Is it worth it living your life without lying?

[cupoftea]

Is it worth it? What does it get you besides a "place in heaven"? I can't believe how many times a simple small lie has saved my skin, mostly stuff related to school . Is it worth it to be a perfectly honest person your whole life?

[The Million Dollar Prons]

I've found really no benefit to lying. It doesn't impress people, it doesn't really give you any lasting benefit, and in fact I'd almost say it doesn't even aliviates (OH MY LORD YOU'RE A MILLIONAIRE BUT YOU CAN'T AFFORD A DICTIONARY PRONS) social awkwardness. On the flip side I can think of a whole lot wrong with lying.

[Col. Tartleton]

Honesty is hard short term. Dishonesty only offers temporary relief and hits you harder later.

Lying is thus a bad choice (mostly.)

I think lying is okay so long as what you say still happens before they find out otherwise.

Like "Yes, I already took out the trash." is fine if you're about to take out the trash and you don't want to be bothered with "Well why haven't you already done it?" or "What were you doing instead?" followed by "Why the hell are you always nagging me?" or "Can't a man :wub: in piecepeace? It's not like you're putting out right now..." followed by "Oh so you think I'm a nag. All I do is nag nag nag!" or "You're disgusting, get away from me." followed by "I didn't mean it like that." or "I'm sorry! I just want to have sex! Damnit!"

So yeah lying can be okay sometimes if you don't get caught.

[Manco]

Honesty is hard short term. Dishonesty only offers temporary relief and hits you harder later.

Depends on what kind of lies.

Lying against people close to you about important stuff could (I said could, not will) have some nasty consequences.
But minor stuff, or against people you don't or barely know? Nearly no chance of repercussions.

[Col. Tartleton]

Depends on what kind of lies.

Lying against people close to you about important stuff could (I said could, not will) have some nasty consequences.
But minor stuff, or against people you don't or barely know? Nearly no chance of repercussions.

I believe I suggested as much in my post you quoted. You've got to go beyond the first line gentlemen...

I think it's often harmless but if it's harmless to lie it's probably also harmless to be truthful.

I mean if you're trying to get into bed with a girl a bit of lying isn't going to be as useful as a bit of truth. Truth is funnier than fiction and funny is sexier than cool and sexy is better than meh and better is good.

[The spartan]

It depends on what moral system you are trying to fulfill. I have no problem with lying, especially as a Utilitarian, I am only concerned if it will have a good effect overall. Lying is great really, think how boring life would be without it. Art would not be as near as interesting without it, neither would literature. The premise of something false being presented as true is a big basis of entertainment and creativity.

[CamilleBonparte]

Wait, according to what religion do you get into heaven by never lying?

Anyway, honesty is generally the best policy. It's easier to live your life when you aren't entangled in your own web of lies, or having to remember what lie to live up to when dealing with certain people. I've found even small lies in seemingly inconsequential circumstances can lead into something much bigger, so you're probably better off just telling the truth in the first place. So yes, I'd say it's worth it, but my answer has nothing to do with acquiring "a place in heaven".

[Panic]

People lie because they do not want to face the consequences of their actions or they wanna get something by lying.For an example "money frauds".

Is it worth it to be a perfectly honest person your whole life?
Ofcorse it is worth to be honest thru your whole life.I know it from my own experience that people will start to look at you with respect and they know that you never lie.I have won peoples trust with pure honesty.Now the situation is like this that people trust their secrets and thoughts to me(what ever it is) and they know that I wont tell anyone else.
Personally i think that what makes you a man is that you do not lie.When people know that you tell the truth all the time then they will know that if you say something then it will be done by at any cost.

That makes me wonder if some people are cowards that they lie when they do not want to face the consequences of their actions?

[DimeBagHo]

(1) If you are lying in order to manipulate other people into doing what you want, then that is just as bad as any other method of undermining the autonomy of others.
(2) A clear conscience is a valuable thing. Even if you only lie about small stuff, if it's just small stuff then is it really worth any amount of anxiety about getting caught or any amount of guilt?
(3) A reputation for honesty is a valuable thing. If you lie easily then people will catch on, even if they don't say anything about it, and your word will become worthless.
(4) If you feel the need to lie, even about small things, then that is symptomatic of one of two serious problems: (a) you are doing something that you yourself consider to be wrong and are ashamed of; or (b) your condition is servile and and you fear the opinions of those who dominate you.

In case (a) you will be much happier if you develop some self-discipline and live up to your own standards. In case (b) you will be much happier if you grow a spine and stop being so servile. Of course, if your circumstances are such that you will be physically harmed if you don't do what your masters tell you to do, then you face a tougher choice. You can choose freedom and suffer the consequences or, or accept servitude and try to get away with what you can.

[Denny Crane!]

What is good is good.

If a lie makes someone feel bad its bad. Admittedly that particular statement is full of holes, ultimately the answer lies in what is right for you and what is right for them and a balance needs to be found there. It isn't easy but then that is why morality is a buddhists focus for life.

[leeho730]

What isn't lie? People believed, up to 600 years ago, that sun revolved around the earth. Which means those scientist have lied. How about religion? If their god does not exist, it means they've been lying too.

At personal level, majority of people would start to lie before becoming philosophically mature.

[Denny Crane!]

What isn't lie? People believed, up to 600 years ago, that sun revolved around the earth. Which means those scientist have lied. How about religion? If their god does not exist, it means they've been lying too.

At personal level, majority of people would start to lie before becoming philosophically mature.

Still right to lie sometimes mate. "does my ass look big in this dress?" Sometimes you have to say yes, a suggestion to work out can be couched far more favourably and involves less physical violence

[DaniCatBurger]

Is it worth it to be a perfectly honest person your whole life?

Yes, I think it is worth to be honest if it means to be honest with oneself.

[O.Chrysostomos]

Even if you were on a deserted island alone you would still be lying, lying to yourself. Lying is essential for social animals like human beings; if you were 100% unequivocally honest you'd be viewed as a boor, a person with no social graces, or online as a Troll.

[boofhead]

I'm known as a very honest and straightforward person in the real world. I admit my errors, I deny things I haven't done, and if I say I'm going to do something I do it.

And it has stood me in good stead, especially at work. People around me can lie all they want to cover things up or make themselves good - they then have something to always worry about, getting caught out. I'm just honest and prove my worth by being good at what I do and getting results year after year.

It's a much better way. I'm the one reaping the rewards, while they lag behind lying, , squabbling and backstabbing.

[DaniCatBurger]

I'm known as a very honest and straightforward person in the real world. I admit my errors, I deny things I haven't done, and if I say I'm going to do something I do it.

And it has stood me in good stead, especially at work. People around me can lie all they want to cover things up or make themselves good - they then have something to always worry about, getting caught out. I'm just honest and prove my worth by being good at what I do and getting results year after year.

It's a much better way. I'm the one reaping the rewards, while they lag behind lying, , squabbling and backstabbing.

I see it in a similar way.

... if you were 100% unequivocally honest you'd be viewed as a boor, a person with no social graces, or online as a Troll.

I think you're wrong but your understanding of lying may just be different from mine.

[Tacitursa]

If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything. ~Mark Twain

[O.Chrysostomos]

I think you're wrong but your understanding of lying may just be different from mine.

How many "understandings" of lying are there? To lie is to neglect to tell the truth. You might then ask, what is truth but that's a topic for another thread.

If you tell the truth all the time without qualification you will upset and offend people, it's inevitable.

[xcorps]

How many "understandings" of lying are there? To lie is to neglect to tell the truth. You might then ask, what is truth but that's a topic for another thread.

If you tell the truth all the time without qualification you will upset and offend people, it's inevitable.

Not upsetting or offending people has less value than integrity?

What a difficult time some people must have with life.

[DaniCatBurger]

How many "understandings" of lying are there? To lie is to neglect to tell the truth. You might then ask, what is truth but that's a topic for another thread.

If you tell the truth all the time without qualification you will upset and offend people, it's inevitable.

As I have said my understanding of lie corresponds with the practical notion of honesty in Boofhead's post.
There can be situations where we silence.
We do not need to track eachother to tell us what we think of eachother, if we do not ask the other
or if it appears to us we would not want talk about something then we will respect this probably, too.

Not upsetting or offending people has less value than integrity?

Yup, they do not exclude another.
Our own integrity should not be seen entirely separate from the integrity of the other we face.
My self-respect implies that I show respect to you.