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Mary Ann Dimand's avatar

Oddly, I'm abnormally honest. My average for lies used to be about one a year, and now it's up to about two, I think. This is certainly a matter of temperament now, but began in a resolve when I was in seventh or eighth grades, when I was alarmed to realize that when I did storytelling framed as lie, people believed me. And gradually over the next few years, when I recognized the damage people around me did themselves by lying to themselves.

It's partly because I genuinely don't want to deceive people, often. And it's partly because I want to preserve a facial appearance of honesty that makes my lies successful, when I employ them.

(I had a little trouble when I began to study French in high school, and had to decide to boycott participation in example sentences that required me to assert untrue things. Learning French and not being a major pain in the arsenal won swiftly, happily.)

All that said, I have never thought that truth telling required total disclosure. Thank God.

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Susan Campbell's avatar

For those of us who sometimes lie for sport (I'm looking at me, actually), it's something like plunging into the Long Island Sound on New Year's Day. It's a good shock to the system.

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Mary Ann Dimand's avatar

*laugh* Yeah, I do enjoy lying!

It's just that in rare circumstances it distresses me to be believed when I lie. :D

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Paul Ashton's avatar

It’s probably best and more complicated to start with the lies we tell ourselves.

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Susan Campbell's avatar

That's TOMORROW. I'm just kidding. I believe you're both deep and wide here. If we are rigorously honest with ourselves, then we are most likely rigorously honest with those around us. We engage in a pattern of behavior that carries over.

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Stan H's avatar

This is so tempting. You are lucky I am a kind person.

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Susan Campbell's avatar

A devil-may-care part of me wants to say: Go for it. But we have been friends a long time and maybe that wouldn’t be a prudent encouragement.

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Jac's avatar

It's 10:16. Have you told a lie yet?

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Susan Campbell's avatar

I have bested my record by 22 minutes (so far). It helps that I haven't had a lot of interaction with people.

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Deacon Art's avatar

Uhhh. I think you’re cute. Damn! Messed up already.

Okay, which one is the lie?

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Susan Campbell's avatar

Good one. The former? I think there is an age past which one should strive for "cute."

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Deacon Art's avatar

Ive reached the age when I am once again “ cute”.

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Susan Campbell's avatar

So it circles back? Thank goodness. I look forward to crossing that ine.

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Deacon Art's avatar

It’s much better than bein’ old and ugly.

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Jan 31, 2022
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Susan Campbell's avatar

I realize that I’ve chosen a day for those when I will have less interaction than usual. Baby steps.

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