Is it ever OK to lie?

Question

sawno · Accepted Answer

In my opinion, yes, if It's for the sake of self-preservation / safety and you are otherwise forced to answer. That doesn't mean it should be ok to do things that put you in a position where you'd have to lie however. You should be as trustworthy and reliable as possible. But if you have to lie to get out of an otherwise unfair situation I think that can be justified.

For example, anyone who lied that they took the vaccine to keep their job / friends. Lying about your sex life to people who shouldn't be asking that to begin with (Such as colleagues).

So basically anything dangerous situation, anything to counter something immoral / inappropriate, etc.
Doesn't mean I advocate for lying or want to lie myself, I go out of my way to avoid it as much as possible and if my ex were to see and comment on this post she'd probably confirm I am truthful to an extent you won't often see from others.

And then there is the last category where you are expected to lie. For example the "How are you?" at the start of a business call. Nobody cares what the real answer is its just a greeting. They expect you to tell you are fine, even if you aren't. But for that one I always either say the truth if I can reasonably do so or I find a loophole such as answering "Ready to help".

Chazmatazz269 · Accepted Answer

Not if the intent is to deceive. We “lie” when we’re keeping a surprise a secret. We “lie” when we tell jokes and pull pranks. We “lie” when we deal in hyperbole and sarcasm. None of which are founded on an intent to deceive, least of all for personal gain.
Sometimes it takes some serious examination to understand why you might lie before you decide to do so. Let me give you a prominent example, the “white” lie. You think it’s okay to tell your friend she looks nice in an outfit that doesn’t flatter her at all. Harmless, right? After all you’re doing it to spare her feelings. If it’s just the two of you, you might even get away with it. But what happens when she runs into someone who isn’t so afraid of tough love? The truth comes out and now she’s triply hurt. 1) She’s hurt that she doesn’t look as good as you suggested. 2) She’s embarrassed that other people saw her not looking her best when she thought she was. 3) Her best friend lied to her, leading to all that hurt and embarrassment.
The truth ALWAYS comes out. Remember that before you lie. If the truth hurts, don’t compound it with lies. Be honest, always.

IslaTheWitch · Accepted Answer

on everything you can look at from many different perspectives...

I don't lie, I see it as being unfair... but also, it's inconvenient if I have to remember what I said to whom... so I don't lie...

but as some people already mentioned, there are situations when lies can save people's lives... and I think it's alright to deceive bad guys who want to harm someone close to you...

TheRealPepperPotts · Accepted Answer

There is a similar question I answered over at this link:

ohsheeT · Answer

. I don't know I have a thing about lying I feel if I lie then that means I can't be honest that means I have to be somebody else because I don't want somebody to know a certain thing I would rather just be honest and if people don't like the truth it's okay at least I know who I am and I know people come to me just because they know they can trust in my word. .. . The truth is the truth and I think that's what we all search for..

If I do something wrong I did it for a reason I don't want to lie about it I'll be straight up and say why I did it but I did

AviatorTom · Answer

Yes, in some critical situations, for example if your family is threatened, it's okay to lie about where they are.

Account · Answer

If I have to cover for a family or a friend then yes. It is okay.

slatyb · Answer

Yes, it is OK to lie sometimes. Lying is just an utterance. The consequences of the lie are important. Lying to obtain something from someone that they wouldn't give you if they knew the truth is theft by fraud. For example, breaking a vow of monogamy steals the other person's time -- if they knew you weren't faithful they would end the relationship. On the other hand, one is under no obligation to provide truthful answers to strangers. A woman asked for a date by an unwanted suitor is free to give him whatever she thinks will get him to go away with the least trouble: "I'm in a relationship", "I'm don't have time to date", "I'm leaving the city soon" are all fine, even if the truth is "I'm in a relationship with my cat", "I don't have time to date you", "I'm leaving the city in ten years".

genericname85 · Answer

i think it's ok to "modify the truth". i'm woring in social pedagogy with teenagers from low ressource social backrounds during their apprenticeship.

these people have difficulty learning responsibility and profesionalism. so i typically "slightly" lie to them when it comes to the exact number of days they "can" be sick during their apprenticeship. cause if i told them the truth, many of them would just use all the sick days cause they think they're smart and minimizing their work load... and then they actually get sick and can't work and get kicked out. so i always leave some room there for that to happen.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes. Men lie to women all the time for good reasons. Example: Does this dress make me look fat? Even if she’s fat most men are going to say no it looks great, I like it. Men may lie to women about money because he doesn’t want her to worry about their finances. Is that the best thing to do? No, but men do that at times to protect her. I think in general society does lie to women a lot about things because women tend to get their feelings hurt easily. We lie to women about how beautiful she really is when we know she’s not the good looking. Parents lie to their kids. I think if society told women the truth the way society tells men the truth they’d be devastated.

Anonymous · Answer

yes... its good to lie too IFFFF its to save someone's good bond with someone if its not a huge ass lie... and if something u did in oast n repented and now u think people will make a big deal n itd go against your resoect now that u dont do that anymore and u left all that in past then yes u should lie or hide... and if u think its just a casual conversation and not a matter of court or justice, then whatever bad stuff u do just dont make it seem common or funny or smart or cool and do its promotion, rather just lie and say no u dont do so for example cigarette etc etv

Miristheiss · Answer

No, for the most part it is not. I mean there are exceptions. When the Third Reich was looking for Jews to round up for the concentration camps it was morally justified to not let on you know where any were but outside of a few exceptions the truth is always best.

Singing_Hollow · Answer

Yes but only in certain situations. eg. to keep a birthday secret, life and death situations. Honesty is always the first option but if your lying is harmless to the other person or people then I think its reasonable to do so.

SotiCoto · Answer

I physically can't, except under extreme duress... and I only recall that ever happening once.
I hate the way most people are so casual with their deceit. Consistency of information is more important to me than almost anything else. Certainly it is more important to be honest than to be nice. I value honesty over my own safety... though not above my freedom, strictly.
So no, it isn't okay to lie. It isn't even okay to believe that it is okay to lie.

normalice · Answer

Lies are the padding between our consciousness and the nature of reality. Just as a body can not survive without its skin so too can a mind not survive without lies.

That is not an excuse to get fat, of course..

noohair · Answer

When I was married, I told my wife things she wanted to hear. Were they lies? Lying leads to the loss of truth and that is not good.

How many guys were asked by their wife or girlfriend, "is my ass too big?" What is the correct answer?

elaphe · Answer

Technically no, but I suppose a "little white lie" might be okay to spare someone's feelings. For example, suppose your friend or coworker gets a new hairstyle and asks you for your opinion and you hate it. What are you going to say.

DishLady · Answer

in my opinion no… and even GAPS in a story are unnervingly frustrating to discover… And if I find I’ve made a gaffe and skipped something, I do my best to figure it out and correct it.

Ms_Facesitter · Answer

I don't think it's okay, but some people can't handle the truth and will cause drama, so I will lie instead to save myself from having my day ruined.

sage2021 · Answer

Nope, nope, and nope! Not ever, never, ever! Unless it will keep someone from dying

DrPepper12 · Answer

If I say yes or no how would you know if I'm lying? 😉 Yes. Lying has a place time and purpose. Morals and ethics are situational and there's always an exception

SphynxUK · Answer

Sometimes white lies are required, but overall, for me, lying is difficult.

BCRanger10 · Answer

Lie? No. Use  mental reservations  though? Yes.

TommyMountainFigure · Answer

If hiding the truth prevented a nuclear war, I'd certainly say so!

jshm2 · Answer

Yes. When under duress, when telling jokes, etc.  To lie is to be human.

worldscolide · Answer

It depends. If my honesty will cost an innocent life, then I will lie. Otherwise it's never acceptable.

Karmrajsingh · Answer

NAHH.. IT ISN'T OKH TO LIE RELATIONSHIP WORKS WHEN BOTH PERSONS ARE UNDERSTANDABLE SO JUST SHARE WHAT EVER THE THING IS IF HE SHE WON'T UNDERSTAND THEN THERE IS A LOOP HOLE WHERE YOU HAVE TO THINK ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP

deus_ex_sisyphus · Answer

Its always ok to lie with good intentions, but I do believe there should be no lies between partners.

LiamS95 · Answer

No, you will usually get caught in your lies.

OtterMan68 · Answer

to save a life. to children about Santa and the Tooth Fairy, etc.

whistlingwh0res · Answer

without the lie there is no truth and without the truth there is no lie

juliaanita · Answer

I'm not lying here; no.

Jennz6 · Answer

Everyone tells a lie

Anonymous · Answer

It’s never right, but I would only do it to save someone I love.

ManInChains · Answer

Depends on who you’re lying to

Aakash_Hangargi · Answer

The world itself started on a lie

exitseven · Answer

Yes, sometimes you just cannot avoid it

beautyqueen985 · Answer

Never ok , it’s wrong

MattyIce_IceBaby · Answer

No not a good idea.

MemeSupreme · Answer

yeah why not

SunnyRS · Answer

It is, according to me.

Anonymous · Answer

Only if you're a democrat, darlin'.

Agape93 · Answer

Yeap

Jaz2022 · Answer

fuck no

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

No..

lorenzomichael · Answer

Sure it is.

jahaims · Answer

Duh.

Cheerguy · Answer

Yes it's necessary

Kingofkings1992 · Answer

Yes.

Is it ever OK to lie?

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