How Honest Are You?

[elfpirate]

[color=darkgreen][b]I was thinking about honesty, and the things I lie about- well, more accurately, the things I [i]don't [/i]lie about... and I decided to pose the question to you all.[/b][/color]
[b][color=#006400][/color][/b]
[b][color=#006400]How honest are you? [/color][/b]
[b][color=#006400]Do you always tell the truth? [/color][/b]
[b][color=#006400]What about those little "white lies" like: No, honey- you don't look fat in those jeans... [/color][/b]
[b][color=#006400]Is it okay to lie sometimes, or is it always wrong/hurtful?[/color][/b]
[b][color=#006400][/color][/b]
[b][color=#006400]I'm almost always honest- to a fault sometimes. Lying just seems pointless to me most of the time.[/color][/b]
[b][color=#006400][/color][/b]
[b][color=#006400]I do, however, tell an occasional white lie- when the feelings of someone I really care about are at stake and my lying won't be of any consequence whatsoever. (ie: trivial matters that aren't worth hurting the person's feelings over) [/color][/b]
[b][color=#006400][/color][/b]
[b][color=#006400]And I will lie (and [i]have lied[/i]) when a cop is close to arresting me for something and a lie will make him go away...[/color][/b]

[b][color=#006400]I don't think I've lied to anyone I care about (when it was something important) since I was really little. Now, I am more likely to be brutally honest instead... and you wouldn't believe how many people would rather be lied to...[/color][/b]
[b][color=#006400][/color][/b]
[b][color=#006400]Well, how 'bout you? Are you a big fat liar or an honest abe or do you fall somewhere in between?[/color][/b]

[Zenriek]

I also feel that lying (sp?) is pointless. I mean, eventually you're going to be found out (if ever), and you always have that guilty feeling afterwards.

I almost always am truthful.

Besides white lies... White lies, as lies, are wrong, but hey, it keeps people from getting hurt, right? So white lies aren't that bad.

And if a policemman comes and if a lie can get you out of (scot free), then I will lie. Hey, better than going to jail, right?

[Corey]

[size=1]Honesty is a trait that can be bent and twisted to suit its users needs.

I'm generally an honest person. But I can also be the most convincing actor you'll ever meet. I can lie my way out of just about any situation that might be hazardous to some aspect of my being. And, unlike many liers, I remember my lies. I'm barely ever caught in a lie, and when I am, I own up to it.

Now, please don't tihnk I'm a compulsive lier. I'm not. It's just that lying is an effective way of getting yourself out of precarious situations.

Lies make the world go 'round.

If everyone told the truth all the time, our economy would collapse. Half of advertising is lying anyway. No one wants to tell the public that their new drug might cause stomach ripping or spleenic rupture.
Laws force them to, but some still don't.[/size]

[celestialcharm]

Ya I also think lying is pointless. What is the point when eventually will get caught? When I was younger I used to lie alot of times. I even lied when I didn't need to lie! Like for example: My mom would ask; who left this dish here? I would be _____(insert a siblings name there) did it! Of course everyone knew I did it. But now I know only lie in dire situations.
I try to be as truthful as I could be. The other day, I went to the movies with my friend because she was going to be moving away. My parents told me that I have to come home straight away after the movie(there starting to get way over protective but no one could top my friends mom). She invited me to hang out with her friends and sleep over at "her" house but it was really going to be someone's old house that was abandoned(don't ask*rolls eyes*) I told her that I wouldn't be able to come because my parents are starting to act weird. It was a good thing I told the truth because my sister pointed out later that even if I went, and lied to my parent's that they would of showed up at my friends house or call! Imagine if that actually happened I would of got grounded!
So, this is why I at least try to be honest because maybe the time I actually lie, my parents would just end up grounding me(if it's one of those types of situations) or people would just find out that I lied. Yup and knowing me I'll get caught -_-;

[elfpirate]

[QUOTE=Corey][size=1]

I'm generally an honest person. But I can also be the most convincing actor you'll ever meet. I can lie my way out of just about any situation that might be hazardous to some aspect of my being. And, unlike many liers, I remember my lies. I'm barely ever caught in a lie, and when I am, I own up to it.


[color=darkred]Ha ha- me too- that's how I've stayed out of jail all these years... but I can't remember ever being caught in a lie... not since I was about 6 years old, anyway... [/color]
[color=darkred][/color]
[color=darkred]I only lie when I feel like I really have to, though... and I don't come across a lot of situations where I do feel that I have to... and I don't lie to my family and friends... unless it's one of those "innocent" white lies.[/color]
[/size]

[eleanor]

[color=darkslateblue] On my list of people I hate most, people who lie needlessly are near the top. Don't worry, I've had my fair share of lies. I used to have a huge problem with lying in sixth and seventh grade, but now I'm pretty honest. People who lie in order to cover up their mistakes or to manipulate people are just the worst.

But I'm also one of those persons who think lying is a necessity to the real world. Not to say I'm proud or anything, but I am very good lier. The problem with me is that I hate other people who lie needlessly, but because of my experiences in 6th/7th grade, I have no conscience that makes me feel guilty whenever I lie. I try not to lie needlessly, though.[/color]

[Gravy Train]

The only time that I tell lies is to keep someone else from feeling down, by the way...awesome thread, or to save my ***. Because there are certain times when a little white lie might do more good than telling people what you really think. Of course, if I give someone my word (I give you my word that I will_______) then I always see it through. Because I like saying that I am a man of my word, you know, like the villains on James Bond do.

[future girl]

[size=1]I'm all for blunt honesty, in all seriousness that's my motto. I admit, I do on the occasion lie, but only to my mother and that's only to avoid needless drama. Otherwise, it's not okay. There's no excuse for lieing in my book. If I ask you, "Do I look fat?" tell me the truth because if you don't I'll always look fat and that's just sad. I'm as honest as is humanly possible and if I end up hurting people on the way, that's fine by me. At least I'm not a hypocrite, which I just find to be disgusting.[/size]

[Morpheus]

I lie a lot, but most are directed towards my little brother. He's 3, and we have to lie to keeps his little fantasy land going. The Easter bunny, Santa Claus, you name it. If you live near a young child and are all truthful, you are pretty much ruining the best 3 years that that person will never remember. They have to feel like they are number one, or they'll have a predeveloped inferiortity complex.

[sinna]

I really don't see any point in lying to people I know on a semi-good basis. Anyone else is of no real consequence in my mind. If I don't want to give someone a straight answer then I'll just say "no-comment" or "I plead the 5th" or something like that.

[MissWem]

[COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]I shall be honest for once, and agree that [i]lying is pointless[/i]. Since I don't feel that a straight out lie is ever neccessary, I'm more of a "[b]someone who can eloquently gloss over details[/b]".

As horrible as it might seem I can't help but twist certain facts or just word something carefully so that it isn't a fault of mine, or just to make myself seem alittle better. Then there are those occassions where I use the cover of sarcasm so that they won't know what I actually mean.

Eh, it's not as though I'm incapable of telling the complete truth, it just really depends.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Delta]

[COLOR=#B33D79][SIZE=1]Just yesterday, I lied to get X amount of money from my parents. No, technically it's not stealing 'cause I'll return it next week... probably.[quote name='anatema][size=1']If I ask you, "Do I look fat?" tell me the truth because if you don't I'll always look fat and that's just sad.[/size][/quote]Don't worry, I will.
I always do whenever somebody asks me a question in the lines of "does this shade make me look fat?" Being honest=Big favor. I try not to be blunt about it, though; it would be pretty awkward if I just said "Yeah, it does."
[quote name='celestialcharm'] What is the point when eventually will get caught? [/quote]I don't get caught. Like Corey, I'm a very, erhm, [i]good[/i] liar. What I'm trying to say is unless you're a convincing liar, lying doesn't have a point.

Love and Peace![/SIZE][/COLOR]

[elfpirate]

[QUOTE=Freude][color=#b33d79][size=1]I always do whenever somebody asks me a question in the lines of "does this shade make me look fat?" Being honest=Big favor. I try not to be blunt about it, though; it would be pretty awkward if I just said "Yeah, it does."[/size][/color]
[color=#b33d79][/color]
[color=#b33d79][size=1][color=indigo][/color][/size][/color]
[color=#b33d79][size=1][color=#4b0082]I really think it depends on the person who is insecure enough to ask whether or not they look fat in something- if it's someone who's self-esteem is extrememly fragile, I think it's better to lie and tell them they look fine than to say "yeah- you look kind of big in that" and have them throwing up their meals for the next month... I mean- by all means, be honest when the person can handle the truth- but be gentle when they can't...(sometimes lying is the only way to be gentle)[/color]
[/size][/color]

[Panda]

How honest am I? I am honest enough to say I don't always tell the whole truth, and that is the truth!

I do not always tell the entire truth. If a store clerk asks me if how I am doing, I know they don't really want me to unload how I really am feeling. So I usually retort "I'm fine". That may not be the entire truth. Maybe I am feeling in good spirits but not physically feeling good, but I don't think they really want to know everything.

Now if I were told I needed to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, I would.

[Corey]

[quote name='Panda']Now if I were told I needed to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, I would.[/quote]

[size=1]There's another facet to this argument that Panda more or less made me think of.

Court.
If you had to go to court, would you absolutely tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
I couldn't. Until there's a separation of church and state i won't ever be able ot be held as a credible witness. The whole [i]"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole turth and nothing but the truth so help you [b]God[/b]."[/i]
I'm a raging athiest and I'd never be able to say yes.

I [i]would[/i] tell the truth, but they wouldn't even let me speak because I wouldn't say yes to the statement unless it ddn't have the word god in it.[/size]

[ukoku]

Honesty eh?I can say I'm honest at times, but usually, I tell lies to avoid getting embaressed any further(e.g.If my friend finds my baby photos while digging into my big pile of stuff and in that photo, I'm drinking out of the milkbottle or sucking my toe, I'll just tell her it's my brother and not me)
If I did something and someone else is getting the blame, I'll own up immediately,if I broke something I will still own up immediately, that's just me

[Charles]

[QUOTE=Corey][size=1]There's another facet to this argument that Panda more or less made me think of.

Court.
If you had to go to court, would you absolutely tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
I couldn't. Until there's a separation of church and state i won't ever be able ot be held as a credible witness. The whole [i]"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole turth and nothing but the truth so help you [b]God[/b]."[/i]
I'm a raging athiest and I'd never be able to say yes.

I [i]would[/i] tell the truth, but they wouldn't even let me speak because I wouldn't say yes to the statement unless it ddn't have the word god in it.[/size][/QUOTE]Refusing to adhere to the system just to spite it? That's ridiculous. I don't understand why people can't move past such trivial exercises of society sometimes. It's so childish and ignorant.

Is merely standing for the flag salute such a [i]terrible[/i] ordeal? If I were in another country, I would stand for their anthem out of respect--with the knowledge in mind that I wouldn't be forsaking my own nationality. Likewise, does swearing on a bible [i]automatically[/i] convert you into a Catholic? The gesture of swearing on the bible is merely symbolic. Although I do agree that it should be changed, it certainly wouldn't prevent me from working with the system to impart the truth in an important trial where my testimony could possibly mean a lot. They could have me swear on a blue jay and it wouldn't deter me--because it's my duty to fulfill my responsibility as a citizen to cooperate to the best of my ability on such an occassion. Lives can be impacted, you know. Sometimes there are more important things in life than being self righteous.

As far as my own honesty goes--I'm extremely honest where honesty counts. I'm esepcially honest with money, for example. At my previous place of employment, paper money would literally be scattered about the floor at night--and I could have easily pocketed it. But, I never once considered it because trust and being trusted is important to me. I simply must not accept something unless I've earned it. Recently, I found an envelope full of money and returned it to its owner. In fact, I rarely ever borrow money--and if I do, it's paid back immediately. In life, building a good reputation for yourself in terms of being trustworthy can be more important than making a fast dollar.

I'm mostly honest with people (i.e., human relationships). I'll bend the truth to an extent (for the sake of being polite) if a girl asks how they look. But, if it's a matter of them becoming exposed to embarrassment because of my lie, I'm very careful with my language--and I'll tell the truth. It's better to do that than to have my lie cause more trouble than it's worth. So, I'll withhold the truth if I can avoid needlessly hurting someone but that's it.

Like Panda, I mostly only fib when people ask me how I feel for the very same reasons she mentioned.

--signing my post for redundancy's sake, justincaseyoumisseditinthepostbit--

Charles

[soulreaper]

lying is kinda pointless your gonna get caught annyway unless you do it right

[DarkOtakuBoy]

I'm very honest when it comes to relationships and friendships. For example, I have never and will NEVER cheat on someone, because in all honesty...pardon the pun, I dont think I could live with that on my mind. Also, if I dont feel a relationship is going right, I would tell my boyfriend either we work on it or we break it off. Theres no point in lying to myself or him about our good status when one doesn't exist.
Its the same way with friendships, if one of my friends is in a bad spot (too much drug use, or noticeably depressed, etc) I will be honest with him or her, that I notice a problem and will try to help if I can. In examples like that....honesty to me is [I]very [/I] important. I'm not talking about being tired and telling my mom, "If my friends call, tell them I'm sleeping." lol. That doesnt really count. I'm honest where it counts, I guess.
When am I not honest? As a lot of people said, to cops. My friend used to have house parties when his mom was away, and once or twice the police were called. (long story) So, we hide the beer and pop in the chewing gum/mouth wash, they come knocking, ask us if there is any drinking and we lie and say no. The most that ever happened is the police told us to keep it down since it was late. And of course, I'll try to get out of tickets. Success rate: I guess about 50%.
Finally, when it comes to questions asked about apperences and such, I have a bad (or good?) habit of telling someone to their face what my true opinion is. But only if I'm asked first. hehe.

DarkOtakuBoy

[dd protector]

[COLOR=Indigo][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=2]Everyone here seems to make lieing out like its some big evil thing most of the time. The truth is everyone lies. Alot. We lie about our feelings, ourselves, other people. Lies really do make the world go around.

I mean yah sure i try not to lie when its going to hurt someone but honestly it works vise versa as well. Ill lie to protect people and their feelings. Everyone lies to there parents at some point, mostly on moot points like how your day was. But honestly everyone lies and we wouldn't be arouns without lies. Politicans lie: its how they get elected and run countries. Thats how the dice roll.

As for being sworn into court on the bible last i checked, there was a law in place stating that they couldn't force anyone to swear on the bible. I am in Canada, but im pretty sure the USA has it too.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR]

[Syk3]

Sometimes I think I'm too honest for my own good, lol. I try to be objective in my thinking and eliminate as much bias as possible in order to look at things from a variety of perpectives, which really defeats the purpose of lying, I think. Actually using honesty also works to create certain responses out of others, like shock value or just avoiding subtleties, which is always great to do. haha Besides, why should you have to feel like you need to hide behind falsities? :p

Other than when I'm being sarcastic or facetious, the only way I can justify a white lie is to avoid meaningless or trivial arguments or discussions, like elfpirate and Panda were saying. But we all have our secrets.. and will avoid at all costs to completely and honestly tell them. ;)

[quote name='Charles]Is merely standing for the flag salute such a [i]terrible[/i'] ordeal?[/quote]Forgive me for just picking this up when doing a quick look-over of the topic, but when we have to say the pledge every morning in school, I never stand up, lol. It's not because I have anything against it or anything, but I've been saying the pledge every morning for the last 12 years of my life, and that should account for something. Plus, I'm in the very back corner of the room and I'm lazy. haha

[Corey]

[quote name='Charles']Refusing to adhere to the system just to spite it? That's ridiculous. I don't understand why people can't move past such trivial exercises of society sometimes. It's so childish and ignorant.[/quote]
[size=1]I never said anything about spite. If my personal beliefs confict with something as mornoic as swearing on some book, then I will absolutely choose myself over the book. As for childsish and ignorant, I could say the same thing about your choice to abandon your personal feelings.[/size]

[quote name='Charles']Lives can be impacted, you know. Sometimes there are more important things in life than being self righteous.[/quote]
[size=1]But if you're not true to yourself, then why bother living at all.[/size]

[Gavin]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting.

Most of the time I'm honest without realising it, I've gone into situations where I've been given to much change and hand back what I'm not due without any thought of keeping it. One incident which sticks out in my mind is when last Christmas [2003], I was getting my brother's gift, so I bought him the Godfather Trilogy from Gamestop. I look in the box and the disks are already inside [which they shouldn't have been because the box was on display], but at the time I thought nothing of it.

I go down to pay for the DVDs and the woman behind the counter spends about 5 minutes looking for the disks [I'm oblivious to what she's doing], until she says they don't seem to have them in stock. I point out that they're inside in the box and she looks at me like I've got two heads, for being honest, not being oblivious to her plight [She later said I could have easily walked out with them in the box]. I got to pay for them and she gives me back ?15 extra in change, [She mistook a ?5 note for a ?20] I bring this to her attention and she tells me she's bewildered by my honesty.

In the end she gave me a nice cotton/wool hat to go with the DVDs, for me though I'd never have thought of taking the DVDs or giving back the extra change. But hey without honest people this would be a horrible world. [/SIZE]