Thanks for linking this, Setken. I’m checking it out now.

http://setkenblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/vows-lies-and-authenticity.html

B) the fact that you’re choosing to lie about these specific things seems based on what other people perceive of the truth. I haven’t taken you for a man who pays much attention to such arbitrary information.

A few people have had that reaction, and I hadn’t thought of it that way. I thought of it as a sort of disinformation campaign – a defensive act to foil annoying behavior. But that’s rather combative, which isn’t usually my style.

In truth I’ve ended up not using these lies much since writing that post. More often I just do the “How old do you think I am?” that someone suggested above, or “Old enough.” So maybe this post should actually be titles “Two Lies a Couple o’ Times Told.”

Other than that, I agree with your initial statement, “In fact, I’m one of those people who believes lying is always wrong—even white lies, even making other people feel better, even minor excuses like saying you’re busy instead of ‘I’d rather not come.’”

I’m sort of intrigued by these routine lies. A) your honesty in sharing them, and B) the fact that you’re choosing to lie about these specific things seems based on what other people perceive of the truth. I haven’t taken you for a man who pays much attention to such arbitrary information.

I’m subscribe to the belief that what other people think of me is none of my business. However, my lifestyle does not depend heavily on the friendliness and generosity of strangers.

I hope you’ll write more as you use these lies. What insight comes of it?

Blessed be.
Meg

Unfortunately that sort of thing matters a lot in remote communities. Trying to do business while rumors are abound of some sort of scandal or other makes it really hard to make ends meet. It doesn’t mean you should change your behaviour or lie, but it still has very influential impacts – which goes into the reign of politics, of which I detest but see the need for its presence to organize and mobilize on a macro scale.

Politics and Government being based on how the majority of people see things, it is important to have the skills to navigate that and encourage what is the ‘best’ direction. Whatever that may be and sometimes, if not most times, there isn’t a best choice – a very hard job that I have to admit some respect to. Especially those who have the honor to be honest through the whole process and not take the easy way of conforming to what the mob thinks you should be to then just do otherwise in response to how you truly feel. At that point politics is broken. People vote based on how they see things and if what they are seeing is false, then there is little point to it. So your message about people are going to judge you anyway and you shouldn’t care has two faces to that coin in politics. Politicians shouldn’t care about what people think when running for the job so people actually get what they vote for, they should care what people think once they’re on the job, because they are now representing the people. Tis the dilemma.

Love the cattle raid thing, I’d love to join in on that ^_^

I stand firm that it is okay to lie if it means protecting someone. For me, I don’t care much about how other people conduct themselves, so long as no one is getting hurt. If they want to lie, whatever. I don’t much like being lied to as I see no harm from the truth, in fact I see more good to come of it. As I come across folks who lie based on conforming to what society expects of them, and lying only perpetuates the problem, whatever it may be. But if that’s the way they want to about it, the consequences are they’re own problem, not mine.

I like to be honest about everything, but I don’t like making people uncomfortable. Which can quickly and easily happen with me as I can talk about any subject comfortably, to the detriment of those within earshot. Like the one time while hanging out with classmates, it got late night enough that porn came up on the TV and the topic of positions came up. What I found interesting is a common complaint among one gender that their partners weren’t fond of one particular position that they all enjoyed. Being of the other gender in reference I then pointed out that I personally really enjoy that placement and my significant other got cheers and congrats for their good fortune. I left being confused as to why such a thing was uncommon and that maybe people need to communicate and let loose a bit more. And yet I still consider myself vanilla in my tastes. So, being honest in that case made the whole thing a lot more fun that it would have otherwise.

When it comes to age, most people assume I am closer to their age when without child in hand. Being between 17 and 35. I know this because whenever someone asks my age, I force them go guess to get the answer. I often get a good laugh as only a couple of people got it right and that was only due to knowing me for a long while already. It makes for good conversation starters in my view.

For the sign thing. I don’t think that has ever come up with me. I don’t think that sort of thing is common around here. I don’t know anyone who takes it seriously either, unless they are private about. If I was asked, I’d likely say something along the lines of, “what sign? You mean my artist signature?” because by then I would have forgotten again what, “what’s your sign?” means. Which would be funny to have them explain what it does mean, because, like you said, it means nothing.

If it doesn’t bother you to lie about these two things, Drew, then lie about them. If it bothers you, then avoid the question.

Bahahaha. Good policy.

Also, I think this falls under the category of “none of your damn business.” People are so rude.

If it doesn’t bother you to lie about these two things, Drew, then lie about them. If it bothers you, then avoid the question.

People are so RUDE.