Question C: Is it possible to tell lies and still be an honest person?
This Question is viewed differently through every individual. To me this is not asking if someone else would think you are an honest person, but if you yourself believe you are honest. So when you lie to think you are being true to yourself by lieing or do you feel let down. When you lie about someone looking nice, when deep down they look awful. Are you lieing in a spiteful way. No you are giving someone who needs a complement. Not everyone expects the truth behind every question. Another example would be to Tell a good friend that you cant hangout because you have dinner plans, then just saying your tired. Because you just saying that you don't have the energy to hangout with them. Deep down that will hurt their feelings thinking maybe their too much to handle as a friends or maybe just annoying. So your still staying true to your friends you just don't want to hurt them.
We do these little things all the time and i know that every know and then I have to do them, but deep down i know that i am an honest person and that i stay true to myself and in every situation i don't have to lie but in the end its better for you and the other individuals.
Hi Samantha,
ReplyDeleteI think most people think of themselves as honest, and yet, as we've read in this essay, there are so many ways to lie, it's almost impossible to not lie. If people lie and are still “honest,” does this mean we need a new definition of “honest”?
I think the quote by Buber supports your idea about how you feel after telling a lie. He writes, "The lie is the spirit committing treason against itself." Certainly, if you feel like you are committing treason against your beliefs and principles in the telling of the lie, then you shouldn't lie.
But what about the instances when people don't realize their lies are "committing treason"? Is it safe for people to use the way they feel as the basis to decide if they're honest or not? Would this support Ericsson's argument that lies are a "cultural cancer" and that the lies are “invisible” to us?
What do you think?
Take care,
Lauren
Samantha,
ReplyDeleteOur perception of ourselves is very important. If we feel that we're honest, then other's opinions shouldn't matter all that much. We are going to constantly receive negative input. There are times when people judge us without truly knowing what kind of person we are. Although I should point out, that if someone that loves and cares for us is telling us that we lie too much, shouldn't we at least hear them out? More often than not, our friends and family are trying to help us become better human beings. It really comes down to whether or not we feel comfortable with the amount of lies that tell.
hello, I understand what you are saying, a lie being told can help yourself and the other person.. I agree on half of what you are saying. You said that lying can save or help the other persons feelings, but ask yourself, how does it benefit the other person. They are being lied to because you dont want to deal with it, or your tired, but honesty is more, people should be honest in situations like these, if you dont want to hang out, then just say so, dont make something up, you should tell him or her the truth that your tired, lets do it another day in a nice way so they understand and wont feel hurt about it. It's simple, I know others might think differently, but this is what I think. Thanks for posting this, it made me think more for whats right and wrong.. \
ReplyDeleteThanks, LESLEY
Samantha,
ReplyDeleteI believe that you can tell some lies and still be an honest person. I have told some lies. Usually I will lie so that I do not hurt someone's feelings. I also sometimes lie to avoid having to talk about my feelings. A friend of mine will ask me what's wrong and I will tell her nothing because I do not want to talk about it at that time.