This is one trait that is seen as annoying worldwide and not generally acceptable. It is a stain to a person's character, but no matter how much it might be hated it has become an essential appendage in human nature. Lying according to the english dictionary is defined as giving false information intentionally. This is one trait that humans over the years haven't been able to do without and have perfected it to the point that it should be included as one of the deadly sins of man. Before going further into this article, we have to get one thing straight, just as everybody dies, EVERYBODY LIES. It doesn't matter who you are its something we have all done and, even if not too often, still do. As Dr House rightly said "the basic truth about the human condition is that everybody lies, the only variable is about what"
Lying even though seen as morally wrong has been somewhat given a big position in society. We were taught as kids that lying was a sin and that the truth would set us free, but growing up it seemed like that part of the truth setting you free still seemed like a lie as well because we thought that telling the truth after a mistake committed would earn us being warned or a mild beating (as is normal with African parents as a form of correction) but we got beaten so badly you wondered what type of freedom your parents taught you the bible spoke of. It taught me most especially to take my chances with lying since it would be a 50:50 chance that I get beaten or get away with the lie than a 100% chance that I get beaten up for saying the truth. This is just one example of how lying was encouraged.
It's not just with kids we see this act, we see it with parents as well, agree with it or not, but parents are the ones we learnt this art from cos they also lied to us more times than we could count, telling us about Santa being real, tooth fairies dropping dimes under our pillows in exchange for tooth's (well this really didn't work in Africa, most of it anyway)and how they hide the truth of their childhood growing up from us, and the very common one, we all went through this phase, the classic go-and-wear-your-shoes(or your dress)-before-you-follow-me line and they're gone before the child gets out all excited, stripping trust away from little children. We all have reasons for lying, if a lie was dolled out without reason that individual has a chronic psychological, sorry psychiatric case. Some of these reasons might be to prevent yourself from getting hurt, to prevent someone else from getting hurt, for some it is to prevent people from knowing who they really are and in severe cases for survival...simply put the reason for the lies is to hide the truth.
This trait can be said to have been perfected into an Art form, so much so that from personal study I discovered that there are stages to a lie
The set up
This stage is where you have your plan mapped out, your cover story. You can't have a good lie without getting this stage down, it just makes the lie unbeautiful (if a word like that exists.) This is the foundation upon which the the bricks to building a good lie would lie (pun intended).
The Execution
Confidence is the key here, lies told without confidence can be smelt from a mile away. Without confidence the moment you start with your cover story you have given yourself away.
This part is like the committed step in a biochemistry pathway, once you cross this step know that you have your lie and your listener on lock down, but if this step fails you would have successfully accomplished wasting a good cover story if there ever was one
This is where the main thing lies. This stage is where you make use of your cover story, the execution can get your listeners glued to the words of your mouth earnestly waiting for the next line that would come out. This is the fun part about a lie because this is openly involving others, and a good lie makes for good stories - most stories are fiction what it has in common with a lie is that they're not real.
The Realism
A lie is at it's best when a bit of truth is mixed with it, especially when its been related to a true event that had happened to you or a friend in the past and this truth can be confirmed. This part is one we saw the devil use in the bible a couple of times. it's like THE PINOCCIO PARADOX - The truth that's actually a lie
The Environment
It's not in all occassions one should lie. This just kills the only good purpose of it being a survival skill. There are places you can lie and places you can't, there are people you can lie to and people you can't. It's best to know your environment and know your boundaries. This is one skill like martial arts that should only be used when necessary
The Escape plan
This is the final stage of a lie this is your plan B in case the lie goes south, its a fail safe for you so that you dont get tagged as a liar once the story starts going not so well for you.
Lying is an important social skill, it can help build relationships and sometimes save them (even though it's effect might just be temporary).
This post is not to encourage you to lie, we just brought out the truth about lies (pun intended...again)
Also read Graced Sunday
It's not just with kids we see this act, we see it with parents as well, agree with it or not, but parents are the ones we learnt this art from cos they also lied to us more times than we could count, telling us about Santa being real, tooth fairies dropping dimes under our pillows in exchange for tooth's (well this really didn't work in Africa, most of it anyway)and how they hide the truth of their childhood growing up from us, and the very common one, we all went through this phase, the classic go-and-wear-your-shoes(or your dress)-before-you-follow-me line and they're gone before the child gets out all excited, stripping trust away from little children. We all have reasons for lying, if a lie was dolled out without reason that individual has a chronic psychological, sorry psychiatric case. Some of these reasons might be to prevent yourself from getting hurt, to prevent someone else from getting hurt, for some it is to prevent people from knowing who they really are and in severe cases for survival...simply put the reason for the lies is to hide the truth.
This trait can be said to have been perfected into an Art form, so much so that from personal study I discovered that there are stages to a lie
The set up
This stage is where you have your plan mapped out, your cover story. You can't have a good lie without getting this stage down, it just makes the lie unbeautiful (if a word like that exists.) This is the foundation upon which the the bricks to building a good lie would lie (pun intended).
The Execution
Confidence is the key here, lies told without confidence can be smelt from a mile away. Without confidence the moment you start with your cover story you have given yourself away.
This is where the main thing lies. This stage is where you make use of your cover story, the execution can get your listeners glued to the words of your mouth earnestly waiting for the next line that would come out. This is the fun part about a lie because this is openly involving others, and a good lie makes for good stories - most stories are fiction what it has in common with a lie is that they're not real.
The Realism
A lie is at it's best when a bit of truth is mixed with it, especially when its been related to a true event that had happened to you or a friend in the past and this truth can be confirmed. This part is one we saw the devil use in the bible a couple of times. it's like THE PINOCCIO PARADOX - The truth that's actually a lie
The Environment
It's not in all occassions one should lie. This just kills the only good purpose of it being a survival skill. There are places you can lie and places you can't, there are people you can lie to and people you can't. It's best to know your environment and know your boundaries. This is one skill like martial arts that should only be used when necessary
The Escape plan
This is the final stage of a lie this is your plan B in case the lie goes south, its a fail safe for you so that you dont get tagged as a liar once the story starts going not so well for you.
Lying is an important social skill, it can help build relationships and sometimes save them (even though it's effect might just be temporary).
This post is not to encourage you to lie, we just brought out the truth about lies (pun intended...again)
Also read Graced Sunday
No comments:
Post a Comment