What's better? A lie that brings a smile or the truth that brings tears?

[MrDawn]

This question actually draws on an age-old philosophical question about the value of truth when it carries no practical benefits.

My opinion is, if it's a truth that the person needs to know, for whatever reason, then speak it. If speaking the truth is what's better for the long run, then it needs to be said.

On the other hand, if it's a little white lie that's inconsequential beyond making someone feel good, then go ahead and tell it. There's no harm and only positive feelings, so what's so bad about it?

Any ways, curious to see what everyone thinks?

 

[seasidemike]

I would agree with you on your assessment

 

[Dee]

If it's a white lie that'll make the person happy and smile, it's fine. I wouldn't consider that to be a bad thing. But if the person really does need to hear the truth, then that can also be very beneficial as well.

 

[DrLeftover]

My question is: "if they can't trust you in the little things, how can they......"

 

[+paradox]

i don't like those little white lies because who are you to say that it's better for the person or not?

i rather have someone tell me the truth all the time and skip all of the white lies, because white lies are lies, it doesn't matter what one may call the "small lie"...

 

[Jazzy]

To me a lie is a lie no matter how small it may be.

 

[Nebulous]

It depends.

If I don't want you to know something then I'm not going to tell you.  If you ask me a direct question about it then you put me in a situation where I have to lie.  So, it's your fault. Mind your own business.  

 

[MrDawn]

It depends.

If I don't want you to know something then I'm not going to tell you.  If you ask me a direct question about it then you put me in a situation where I have to lie.  So, it's your fault. Mind your own business.  

I totally agree with your statement. I lie all of the time to people at work. People under me. I have to keep things to myself that my fellow managers share with me. If I did go and tell other people, I risk losing my job because its company policy. I lie on a daily basis. 

Some people think its the moral thing to do is tell the truth. Well, work isn't always wearing your moral code or how you feel on your sleeve. This isn't church. This is a business and its imperative that you do what you have to do, even if it means telling a lie to someone who doesn't need to know. 

Telling the truth has always hurt me more than telling a simple lie or twisting the truth and leaving out the parts that matter. I wouldn't be where I am if I told the truth. 

I've seen people get fired for telling the truth and coming forward on things  just to appease their guilt and their morals when they could have kept it to their selves. But because of what a company policy says, doesn't always mean you abide by it. If you can get away with it and its not worth losing your job over. Than I would say its a stupid move to go and tell the truth especially if you're a father with 3 kids and a wife who isn't working. This is common with most young men and women. 

I told the truth once while working in society/job/career, the results were very disappointing and it complicated my life badly. To make a long story short, I got fired...just for admitting the truth. Had I lied I would have kept my job. Seems managers hint that you shouldn't tell them everything that goes on.

Not going to happen again. I strongly believe in Don't Ask and Don't tell as well as need to know. Funny how the truth is a door that swing both ways. It seems a lot of  people love you more when you're telling them what they want to hear, this doesn't always work with everyone though.

 

[Jazzy]

I'll tell you one thing about where I work and in life. You tell that lie to protect yourself or others and sooner or later that lie is going to come back and bite you in the ass. I'd rather lose my job knowing that I was truthful and not a liar.

 

[MrDawn]

I'll tell you one thing about where I work and in life. You tell that lie to protect yourself or others and sooner or later that lie is going to come back and bite you in the ass. I'd rather lose my job knowing that I was truthful and not a liar.

I'm not trying to sound immature or childish in explaining. I'm fully aware of what happens if some one finds out if you have lied, than things are bad. But than I think, things would have gone wrong had I told the truth any way. Some times a lie can buy you time.

You work in the medical field. The gap between the truth and lying depends pretty much where you do work and who you're dealing with. 

So if you were faced with losing your job at a different career. Say it was something small, but because of policy for whatever reason that is. A simple lie can save your job. People are always worried about it coming back to get them. Most of the time, they can't prove it was you. No cameras and no word of mouth. They just want someone to blame it on. 

But say you really did do it and to appease your moral code or religious standards. You tell the truth, than lose your job. But if you lie, not only do they not have a confession from you. They can't fire you either unless you give them a reason. Why else pull you in the office and ask you?

Here's what I do if I have to. I would tell the truth, if they showed me evidence. But if its just an accusation. Than no. I will lie about it like an ass hole. My colleagues know that I'm bit of a shadow as I proudly hold their secrets. They know I won't narc on them It also gives me leverage over them if needed.

I guess, the point is. How far are you willing to go in your career?

Sure if you're a priest or missionary or in the medical field, that is different.

 Sure, no need to lie. If you're in the business to make money though? Well....than thats where things get dirty some times. 

All I'm saying. It works for me and I have no regrets. Thats the truth right there.

 

[Nebulous]

Nobody on earth is 100% honest 100% of the time. You need to assess whatever situation you're in and make the right decision. Sometimes saying the wrong thing is the right thing to do.

 

[~KAGE-008]

Nobody on earth is 100% honest 100% of the time. You need to assess whatever situation you're in and make the right decision. Sometimes saying the wrong thing is the right thing to do.

Seconding this. Sometimes I say lies in order to not let some people down. But when I'm talking with a therapist or new people, I always tend to say the truth.

 

[Shido-kun]

The truth...It's best that your not living your life as a lie..

I can bear any pain,as long as it has a meaning.

 

[Combo]

I tell the best to tell the truth. Everybody lies at some point in their life though. I believe with the OP's assessment. People struggling telling the truth sometimes because they fear the repercussions.

 

[Bluezone777]

I say it is always best to tell the truth even if it appears that no one will benefit or that you might even suffer for it. Each time you tell someone the truth builds trust between both you and the other person. In time, that builds a faith in the other person towards you that will be needed during hard times or when faced with a difficult to accept truth that may only be able to be accepted if you were honest with them when the truth was easy to handle and believe. It is important that when you tell the truth that it be out of compassion and not to hurt or degrade the other person to make yourself feel better then them.

 

[DrLeftover]

Most people know, if you don't want to hear the truth, don't ask me a question.

Works for me.

 

[+paradox]

Most people know, if you don't want to hear the truth, don't ask me a question.

Works for me.

i like speaking the truth...

and what gets me frustrated is if you ask me something then i'll tell you, if you like the truth or not then that's up to you... but don't tell me a lie because you're scared or that you might hurt my feelings, if it's that bad then you must of did something wrong worth lying about...

and the sad thing is i know exactly who is telling me the truth or not, and sometimes i don't bother telling them i know that it was a lie that they told me or calling them out on the bs, i just simply go on with my life knowing exactly what was said... yes, i have a great memory...

still doesn't mean i hold grudges and aim for revenge as that's not me, especially for a lie that shouldn't have been said to me in the first place as when i find out i'll probably be more pissed off about me being lied to instead of what the lie was or was about...

tell me the truth and you'll be good...