White Lies Hurt Society
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Lying Can Harm A Society

Is it really worth the risk?

51
Lying Can Harm A Society
Tish Cama

Lying. We all do it. Even if we change the terminology and say we were kidding or fibbing or just not giving the whole truth. We lie. When we are kids we lie about brushing our teeth and flossing, then we sit there with our mouth shut so our parents can't tell. We were so sneaky weren't we… Then as teens and young adults we start using the words "okay" and "fine" to indicate a vague response and everyone tends to go along with it because it sounds right. "How are your grades?" Fine. "How are you feeling?" Fine. "Are you okay?" I'm fine. "Make sure you are home at a decent hour." Okay. "Don't lie." Okay.

It is not fine. It is not okay.

Those words do not mean what they used to mean and that is the sad truth. That we live in a society where you cannot trust those closest to you with a single word response because their interpretation would conclude in that statement was a request- not a demand.

My point is that everyone lies, either intentionally or unintentionally, even over the smallest most pointless things. Parents lie about Santa to force their kids to be well behaved, teenagers lie to their parents because "they just won't understand", boyfriends lie to their girlfriends because they feel controlled. It is a cycle, and everyone has their excuse as to why it is necessary even in instances where it is not.

I have a younger sister and like any younger sibling, she likes to wear my clothes… without permission. Now to all the big sisters out there who have younger siblings, you understand where I am going with this, and to all the younger sisters who sneak into their older sister's rooms when we are at work, here is a helpful hint…. YOU ARE NOT SNEAKY! Back to the point, my sister loves to take things without permission and tends to lie to omit trouble in the future, which gets her into more trouble.

She will steal everything from T-Shirts to swimsuits, to dresses, and when I am getting ready in the morning and cannot find my clothes, you can bet there is some tension in our house. I always ask myself why she lies when I know she has it. I could literally be staring at my shirt laying on her chair and she will claim "I didn't put it there" or "Oh I didn't know it was yours". It has gotten to the point where I have to ransack her room, look through dirty laundry, unzip every backpack she owns, just to find things ripped and stained and torn after she "borrowed them". I used to do what any sane person would do and yell at her, tell my parents, stalk her Instagram to watch when she posts something in my clothes. I would even ask my friends who were in the same classes as her to report back to me with what she was wearing throughout the day, so I knew when she took my things. It was insane.

Now you may be reading this and questioning my sanity as to why I would go through the trouble to report my sister stealing some fabric from my closet to thousands of people, well this is a small example from a much much bigger issue. Currently, in politics, Brett Kavanaugh is being accused of sexual assault from 30 years prior to the date. Now I am not taking the side of Kavanaugh or of the women accusing him, but one side is lying. Either he is being wrongfully accused at a very convenient time and these women are about to ruin his entire career and possibly force him to serve jail time over a crime he did not commit; or he is lying and he mentally and physically harmed these women and therefore should not be able to serve as a public figure. Do you see how screwed up a situation can get? It has escalated to the point where the lying party will lose their face in public. As I said, I do not know what really happened and I am not taking sides, but come on. We are teaching kids that lying is bad and instead of being an example, it is plastered on every news, media, and public outlet. I can't walk into Target without hearing a conversation or seeing it pop up on my phone. It is all because one side told a lie and it makes me sick.

So it is time to stop.

Yes it is easier said than done, but it is possible. There are always consequences to your actions and the sad thing is that many of these kids and adults get away with everything and will end up at a point where its not a slap on the wrist, it's a cold jail cell and a notification that you are shunned in public. It is a felony charge on your record for something as small as lying and having drugs in the back seat of your vehicle. It is stupid childish acts which get people in the most trouble because they won't take responsibility for their actions. And once you stop caring, you cannot think like a logical person, you cannot act like a real adult, and you cannot see into a bright and successful future.

We have to learn to care about each other, but more importantly ourselves. Trust is very easy to lose but is one of the hardest things you can gain. Don't break someone's trust, because you never know how fast those severed ties can come back to bite.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

21 EDM Songs for a Non-EDM Listener

Ever wanted to check out EDM music, but didn't know where to start? Look no further! Start here.

2888
21 EDM Songs for a Non-EDM Listener
www.wallpapersafari.com

If you have been following me for a long time, then you know I write about two main things: relateable articles and communication media based articles. Now, it is time for me to combine the two. For those of you that don't know, I am a radio DJ at IUP, and I DJ for a show called BPM (Beats Per Minute). It is an EDM, or electronic dance music, based show and I absolutely love it.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

100 Reasons to Choose Happiness

Happy Moments to Brighten Your Day!

22889
A man with a white beard and mustache wearing a hat

As any other person on this planet, it sometimes can be hard to find the good in things. However, as I have always tried my hardest to find happiness in any and every moment and just generally always try to find the best in every situation, I have realized that your own happiness is much more important than people often think. Finding the good in any situation can help you to find happiness in some of the simplest and unexpected places.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

6 Things Owning A Cat Has Taught Me

This one's for you, Spock.

8797
6 Things Owning A Cat Has Taught Me
Liz Abere

Owning a pet can get difficult and expensive. Sometimes, their vet bills cost hundreds of dollars just for one visit. On top of that, pets also need food, a wee wee pad for a dog, a litter box with litter for a cat, toys, and treats. Besides having to spend hundreds of dollars on them, they provide a great companion and are almost always there when you need to talk to someone. For the past six years, I have been the proud owner of my purebred Bengal cat named Spock. Although he's only seven years and four months old, he's taught me so much. Here's a few of the things that he has taught me.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Kinder Self - Eyes

You're Your Own Best Friend

9620
Kinder Self - Eyes
Pexels

It's fun to see all of the selfies on social media, they are everywhere. I see pictures with pouty lips, duck lips and pucker lips. I see smokey eyes, huge fake lashes and nicely done nose jobs, boob jobs and butt lifts. Women working out in spandex, tiny tops and flip flops. I see tight abs and firm butts, manicured nails and toes, up dos and flowing hair. "Wow", I think to myself," I could apply tons of make-up, spend an hour on my hair, pose all day and not look like that. Maybe I need a longer stick!"

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Rap Songs With A Deeper Meaning

Rap is more than the F-bomb and a beat. Read what artists like Fetty, Schoolboy Q, Drake, and 2Pac can teach you.

28435
Rap artist delivers performance on stage
Photo by Chase Fade on Unsplash

On the surface, rap songs may carry a surface perception of negativity. However, exploring their lyrics reveals profound hidden depth.Despite occasional profanity, it's crucial to look beyond it. Rap transcends mere wordplay; these 25 song lyrics impart valuable life lessons, offering insights that extend beyond the conventional perception of rap music.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments