When the going gets tough, politicians are likely to start fibbing. I don't even find it surprising anymore.
What does surprise me is people in real life who tell lies with regularity. (I really do not lie unless I feel my life depends on telling a lie. In the first place, my memory is shaky so I could never remember what lie I told. In the second place, I really don't "care" enough to lie.)
When Alex was in the Navy, he had a roommate named Todd. Now Todd was a nice enough guy, but he was truly a liar. Whatever Alex did, Todd had to one-up Alex. If Alex got a new car, Todd got a new better car. If Alex graduated from college, Todd got his PhD from Harvard. If Alex went to Europe, Todd went on a year long world tour. Todd lied. He told ridiculous lies and Alex never really minded. Todd was visiting us several years ago. It was during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Todd was working for PG&E as a CAD operator and told us that he was going to have to go to New Orleans to support the rescue operations. Alex was in the National Guard at the time and waiting to see if he would be called up to go.
I expressed the thought that I hoped neither of them had to go. Todd said, "Are you kidding? I'm dying to go!" Really? Yes. Todd said he would be earning $500 a minute from the time he got on the plane for New Orleans. Alex just said "Wow!"
I wondered why a CAD (computer aided design) draftsman from Pacific Gas and Electric would be sent to New Orleans. I also wondered about $500 an hour. Do draftsmen really command that hourly rate? I left it alone since Todd was Alex's old friend but it really made me wonder.
I have a close relative who is also a liar. How can I tell she's lying? Her lips are moving. This person tells outrageous lies perhaps in the hopes that because the lie is so huge, people just might believe it. I've never understood the "why" of it.
It may be that insecurity and feelings of inadequacy make some people tell lies.
Actually, I can understand the Bill Clinton's of the world along with the Anthony Weiner's much more easily. They have something to lose and something to protect by lying. What I will never understand is the idle lies that nobody gives a damn about in the first place.
For more takes on lies and liars, please check out "We Work For Cheese".
Your first line had me laughing right away! I had a college roomie who was a pathological liar. I had never met one before. It was CRAZY... Lies that didn't even make any sense! BIG lies... I just don't get it.
ReplyDeleteI seriously don't get the lying thing either. I like how you put it because I feel I can relate to it, too. I just don't "care" enough to lie. I hate it when people even exaggerate. Because to me, it's still lying. I suspect people lie because they don't get enough attention when they simply tell the truth. But lie, and you get a more desired response. It's sad.
ReplyDeleteYou know, it seems to me that a lot of lies are based on wanting to make yourself superior to who and what you are. You exaggerate the amount of money you have. You exaggerate the length of time and where you went to school. You lie about where you lived growing up. You lie about your children's accomplishments. I've never felt those things were important and I'm satisfied with my humble truths. If someone else feels they need to "impress" me, please do so with your wit, your charm, and your personality.
ReplyDeleteI don't get it either and fortunately, I have only encountered a couple of people in my life who were actually liars. Yes, I will tell my friend with the long wavy auburn hair that her new short haircut is cute. After the fact, you may use a white lie to avoid hurting someone. But I'd never encourage a friend to buy a dress that was ugly on her. The lies I'm talking about are the ridiculous "I dated Tom Cruise or Angelina Jolie" type thing. Or "I broke the world record for high school track", or "I was the Mayor of Racine, Wisconsin". Things that you know didn't happen. That just horrifies me. And it embarrasses me for the person telling the lie.
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister.
ReplyDeleteMy aunt tells lies I wonder if she even realizes she is doing it. I think it does come from a need to feel superior to others. She has always had issues with that.
ReplyDeleteIt's disconcerting to say the least. I really can't begin to understand the motivation for doing it. The problem is, most of the time the liar has to know that his or her audience knows better. Yet, they still do it
ReplyDeleteHere's the line I identified with Linda: my memory is shaky so I could never remember what lie I told. I'm with you on that one. I covered federal politics in Canada for 5 years and sure there were untruths being told but I think Clinton set the bar pretty high and politicians everywhere have been trying to catch up ever since.
ReplyDeleteI feel ya, John! I really do (but not in "that" way).
ReplyDeleteI believe lying if fear-driven. Public figures are no different from the average Joe. The two things we all fear are losing something we have and not getting something we want/need. Put that into any context you can think of ~ from the tangible to the intangible ~ and it'll always play out the same way. As a fear-based behavior, lying makes perfect sense to me even though it's not in anyone's best interest.
ReplyDeleteUnless I'm dealing with an addict under the influence, therefore expecting to hear nothing but lies, I honestly don't understand the pathological liar.
When the butler woke me up this morning, I was a mess. My personal stylist came running to my rescue. After all, I had to look my best for my meeting with Michelle Obama. She is appointing me the Physical Fitness Queen of America. I'll be sitting in on all the White House meetings. I'll be giving press conferences oh how other citizens can be as attractive as me. I'll be making $501 an hour.
ReplyDeleteBut see, Malisa, I think all this makes sense seein' as it's you. It's those ragtag fools saying it that doesn't make sense!
ReplyDeleteI don't get it at all either, other than I think it is a mental health issue. It's just one I don't want to have to deal with.
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm really impressed with how awesome you are, Malisa.
ReplyDeleteIt's ludicrous to hear some people lying left and right. Do they seriously think we're going to believe all that crap? I have a little kid in my class right now that does it and I fear what life is going to be like for him later on. I always wonder what it is they are lacking that makes them need to make stuff up.
ReplyDeleteWith kids sometimes I think it's just wild imagination. With people over the age of 40, it's a problem.
ReplyDeleteI've always been really impressed with Malisa. But just between you and me, I think she has a "houseboy", not a butler.
ReplyDeleteCurrently dealing with a liar and it hurts. It hurts a lot.
ReplyDeleteYou've been dealing with a bad situation for a while now. Maybe it's time for a change, Nubian. Change can be scary, I know, but it can also be liberating. Think about it.
ReplyDeleteLinda, you make so many good points. I agree with you that some pathological liars, lie to build themselves up. I have to think their self-esteem is low and they are trying to shore it up. But people that lie about inconsequential things doesn't seem to make sense. Unlike the politicians that have something to lose who cares how much someone would get paid in New Orleans. That is just grand standing. Interesting post, Linda.
ReplyDeleteOne thing, Cheryl, is that when you know somebody is a compulsive liar, you can sort of make yourself immune to their nonsense.
ReplyDelete"I have a close relative who is also a liar. How can I tell she's lying? Her lips are moving." -- that's a shame, really. But the way you worded that made me laugh out loud.
ReplyDeleteAnd liars are just the worst. And also, those "one-upper" people are truly annoying!!
It's funny, Meleah, because I really don't lie about much of anything. Yeah, I'll tell a friend I like her haircut because what is she going to do, glue the hair back on? But that's about the extent of it. Some people are really weird about what they lie about.
ReplyDeleteTotally.
ReplyDelete