Following on from Rowan Simpson’s Ignite Presentation (which unfortunately I couldn’t get along to in person), I started thinking about lying and cheating.

To be honest, I wouldn’t WANT to live in a world without lies. I have no issue with the small lies we say to smooth over harsh realities. I also think story telling is confused with lying, in the examples of Santa and the Tooth fairy, there is something to be said for teach children to imagine a world that isn’t right there in front of them. Im unconvinced there are any long term downsides to believing in Santa as a child. I also don’t think there’s an awful lot wrong with the odd ‘no your pimple isn’t noticeable’, ‘you did really well!’, ‘oh no one would have noticed the spinach in your teeth’ kind of lie… In some circumstances, when there is really nothing to be done for it, isn’t it best to attempt to make someone feel better?

But this leaves the question, where IS the line? As Rowan pointed out, we are the first to cry foul in sports games when the OTHER team cheats, but turn a blind eye when WE get away with something untoward. We also complain loudly when someone short changes us, but how many people actually speak up when they are given TOO MUCH change?

I know when someone is caught out for lying, their apologies seem to be more focused around their regret at getting CAUGHT rather than the regret they feel for being a slime ball in the first place. But then I also wonder if this isn’t so much about lying as it is about the need to believe that no matter what you do, you are a good person… Which makes it hard to acknowledge the times that you’ve caused more harm that good.

Hmm so no really resolutions on the subject, but thanks Rowan for supplying something to think about in any spare moment I’ve had in the past few days… :)