, i'm sorry, and, blarg.

So i've got a very close friend. Practically my sister. In fact, if i didn't know better, i'd think we were twins. She thinks, acts, judges, and believes the same as me.... except that she was raised in a Christian family.

We were discussing a few things, and hell came up. So i asked the question...

"Do you think God will burn me alive for eternity because i refuse to demonstrate credulity?"

And she said, as many Christians are taught to...

"I think God will punish those who sin, and those who don't repent and accept His name."

And of course it made me smile. Because she chose to use the words "punish", and "sin". Which gives her belief the moral high ground, and the "punishment", doesn't sound as severe.

Now, i've always live by the principle "say what you mean, and mean what you say". Which leads me to be a bit... brazen. I refuse to pad the truth. So i can never understand the morally bankrupt who bend and flex their words to still mean the same thing, but contain less controversial material.

So my question is... Do you pad the truth? Do you... bend your words? Do you know how people can justify doing that morally in their mind? When it might be interpreted as a lie?

 

[Gxas]

I have in the past, but I prefer to say things as I mean them. I've not made too many friends over the years because of this. I prefer people to know how I feel about them, I don't want to lie to their face.

I will say, "You act like you're better than everyone else, thats why people don't like being around you often." Instead of, "Eh, people just are that way. They think that you believe that you're better than they are so they resent you for it."

Same basic meaning, twisted.

 

[rokkolpo]

yes i sometimes bend my words a little.

mostly to help a friend out of trouble.
their well being is more important to me then my moral compass.

 

[grimsprice]

I have in the past, but I prefer to say things as I mean them. I've not made too many friends over the years because of this. I prefer people to know how I feel about them, I don't want to lie to their face.

I will say, "You act like you're better than everyone else, thats why people don't like being around you often." Instead of, "Eh, people just are that way. They think that you believe that you're better than they are so they resent you for it."

Same basic meaning, twisted.

Exactly. I had another friend who was... how do i say... a man whore. Not by choice but by hormones. So he dated this busty girlfriend once. I could have said:

"You might find you're not right for each other. So try not to get attached?".

But no, i said this...

"*cough* I'll give it 3 months."

I didn't make a friend of her, but at least i was right. It lasted 3 and 2 weeks.

 

[MGlBlaze]

I don't bend my words most of the time; the times I do lie, of feel ashamed of myself afterwards because, above all else, I failed my own moral standards, and that's one of the worst things anyone can do.

Of course, I believe 'white lies' are a load of bull because of this. Lies are lies; some are just bigger than others.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Sounds like you're interpreting her words to seriously

 

[grimsprice]

Sounds like you're interpreting her words to seriously

What do you mean?

 

[Naheal]

I don't "pad" the truth so much as I blatantly ignore it when it's in my own best interests to do so.
Or when I think it'll be funsies.

I also don't see why you'd have to justify lying.

Of course, there is something to be said for tact.

What the hell is tact?

 

[Naheal]

What the hell is tact?

I hope your entire family gets eaten by rabid dogs.

That.

That's ridiculous. Who would ever want to use that?

 

[grimsprice]

What the hell is tact?

I hope your entire family gets eaten by rabid dogs.

That.

That's ridiculous. Who would ever want to use that?

Not me. I don't hope your entire family gets eaten by rabid dogs. I just don't care.

 

[Naheal]

Not me. I don't hope your entire family gets eaten by rabid dogs. I just don't care.

See? Isn't tactless honesty just that much better?

 

[core_luros]

Well it really does depend on the situation. You wouldn't really tell a person about to jump off a building that life isn't really worth it. Yes, I know people are going to disagree and say that they would but really that is a situation where a lie is helpful. Lies are part of our society and we accept them all the time. Commercials, politics, TV shows all have lies in them. Heck, the internet is full of lies all the time. Morally it really does depend on the situation because the world isn't black and white, but rather shades of grey.

 

[Aerodyamic]

I don't "pad" the truth so much as I blatantly ignore it when it's in my own best interests to do so.
Or when I think it'll be funsies.

I also don't see why you'd have to justify lying.

Of course, there is something to be said for tact.

What the hell is tact?

If you find out where Tact (or his brother Subtlety) lives, lemme know. I haven't met either of 'em yet, either.

XD

 

[grimsprice]

Not me. I don't hope your entire family gets eaten by rabid dogs. I just don't care.

See? Isn't tactless honesty just that much better?

It is. Between the truth, and what i'd like to hear... i'd rather know where the bear shits in the woods.

 

[Godavari]

Tell it like it is, brother.

 

[Naheal]

That's ridiculous. Who would ever want to use that?

Jerks, manipulators, and politicians.

...That list was awfully redundant.

Jerks and manipulators can get by just fine without tact.

 

[Naheal]

Jerks and manipulators can get by just fine without tact.

It's very important for manipulators, actually.

You have to put plenty of points into Charisma to be effective.

What of a barbed response or a twist on the truth? Still tactless (technically), but gets the point across.

 

[anthony87]

I'm brutally honest when the situation calls for it but it's gotten to the stage where my friends and whatnot expect that kind of response so it doesn't bother them at all.

Basically they let me think like me and don't judge me for it.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Sounds like you're interpreting her words to seriously

What do you mean?

Well I might be interpreting you wrong because I have a lack of knowledge about your friend

but when you say this

Because she chose to use the words "punish", and "sin". Which gives her belief the moral high ground, and the "punishment", doesn't sound as severe.

I don't think she used the words as a way to express her moral superiority. However, her tone plays a bigger role than the words.

It sounds like she just gave you her honest belief

 

[grimsprice]

Sounds like you're interpreting her words to seriously

What do you mean?

Well I might be interpreting you wrong because I have a lack of knowledge about your friend

but when you say this

Because she chose to use the words "punish", and "sin". Which gives her belief the moral high ground, and the "punishment", doesn't sound as severe.

I don't think she used the words as a way to express her moral superiority. However, her tone plays a bigger role than the words.

It sounds like she just gave you her honest belief

No i know that, she doesn't play word games like that. She's an honest girl. That wasn't what i was saying. She was told what to say by pastors and preachers and other people who have questionable intentions. At some point in the past the words were chosen to be more... beneficial to the cause, even if they're not... entirely accurate.