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Lying - A social necessity?

Lying - A social necessity?

Spirituality


-Removed-
You said her new haircut was “nice?” Did you really think that?

What would you have said if you thought her new haircut was awful? That it was nice but you preferred it the other way?


Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-duke
'Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.' (Proverbs 12:22)


It is my proposition that, socially speaking, the above biblical verse (and others like it) are offering poor advice, and that lying is necessary for the efficient running of society.

Now, I'm 'not' underplaying honesty and integrit ...[text shortened]... society not to grind to a halt. It makes us more efficient as a species and to get things done.
Life becomes so simple when you never lie

A few weeks and you do answer 'fine' EVERY single time you are asked how you are


Originally posted by @karoly-aczel
Life becomes so simple when you never lie

A few weeks and you do answer 'fine' EVERY single time you are asked how you are
Life becomes so simple when you never lie

Word.


Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-duke
Is not an 'untruth' a lie?

I recall, many years ago, while working in a Day Centre for people with dementia, that an elderly lady arrived in the morning with toothpaste smeared all over her face (clearly having mistaken it for face cream). As was her custom and need for reassurance, she asked me how she looked.
I replied something along the lin ...[text shortened]... ternative would have been to say:

"No you don't look good. You have toothpaste on your face."
Tip for a pro: tell them how their soul looks. This is easy and bypasses the physical without lying
All life is a metaphor.
If you see society needing lies then it will
I guess if you can live with your concsience then the Lord approves. Look in the mirror with a clear mind and any impurities will surface


Originally posted by @karoly-aczel
Tip for a pro: tell them how their soul looks. This is easy and bypasses the physical without lying
All life is a metaphor.
If you see society needing lies then it will
I guess if you can live with your concsience then the Lord approves. Look in the mirror with a clear mind and any impurities will surface
I guess if you can live with your concsience then the Lord approves.

This might be true for many, but there are more than a few who don't seem to have much, if any. of a conscience.


Originally posted by @karoly-aczel
Life becomes so simple when you never lie

A few weeks and you do answer 'fine' EVERY single time you are asked how you are
... evil hates it when you are happy. It plagues the righteous but cant touch them

I'm not confident , I just appear that way


Originally posted by @thinkofone
[b]I guess if you can live with your concsience then the Lord approves.

This might be true for many, but there are more than a few who don't seem to have much, if any. of a conscience.[/b]
True that. However , as things come to a head, all beings are affected .


Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-duke
...
lying is necessary for the efficient running of society. ...
I agree. But this slope looks very slippery. I mean, if it is sometimes okay to lie, isn't it sometimes okay to do anything else?


Originally posted by @apathist
I agree. But this slope looks very slippery. I mean, if it is sometimes okay to lie, isn't it sometimes okay to do anything else?
I guess it comes back to motives


Originally posted by @karoly-aczel
... evil hates it when you are happy. It plagues the righteous but cant touch them

I'm not confident , I just appear that way
"Evil hates it when you are happy."


Splendid.


Lying is very counterproductive to "the efficient running of society".

Think about all the time / energy spent in dealing with lies.


I would lie if it benefitted the greater good.

This is a life skill that I'm yet to master.


Originally posted by @karoly-aczel
I would lie if it benefitted the greater good.

This is a life skill that I'm yet to master.
Living outside of reality, i.e., delusion, is the enemy.

While a given lie may superficially seem to benefit society, it can only serve as a detriment in the long term.


Originally posted by @thinkofone
Living outside of reality, i.e., delusion, is the enemy.

While a given lie may superficially seem to benefit society, it can only serve as a detriment in the long term.
The wise know NOT to manipulate but free 'society'


Originally posted by @thinkofone
Living outside of reality, i.e., delusion, is the enemy.

While a given lie may superficially seem to benefit society, it can only serve as a detriment in the long term.
Truth can be crushing to both spirit and drive. In contrast 'a well-intentioned lie' can boost morale and lead to a 12 percent increase in productivity.