Lying is so unreal to me. Why would you purposefully say something you know isn't true? I understand mistakes. I erroneously say things that are not true because at the time my extent of knowledge does not reveal otherwise. Intentionally spreading misinformation causes confusion!
If anyone has some reading recommendations for me on why people lie, or do dishonest things like cheating, stealing, and sneakily killing, I'd appreciate. It's been decades and I still don't understand why people want to cause problems for themselves and others. It lacks honor!
No saint claim. I'd never intentionally lie, cheat, steal, or sneakily kill, but I AM violent and have vices and beliefs not beneficial to others. Yet integrity is at the crux of me. I deeply believe in honor, truth, justice, passion, and beauty! Why doesn't everyone value these?
I know people may need to lie to protect themselves, cheat to survive, steal to eat, etc. Why is it like this, though? What is right? My head gets hazy and I get nauseous thinking about it. Survival may be more important than honor, but as a personal preference I may favor death.
I grew up abused. I've been in thousands of situations where a lie could have spared or protected me from horror. I've been homeless, where stealing could have stopped deep pains of hunger or cold. But if I find out I accidentally did something dishonest I feel so physically ill.
I'd love to open this discourse and get some help with the philosophy and psychology we're dealing with in this topic. Feel free to use my message inbox if needed. I think I need to study it. I feel late to the game on this topic because society seems to understand and accept it.
P.S. I understand that jokes with untruths aren't automatically lies. Though jokes may include information that is not true, they're playfully used with the very intent to be perceived and explicitly understood that they're NOT true. Lies are untruths used with intent to mislead.
Additionally, I also understand that one form of joke is exaggeration. Is that right, in how they connect in usage? A situation where something is not true, but is built on a truth that has been playfully enhanced. Like calling a person over six feet a "giant" as cultural slang?
