Avoiding the truth vs lying

CoachR64 said:

Lying and not telling the entire story are way different. Again, sometimes, everyone doesn't need to know the entire case. Another example: When working with kids that are in abusive situations, not everyone around you needs to know the entire story. Often telling them the kid is in danger and had to be removed from the home is enough. Many times, there is a lot of merit in keeping some of the facts to yourself.

Coach

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Absolutely agree with you Coach!!!

and like soccerdad66 said, I also think that it boils down to intent...

We should always strive to tell the truth in everything but there are situations where the entire truth doesn't need to be laid out for public consumption so to speak...

MusicWarrior said:

Yes.... if it is not truth than it is a lie. Haven't you ever heard the saying "the worst thing is when good men know and say nothing?" Or it goes something like that... gah... tired can't think... lol

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Was this perhaps the phrase you were looking for?:

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

MusicWarrior said:

Yes.... if it is not truth than it is a lie. Haven't you ever heard the saying "the worst thing is when good men know and say nothing?" Or it goes something like that... gah... tired can't think... lol

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That quote isn't really about falsehood, or even communication for that matter. It's about inaction.

Laurie919 said:

In your opinion is avoiding telling the truth the same thing as lying?

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if you remain silent, you aren't saying anything at all. no truth and no lies.

Laurie919 said:

In your opinion is avoiding telling the truth the same thing as lying?

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In general, dishonesty in any form is not good.

Just think, if a loved one treated you the way you are talking about, avoiding the truth, would it hurt you?

There are always some things that do not need to be offered and that may be best kept to yourself...

I think there is some confusion here about the differences between keeping information private and lying.

Lying is [SIZE=-1]the deliberate act of deviating from the truth. Generally done via false statements however since it is not restricted to something you say that isn't true, if you were perhaps to leave something out then it is a lie of omission[/SIZE][SIZE=-1].

When is keeping information from someone a lie and when isn't it?
1. When they have the right to know (ie if you are in court and leave out a few key details ... thats a lie
2. When you offer to tell the truth, and then leave something out intentionally to keep people in the dark.

Not telling someone your social security or bank account number is simply keeping your information private. It is not a lie because it is not their right to know, but you do not deceiving them or tricking them out of the information, you are up front telling them, "No sorry, non'a'ya business". The same with the teacher who posted earlier who didn't tell his students everything. He wouldn't lie to them and tell them that he had no life and that nothing ever happened, simple that it was not their concern.

The difference is that up front they know there is info but they are not allowed to have it. Where as a lie of omission is where you deceive someone by making them think there is nothing to know at.
all.

K
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Some people lie to themselves, because they fear the truth. They say they're ok, when they're not. I think it stems from pride, and a lack of willingness to admit that as an individual, they're not strong enough, compared to someone who places all their faith in God.