Why do people lie so much?

[Anarchemitis]

Hey, I never lie.

Anyone perfect must be lying, anything easy has it's cost.
Anyone plain can be lovely, anything loved can be lost.
What if I lost my direction, what if I lost my sense of time?
What if I nursed this infection, maybe the worst is behind?

I feel just like I'm falling for the first time. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibsxpihjKmE]

 

[manythings]

Lying is a useful tool. Humans aren't the only ones who lie, apes can lie too, a few varieties of monkey and probably a fair number of other creatures with sufficient intelligence to weigh the gain against the potential loss.

Apparently we lie about 3-4 times for every ten minutes we spend talking to a person. It's not always straight up lies but it can be obfuscations of facts, half-truths, omitting details to make yourself seem better (or less bad). We lie because it works and we do it all the time because all the honest people starved to death or were killed by our lying ancestors.

 

[Jedamethis]

For comedic effect. Also to save my bacon occasionally.

 

[loc978]

One lie builds into another and another and another. Most people don't want to admit that they've been lying to people they care about, so they do everything they can to keep up the web of lies. Eventually they forget what the truth was in the first place.

What I don't get is why people would bother lying in discussions on the internet. Lying on a form is understandable, but claiming to be a racecar driving bear wrestler who has climbed Mount Everest naked on a forum... just... why?

 

[lvl9000_woot]

Look, if the cake wasn't a lie, there'd be no motivation to play Portal 2. Duh.

 

[Frenger]

"We need lies... in order to live."

Can I get a cookie?

 

[Smooth Operator]

Because truth isn't something people always want to hear or should.

Am I ugly, am I fat, do these pants make my butt big, do you like the gift, how is my cooking, do you think I talk too-much,....?
Fact is the truth usually hurts, so what do you do?

 

[Biosophilogical]

Lying give me the opportunity to create truth where it doesn't already exist. This way I am creating not only an identity either your's or mine, but also molding the world around me.

That is why I lie. I do it often and I do it well.

So gravity ... and puppies ... are a lie?
...
...
...
Thank You!!!

OT: Because liking someone doesn't mean telling them everything? Seriously though, some things are personal, or are none of another person's business, either way, lying serves the greater good of "Keep the F**k out of my life".

In all honesty though, if I feel you need to know something, I'll tell you. I think trying to be as honest as possible is a bit silly, you should be as honest as is appropriate, no more and not too much less.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Makes me look better. Not just lying, but just not telling the whole truth. Like missing 'Then I fell over and it really fucking hurt' after saying 'I did a backflip and it was totally badass'.

 

[Sinspiration]

"Then take the universe and grind it down to the finest powder, and sieve it through the finest sieve, and then show me one atom of justice, one molecule of mercy. And yet, you try to act as if there is some ideal order in the world. As if there is some, some rightness in the universe, by which it may be judged."

Props to anyone who understands why this quote is actually relevant.

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

Cowardice and insecurity, mostly.

 

[TitanAtlas]

sometimes to protect something or someone, other times to joke around, other times to be an asshole...

but in the end we find out that even ourselfs lie....

how can you recognize when youre beying lied to, when yourself are not a liar?

 

[Hosker]

I usually just say whatever leads to the best outcome. I don't even think whether it's a lie or not.

 

[DuctTapeJedi]

Because I don't want my mom to freak out on me for stupid reasons.

 

[nunqual]

Because you're afraid of what people will think of you if you tell the truth.

 

[Garrsus]

because the truth can hurt alot more than a fictitious truth.
sometimes we cant take the fact that what we have done will leave us with 'a stigma'.

 

[2fish]

Everything I say is a Lie ...

So when you said you didn't like me and wouldn't want to hang out, you were really saying you wanted to see me more???

Ok done with the annoying of the random people.

Lies are fun.

Example 1 the buisness world:

Lie and cheat but don't get caught= great buisness move

Lie and cheat but get caught= burn the amature!!

Example 2 leadership:

You copy those around you who are leaders/ powerful. Yeah jesus isn't in the government right now palpatine is.

Exapmple 3 Why not?:

Lies can help you gain power, life is all about power. Power is a wonderful thing, do whatever you have to get get the power you crave.

 

[Rakkana]

I wonder how long till cake jokes...

Look, if the cake wasn't a lie, there'd be no motivation to play Portal 2. Duh.

Shame on you >.>

 

[The Hero Killer]

Some people lie to fit in thinking they have to impress people.