Ever noticed when kids tell the biggest lies? They don't want to get in trouble, they want people to believe they are smarter or stronger than they really are, or that their life is fabulous when it's full of fear.
They want to be just like their parents (and their parents know everything). It seems logical to act as if you just know everything too. As children, lack of knowledge feels more like a weakness than an opportunity to learn something new.
There is evidence to suggest the more intelligent a child is the better they lie. Perhaps Pinocchio is a better role model than we ever suspected. I ask children if their story is made up, real or both. I tell them I love listening to all types of stories. Fairytales are real to very young children. They don't know the difference between fact and fiction. (Neither do some sociopaths - not all lies are precious.)
 |
| clkr.com |
The most incredible thing occurred, people stopped believing me when I told the truth. I never had people question my lies, yet my truth was questioned all the time. It seems I only told believable lies but my life stories were unbelievable...
It wasn't easy to tell the whole truth, sometimes it's still hard - especially when it's something you know will cause pain. Especially, if it's something you don't want to admit to yourself. Especially, when you have done something wrong.
The truth is I can't be bothered writing much more about Truth. Like most things in life when you seek it - you will find it (and/or it finds you.)
My personal motto: Be true to yourself and honest to everyone else.
Has finding out the truth about someone's lies ever really shocked you?
***
I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.
Like Reflex Reactions on Facebook
Follow @ReflexReactions on Twitter
Add me to your circles on Google+
***
Read more about:
The A to Z challenge. My theme and links to all 26 Greatest loves of my life.
I used to make up so many stories at school. And with me making up stories everyday I lived a very adventurous day, but whenever i told the truth and nothing but the truth, people seemed bored and uninterested. So I just stopped communicating with them and made up stories just for me.
ReplyDeleteOnce there was a wizard in my school, who had locked himself in the basement of the art class, where the giant oven was, who moulded all of our clay artwork into art. BUT HE WAS THERE, i knew it, i saw it. I had evidence. A glass ball rolled out under the door, and I saw his boots moving like he was dancing in there. No one believed me, but I knew he was gonna blow up the school. (But he wasn't, I'm old enough to admit, this was a very fun, and over the top lie. Haha.
Love your post, as usual. Truth is important, even if it hurts.
Ah my dear Miss Bates, seems to me you are confusing the incredible ability of a story teller and blatant lies i.e lies that harm or do no good... I would love to know more about your Wizard and his dance moves.
DeleteIt's the lies by omission and the twisting of the truth that get to me - politicians and business people wanting you to buy into their particular fiction and distorting things to suit their own ends - the spin doctor is the worst kind of liar IMO.
ReplyDeleteSophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic
add psychopaths to that list and I would agree with you... because sometimes a slight twist or omission of some details can work well on a resume :) - but yes I get angry just thinking of some examples of those type of lies too.
DeleteI value the truth above all else even if it hurts!
ReplyDeleteIf "There is evidence to suggest the more intelligent a child is the better they lie" then I was a genius! A genius! So much so, that I fancy myself a super sleuth as an adult. I can see through all the lies! I think. :)
ReplyDeleteI still get surprised by some of the lies I occasionally come across - but yes genius kids are always the best super sleuths, actors, writers... salespeople or worst case scenario - psychopaths :D
DeleteI don't think you should always be truthful when it hurts someone else. Why upset someone unnecessarily?
ReplyDeleteHi Jo, it's hard without examples, do you mean not telling someone they are dying or that their dress is unflattering? There are exceptions to every rule, but for people who understand truth the hurt of false hope can be worse
DeleteYou expect lies out of politicians. These days there's a certain politician in my home country, however, whose constant lies clash glaringly with his painfully obvious ineptness and chronic stupidity. What annoys me is that the man still has defenders who are literally buying everything he says, and can't see him for what he is.
ReplyDeleteThere is the value, of course, of a white lie, meant to spare someone's feelings, and generally something trivial. Say for instance if you've had a meal with a good friend who cooked something you found awful, you don't tell the truth, you say something like, "that was fascinating. I've never had a meal quite like that!"
ReplyDeleteThat's a good example William but generally my good friends can recognise when they have cooked something awful -and would be the first to admit whether it was edible or not - then laugh about it.
DeleteI think "Truth" is a potential hunk's name for the next YA hit novel!
ReplyDeleteNow I see a man with dark hair running through a forest...every time I write truth. How about Tryth? :)
Delete