"Of course! What do you think I am, a liar? You don't need to check up on me all the time, you know!" I said as I frantically looked over the study guide for the first time, stuffing it hurriedly in my bag as my mother came up the stairs.
That happened once, in sixth grade. Naturally, I aced the test, but that's not the point, really. Kind of, but no. (An "A." 97%, people!) There was this study on the Yahoo! homepage, the recent news part, that people lie. A lot and unconsciously. And my mother-and maybe even my brother-will be perfectly happy to let you know that I am no exception.
I found this-the study, not my compulsive lying-very interesting. Especially the part that said humans are programmed to lie. That people lie three times in ten minutes while getting acquainted. What would the world be without lying, do you think? Better, or worse?
On the one hand, there couldn't be any lying, about anything. I suppose that's very good. No lying about anything shady or anything like that. But what if just telling the truth, that thing that is so revered, you could wipe out a whole species of animal? What if you lose a friend because of blunt honesty, you tell a secret that they trusted you with? What if you make a friend because of your honesty?
Enough 'what ifs.' (What if I finally shut up? Yeah, right.)
I guess lying is okay, in moderation. You will have no life whatsoever and will probably end up completely alone in life if you tell either lies or the truth all the time.
But I guess that was obvious. Unless you're a liar.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090819/hl_time/08599191721500
Quote for Wednesday, August 19, 2009:
Don’t lie, but don’t tell the whole truth.
-Baltasar Gracián, Maxim 181, The Art of Worldly Wisdom (1647)
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