Freethought & Rationalism Archive

chekmate · 05-31-2003, 08:42 AM

Simple Question...

Yggdrasill · 05-31-2003, 12:36 PM

In theory, it is never ok to lie; in reality, it is ok to lie if it doesn't hurt anyone, or if it helps someone, while not hurting anyone.

faust · 05-31-2003, 02:22 PM

I checked "ok to lie if it is for my advantage." Not because i'm a selfish, greedy, bastard.. well not -just- because of that

But I suppose it depends on what "for my advantage" means in any given situation.

sakrilege · 05-31-2003, 02:57 PM

This kind of lie?

A false statement deliberately presented as being true; a falsehood.
Something meant to deceive or give a wrong impression.

or this

white lie
An often trivial, diplomatic or well-intentioned untruth.

Definitions from dictionary.com

meritocrat · 05-31-2003, 04:46 PM

It's perfectly OK to lie. Albeit I feel this is depedent on certain situations.

I don't believe it's right to lie in court for example.

But if you're protecting someone's feelings I think it's right to lie.

Kuu · 05-31-2003, 05:04 PM

I think it is OK to lie if it protects someone. For example, I once lied to a man about knowing the whereabouts of his wife. She was hiding from him because he was abusive.

Badfish · 06-01-2003, 01:04 AM

Honesty is best policy.

emphryio · 06-01-2003, 01:05 AM

White lies are not OK. All lies take us away from truth/knowledge and away from happiness.

It's OK to lie to those with power over you who will hurt you in some way for knowing of something of you that there was actually nothing wrong with.

Thing is you often don't know if "they" will try to "hurt" you for knowing something about you.

Some people are far more worried about this possibility and far more dishonest as a result. Some people with less fear are more honest for the same reason.

Some people are just conditioned to hate lying and just can't enjoy life very well while concealing truth.

sakrilege · 06-01-2003, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Badfish
Honesty is best policy.

So you would tell the abusive husband the whereabouts of his hiding wife?

never been there · 06-01-2003, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sakrilege
So you would tell the abusive husband the whereabouts of his hiding wife?

Good question, but you could simply say "I know where she is, and I'm not telling you, you &@#^&@#". But I would only do that if I were:
- bigger than him,
- better-armed than him, and
- twice as psychotic as him.

View Poll Results: When is it OK to lie?
It is always OK to lie.	3	4.84%
It is OK to lie if it is to my advantage.	7	11.29%
It is OK to lie if it is for the good of the people around me.	22	35.48%
It is OK to lie if it doesn't hurt anyone.	16	25.81%
It is never OK to lie.	2	3.23%
Other	12	19.35%
Voters: 62. You may not vote on this poll

05-31-2003, 08:42 AM	#1
chekmate Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Downriver Detroit Posts: 1,961	When is it OK to lie? Simple Question...

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05-31-2003, 12:36 PM	#2
Yggdrasill Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kongsberg, Norway. I'm a: Skeptic Posts: 7,597	In theory, it is never ok to lie; in reality, it is ok to lie if it doesn't hurt anyone, or if it helps someone, while not hurting anyone.

05-31-2003, 02:22 PM	#3
faust Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: baton rouge, la Posts: 539	I checked "ok to lie if it is for my advantage." Not because i'm a selfish, greedy, bastard.. well not -just- because of that But I suppose it depends on what "for my advantage" means in any given situation.

05-31-2003, 02:57 PM	#4
sakrilege Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Folding@Home Godless Team Posts: 6,211	This kind of lie? A false statement deliberately presented as being true; a falsehood. Something meant to deceive or give a wrong impression. or this white lie An often trivial, diplomatic or well-intentioned untruth. Definitions from dictionary.com

05-31-2003, 04:46 PM	#5
meritocrat Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: England Posts: 2,608	It's perfectly OK to lie. Albeit I feel this is depedent on certain situations. I don't believe it's right to lie in court for example. But if you're protecting someone's feelings I think it's right to lie.

05-31-2003, 05:04 PM	#6
Kuu Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Tasmania Posts: 710	I think it is OK to lie if it protects someone. For example, I once lied to a man about knowing the whereabouts of his wife. She was hiding from him because he was abusive.

06-01-2003, 01:04 AM	#7
Badfish Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Death Valley, CA Posts: 1,738	Honesty is best policy.

06-01-2003, 01:05 AM	#8
emphryio Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: WV Posts: 4,369	White lies are not OK. All lies take us away from truth/knowledge and away from happiness. It's OK to lie to those with power over you who will hurt you in some way for knowing of something of you that there was actually nothing wrong with. Thing is you often don't know if "they" will try to "hurt" you for knowing something about you. Some people are far more worried about this possibility and far more dishonest as a result. Some people with less fear are more honest for the same reason. Some people are just conditioned to hate lying and just can't enjoy life very well while concealing truth.

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