"YOU NEED CHAOS IN YOUR SOUL TO GIVE BIRTH TO A DANCING STAR".
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Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Truth or * Truthiness?

Much to my disappointment very few things in life are black and white (only because black and white matters are usually easier to deal with) and thankfully, absolute.
However one of them should be truth.
Truth, as pregnancy is , should be absolute …
shouldn’t it?

According to a “Dateline” reported survey a couple of years ago, 80% of us lie on a regular basis/all day long.
Ay, Chihuahua – that’s pathetic!
That had absolutely stunned me, as I was brought up to tell the truth and assumed, still assume, that all speak the truth, unless indicated otherwise -
at least most of the time…

Seldom have I omitted or altered the facts, or told/tell a white lie… mostly to my mother, whom could never handle any kind of truth.
Lied straight face twice in all these years – to save my skin – gave it a loooot of thought before hand and was engulfed in remorse afterwards, until someone I confided in suggested “we need to do what we need to do” to survive… no harm was done to another, just an impossible situation.
(That little fact may account for my immense popularity at times! he-he)

80% of the people lie most of the time!
So, why am I surprised even aghast to find, that someone I recently met consistently tells the approximate truth, tells the “truthiness”.
This person does not tell a “total, complete lie”, but never-the-less, tells a misrepresentation of facts, a misleading approximation to the truth.
Personally, I find this style of behaviour impossible to stomach, as it not only creates an "uneven playing field", but it also eliminates any possible shred of credibility.

Have we become accustomed to this possibility, and fator it in under “taking it all with a grain of salt”?
Is truth in social interaction important to you?
Is it still part of an individuals integrity and responsibility?
Is truthiness here to stay?


* Truthiness Voted 2005 Word of the Year
In its 16th annual words of the year vote, the American Dialect Society voted truthiness as the word of the year.
Recently popularized on the Colbert Report, a satirical mock news show on the Comedy Central television channel, truthiness refers to the quality of preferring concepts or facts one wishes to be true, rather than concepts or facts known to be true.
As Stephen Colbert put it, “I don’t trust books. They’re all fact, no heart.” Other meanings of the word date as far back as 1824.

13 comments:

krystyna said...

Hi Angel.
Interesting post.
I am little shock - 80% of us lie?
May be it is true.
But why?

Good luck and blessings to you!

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

I was shocked a lot, Krystyna
Why?
I have no idea.
Possibly to gain "advantage" over others.
A warped survival skill?

Belonging to the other 20% I find it hard to imagine why - it must take an awful lot of energy and very good memory, to live in the lies.

It is highly possible that a deep rooted lack of self-esteem, and self-loathing, are the culprits in this cases...

However, I do not know for sure.
Very disappointing, to say the least.

Love and blessings

krystyna said...

I think, that some people lie but not want to hurt anybody.
This is as a "bad" habit. For eg. kids (old kids too) want to be good, acceptable.

Warm greatings to you Angel.
Have a great day!

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

I was also thinking that their lies do become their "reality", and they come to live as such...

Personally, when I find out, I must stay away... there is no common ground.

Love and joy

Bazza said...

95% of statistics are made up on the spot.

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

he-he-he bazza

I understand this figure came about as a recult of a study that incorporated, among other things "Resumes/Curriculum Vitae", on the other hand... may be 80% told white lies...
hmmm!
:)

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

bazza,
on further thought... is it your actual perception that what we hear - as with the present "administration" - is mostly true?
I am sure not.
Therefore, as it also appears to be acceptable, in general, why do you think that would be?

QUASAR9 said...

Hi Angel Dust,
some people live a lie

There is deceitful lying - cheating on partners, etc...
and there is fantasy or make believe, films, books, Santa Klaus and the reindeer

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Ah, quasar9

Last night I heard someone ask: If the person that tells the lie believes it, does it then mean that it is true? :)

As you so pointed out above, fantasy and make believe, along with "angel dust - dusties" are actually blooms from the heart... becuase they are intended to bring joy, entertainment, stimulation to others in a "separate pre-determined setting"...

Thanks for bring up the lighter side of things!

Dusties to you!

Anonymous said...

I think they are taking into account the kidding or bs that some engage in as a fun trait rather than lies such as those told by Bush etc for world dominance slants. Not all "lies" are even near the same... I for one think 80% of people telling lies all day long is quite exaggerated which proves my point yet makes the poll or survey itself a lie. So considering that anomaly I'd say it's a dead issue.

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Interesting comment from "thepoetryman", as I imagine also "civilians" engage in "creative communication" sometime during their daily activities.

Thanks for the visit and for stirring it a bit!

Anonymous said...

Some people just can't handle the truth, so they lie because it is easier. But later on, the truth inevitably catches up with them and they have no choice but to face it.

Loving your blog! c",)

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Irene, thanks for your visit and comments

I hopped over to yours and find it spectacular!

Love and joy to you.