The Webs We Weave

Falsehoods can be harmful, even when there is no intention. "White lies" and sins of omission can render as much damage as sins of commission. (Generations that fail to communicate with each other are doomed to hundreds of years of race consciousnesses. Because of the sin of omission. One then relives the sin that was suffer down on the father...) . Intent often appears to be the rational-some falsehoods are seen as polite rationalizations, or simple defense mechanisms. There are polite "benevolent lies" that intend is to spare another pain, "white lies" that appear to be socially acceptable and more ethical that the "Big Black" lie. Forget modern day ethics, the ends do not justify the means; it is never necessary to lie. "Necessity is an interpretation, not a fact. (Nietzsche.) Small lies that start as a cover for small indiscretions lead to larger lies. Furthermore, lies distort the reality of the teller and the receiver. "Your dress looks nice" is the socially acceptable lie that may be as harmful as the blatant truth: "That dress looks like you are auditioning for a job in a mattress factory." The teller is distorted by the lack of true intimacy.

"White lies" are designed to shift the blame or accountability to others or circumstances that we would like to think are out of our control. "I'm late because my clock didn't go off" or "my car didn't start" shifts the blame to inanimate object. This lie becomes so common that when it is true people ignore it. Dishonesty even when candy or r sugar coated, is dishonesty. Sometimes dishonesty is veiled in wild exaggeration or understatement; for instance, let's imagine that we're watching television and the program we are watching says it is brought to us by Proctor and Gamble? (In truth, Proctor and Gamble paid a large fee to round up an audience of potential buyer for their product). Aren't implied lies a key in American marketing? Use this product and you will become rich, beautiful, popular, sexy or thin. Liars weigh the harm of others against their gain. They rationalize that it harmless and they are convinced it's legal if it lacks liability.

White lies can be dangerous, especially when it involves something of value to an individual. "A computer error" does not relieve the responsibility to the consumer. Lost paper work screws up millions of lives every year. White lies could lead to malice if visited upon an already paranoid, revengeful or drug induced person. "Going postal" is the result of the psychic break. Society seems to abdicate the responsibility when some one who is mentally ill is pushed too far. Others are irresponsibly "labeled" so that someone can feel superior, without anyone taking responsibility for the attaching the tag. Maybe this is why Lady Justice were a blindfold.

So, what's the harm? The harm is that lies become habit and lies are cumulative. If something is stated often enough people will begin to believe it. Didn't Bogie really say "Play it again, Sam."? Didn't May West say "Come up and see me sometime."? Lying is progressive and can be pathological as any disease. The psychopath becomes so rehearsed that he begins to believe his own fable. Some find themselves lying when the truth is more convenient. Others could even pass a polygraph.