It is said that "Honesty is the best policy" and "the truth will set you free".
If that is the case, why do people have such a problem with being honest? It is as if the more important something is, the more likely they will manipulate, decieve, change the subject or just outright lie.
What is it that cause others to fear being truthful?
And as far as sparing ones feelings, I do not buy that. It is their own feelings they seem to be more concerned with.
I'm just curious.
2006-09-02 10:41:43 · 9 answers · asked by hyperactivesleep 3 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
LOL Natty and Chachi, you 2 crack me up.
Humour is always cool.
2006-09-02 19:10:53 · update #1
WOW!!! ALL of these 9 answers are amazing. Every one of you gave something that is appreciated.
This is just something that I see in others as well as myself. No doubt I, and others, lie to save myself embarrassment or just as a path of least resistence. Not wanting to hurt others can also be a cause. These are not things to be nurtured to be sure, but I suppose they are forgiveable.
With that in mind, then I suppose MOST people ARE honest MOST of the time. And that doesn't seem all that bad.
2006-09-03 06:38:25 · update #2
People believe that it makes their life easier if they lie. They lie to get out of a situation, or to get what they want, or to appease somebody. It's the easy way out. The ones with integrity take the harder path of being honest. Being truthful causes you to have to make sacrifices, and to look dumb sometimes, and to be caught out. the ones who lie are trying to avoid these things.
2006-09-02 10:45:45 · answer #1 · answered by Cina 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Complete and total honesty would probably cause a major backlash. If I told each person I encountered exactly how I feel (the truth as I see it - which is perception or mere opinion, which can be deceiving), I would risk having my tires slashed or my family hurt or my job sabotaged, any number of acts of revenge. To sugarcoat things or twist the truth a tad is safe. You see how angry some of these people here on Y/A get when one person speaks what is true to them. People want to hurt each other.
Anyway, this is what I believe is the primary reason why most people are dishonest, we are taught to be polite and everyone hates rude people.
2006-09-02 10:59:22 · answer #2 · answered by HazelEyes 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's a GOOD question I'm not sure if I can give you a good answer but I believe that a lot of people lie to make the story or sitution sound better They may think the truth is dull . I've always tried to be honest and I would have to say I've been quilty of it ..Why I really don't know except to doctor it up to make it sound better and in most cases or I should say in ALL cases it is wrong to do..
2006-09-02 10:50:31 · answer #3 · answered by Just Dreamin' 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So they will be accepted.
I will tell you the truth. I am pro-life. I own firearms. I served 22 years in the military and I am proud of that. I have never voted for a Democrat for president but someday I might. I like country music. I don't understand homosexuality. I don't hate homosexuals but for me the idea of being with another man gives me the queezies. I don't like cats. I am what I am and I can't change that.
A lot of people will read this and think I am an ignorant redneck. If I wanted more people to like me I could pretend I am a lot more liberal than I am and I am sure they would but I wouldn't be being truthful. Would you rather have someone be honest and disagree with you or lie to you so you would like them?
2006-09-02 17:42:29 · answer #4 · answered by spudfarmer 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The complexity in internal dialectics of emotion and interpersonal identification. Why do people have problems with dishonesty, is it not for loss. Antinomy: when the description is as likely true as its contradiction. When you are in this circal in your dialectic for decision, what do you do. Time is finite and your time is up, what do you do. You know your feelings and reactions to hurting truths, so what do you expect. When you are defrauded through lies or deception, you experience an emotional reaction. Is it the same reaction? No; the intent is different. Was the lie a smart lie? May be yes, may be no. We judge for ourselves and sometimes for love at that moment, but what happens. Without being specific in describing the contingent conditions and the principle of that social relation, how do we know anything. What's at stake, what's at risk, who is this other and who are they to us. Consequences, regret and gladness, competency and trust, loss and gain, me, other and us: they are all possibilities of truth and lies. Now decide for now...oopps, too late.
2006-09-02 13:16:49 · answer #5 · answered by Psyengine 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Honesty is an important virtue. It is true, however, that one can be too honest.
Using honesty to deliberately - or inadvertently - cause grief to another is cruel. One should not go around pointing out the flaws one sees in another, i.e. you're fat and have a big nose.
It is kinder to find something nice but honest to say, i.e. that lipstick looks great or I like your haircut...or simply keep your mouth shut.
In business, honesty is essential. Once you have been caught in dishonest acts, your business will suffer. Maybe not immediately, but once you acquire a bad reputation, it will be very difficult to regain a good reputation.
It is far easier to remember what truths you told than what lies you told.
2006-09-02 10:55:23 · answer #6 · answered by carolewkelly 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know I hate this ... I learned way back when that people lie about everything this is why I make sure I am honest about everything and when they do check up on stuff as you know people do because they expect you to be lying ... They are shocked and surprised that I was honest... and some times it ticks them off ... LOL... I am trying to explain this to my kids and tell them and show them that if they are honest they get in less trouble ... So when they are honest I explain to them "this" would have happened if you lied about it but since you where forth write with it you only get "this" much of a punishment Needless to say they are happy they got the lesser one of the two ...
2006-09-02 10:53:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You just don't know the rest of the saying:
Honesty is the best policy-
but if caught in a jam, lie like hell.
2006-09-02 10:52:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I want $225,000
2006-09-02 14:09:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋