Does truth really matter?
By Clint Perry
@cperry2 (5608)
Newport, Oregon
February 15, 2020 1:06pm CST
My gut response to this is 'Yes, of course it does.' The problem is that when I begin to think about the question, I look around and realize that each of us lies to ourselves, we are lied to every single day, and we tend to lie nearly every day.
Before you go screaming at me, how many times do you tell yourself you can do something when in reality you have no clue whether or not you can. You may think you can, but in truth there is no real basis for that belief. Or, you say to yourself it is okay to eat that doughnut piece of pie, or slice of cake when you know you are already overweight, or --- well, you get the picture.
If you watch TV, listen to the radio, read magazines, read novels, you are subjected to lying in the guise of commercials or in the case of a novel, a story that is false but made to feel and seem real. TV shows often are like novels, false stories designed to make us feel good, bad, scared, or outraged. We ignore these lies; treat them as if they do not matter at all.
This begs another question, would we be where we are in the world without those little lies we tell ourselves? When Edison told himself he could make a light that used electricity and would light up the world, how many times did he prove just the opposite, that he could not make such a light before he was finally successful? The little lie, 'I can do this,' is a powerful tool. It gives us permission to do what has not been done before.
So, we have become so desensitized to dishonesty, does truth even really matter?
Maybe a better question is, when does truth matter?
Photo is mine --- Burrowing Owl
6 people like this
6 responses
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
16 Feb 20
@cperry2 It has happened to me in the past, that my friends hide the truth from me because they were afraid I would get hurt. It was a big mistake, it's better to know the truth early than late and take your own decisions and not waste your time. I don't know why some people prefer to stay in the dark.
I want to believe that the truth will come out. You have a point because we only know about the times it was revealed.
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
15 Feb 20
It is all too true that we cannot always be truthful with people. Some truths people are not prepared to hear.
I am not so sure the truth eventually comes out. I would like to believe this though.
Certainly, some people who are under a microscope of public opinion will usually be found out when the do something dishonest. But unless there are compelling reasons for the truth to surface, does it?
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@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
16 Feb 20
@besweet As much as I agree with you on knowing the truth sooner than later, I know that this is not how people act in reality. I believe most of them mean well, I do not think they are thinking about the long term effects of the dishonesty. They just want to avoid giving pain, or they do not want to have to get dragged into a discussion they feel uncomfortable with. Their dishonesty, for whatever reason, causes a trust issue that will affect a relationship latter on. One day when they need you to believe them, there will be questions because theywere less than honest back then.
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
15 Feb 20
@kanuck1 Well, you will get no argument from me on that last part. I question the first part, only because there are times when a person to whom I am speaking is in no way ready for the truth. Granted, the best thing here is to say nothing, or deflect the conversation, but adding pain to someone who is already up to their neck in it is not something I can do easily. And I suppose this might come down to the person I am speaking to. If I care for them deeply, I will be honest, that is my duty as a friend or lover. On the other hand, if it is someone who is an acquaintance and I can not avoid a direct answer, I can see I might be open to telling a fabrication designed to ease them through a situation.
I would never say this is the best solution but neither is blunt honesty in some situations.
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@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
15 Feb 20
I fully understand. Where is the line between truth and determination to do something that has never been done? Telling ourselves we can do this is very powerful, and Edison must have told himself something like that many many times. I wish there were some less offensive way of saying it.
Working towards something that has never been done, telling ourselves we can do it, are great things, and strong motivators, but the underlying truth of it is we do not know we can do something until we do it. Maybe it isn't a lie per se to believe we can accomplish something but is it really true when we honestly do not know and have no way of knowing until we accomplish it? For me, it is an interesting question. One that I do not have an easy answer for.
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@LadyDuck (471459)
• Switzerland
16 Feb 20
I think you are right about little lies. How many times we said "yes I can" even knowing that may be we could not, but at least we tried and finally may be we succeeded. But while "little lies" are acceptable big lies are not and truth really matter.
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
16 Feb 20
In principle, we agree here. I do have some issues trying to determine little lies from bigger ones, what is acceptable from people outside me and what is not.
Still, it is an interesting question. I have very much enjoyed the responses I've gotten on this.
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@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
6 Mar 20
@cperry2 I pride myself on telling the truth and I get irritated when people lie. I give people chances, maybe sometimes too many chances because I can often go all Dr Phil on them trying to work out why they lie. But if it keeps happening to where it's hurting me or others, I don't deal very well with that.
Not saying I have been perfect in that area though! There was a time in my life I lied a lot but if I was to tell you the story, I feel you'd understand but I still don't like that I lied. I hate the feeling of lying. It actually does keep me up at night. I'd rather tell the truth even if it's painful to say it to someone or to myself. I believe truth matters. I think it's best to know truth and seek truth rather than live in ignorance or living a sheltered life.
For the Edison comment, I'm not sure if I take that as a lie. I see that more as motivation and determination that he would succeed in what he said he would do but I still do understand what you're saying.
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@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
7 Mar 20
@VivaLaDani13 There have only been a few people who fell into this range. One was the boss. I quit the job because of him after I caught him stealing my work. I had written a letter to another part of the company that I had to send up through the chain of command. A few weeks passed, I found a copy of my letter with his name attached to the bottom and mine removed. That did it, I turned in my notice. It was a really good job too. Had I been a bit smarter, I could have gone to other management people and asked for a transfer, I would have gotten it too. But I was so upset, I just responded emotionally.
The only good thing that came of it, that manager was transferred to a different position and fired two months later because he just could not do the job.
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@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
9 Mar 20
@cperry2 I can understand and don't blame you for what you did and how you felt from it all. I don't feel sorry for that manager at all and I'm glad he got fired!
Thank you for sharing that with me. 
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
9 Mar 20
@VivaLaDani13 I am glad he got the boot too. I only wish I had been there to see it happen.
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@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
15 Feb 20
I think most people never really think about what is true and what isn't. Not until it is something that touches them directly. When I started this out a couple of days ago, I was thinking about something very different, but it is funny, it turned into something philosophical. For writing here, the philosophical is much less touchy than other areas so I posted it.
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