Our Lying Faces

[Alecto]

Why do we humans lie to eachother so much? We sugarcoat everything, not wanting to face the truth. Like the truth is some kind of poison. We cant even be truthful to ourselves

Tonight I sat down with a little girl. Shes the daughter of a family friend. Shes maybe...10 or 11. Ill call her "Anna" for the purposes of this thread. Anna is a beautiful child, very smart. But shes a quiet kid, and her parents and the people around her have never been able to figgure out why. I found out why tonight. Anna has always been sort of my little sister, shes talked to me and looked up to me. Tonight, as I was writing one of my stories, she came, sat down next to me on the desk and we talked. She was upset about her father. Her father is a very very VERY religious man who enforces his religious rules on his daughter. He has the best intentions, but he goes about it in a poor method. Anna is a free spirited girl who refuses to let herself be tied down by anything. Religion doesnt logically make sense to her. Its a consistant flashpoint between her and her father.

Last night they had annother little fight and she came to me tonight. She was angry and frustrated. Tonight everything came spilling out, the truth about her father. His "late night discussions", his "weekend father/daughter camping trips". I remember asking myself why people had to be like this, those that claimed to be so high and holy being the people most deserving of hate. Those that claim to be so high above the rest, are no better than the dirt scraped off one's shoes.

Why are people so fascinated with lies?

 

[1GODALONE]

Wait a minute. Where is the lie? I dont see a clear lie in your post. Are you saying Christianity is a lie? You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but I believe it. Your story is truly sad. I'm sorry to hear that a little girl such as her has been negatively influenced by the way her father lives his Christianity. But that doesn't mean it is all a lie. If I were there I would sit her down and ask her what bothers her about Christ, or the Bible, or just what bothers her in general, they need answers. Her father must not be very gentle about it, it seems to me. But telling you this changes nothing, so I will pray for her to meet someone willing to show her who Christ was, and get her out of the "Hellfire and Brimstone" attitude her father might be pushing. Sad story, hopefully she chooses for herself and not for anyone elses actions.

 

[Alecto]

Im not saying anything about Christianity, nor did I in the story. My anger comes from the fact that he claims to be such an upright man, so holy and above the rest. Yet he puts his own daughter through a deeper hell than he can possibly immagine.

 

[DaRkWoLf]

Why are people so fascinated with lies?

Not sure. I perceive alot of that myself.

Just caught my dad in another lie; as he claimed he quit smoking (he didnt) and he has the audacity to treat his friends that smoke as lesser. Quite fascinating if you ask me. Going to use my pinhole camera and record some stuff, and do a little observation from friends appartment with a spotting scope + a digital camera just to put the icing on the cake; then ask politely if he wants me to tell his girlfriend that hes been lying for months.

I also notice, in general, people are afraid to tell people how greivous a wound is. Im guilty of lying to others of my condition, but I always tell others whats up with them. One example is when I accidentally slit my finger open. Quantity of hydrogen peroxide, neosporin, and a waterproof bandage later, I told any inquirers that it was a bad papercut, when in fact it was almost to the bone. I have this habit of telling few, or no people whats wrong with me at any given time.

Guess im guilty in a sense too.

It must really be bad if the girl has a totally different attitude because of it. Best wishes, and good luck.

 

[DaRkWoLf]

My anger comes from the fact that he claims to be such an upright man, so holy and above the rest. Yet he puts his own daughter through a deeper hell than he can possibly immagine.

People like that are not those that would qualify as good christians in my views. They reflect more of "satan" than christ. Honestly, supposing that christianity was right and whatnot: what would jesus say to such behavior? Probly nothing happy.

 

[Anti-Fear]

You're confusing choice with lying.

Is it lying if you're mad about something and you choose to rationalize that it is better to veiw this anger as a bad thing and try to view things in positive light?

Is it lying if you're choosing to be nice to someone you may actually hate?

By that logic is doing anything I want and feel like the only way to live? because there is no "lying"?

 

[DaRkWoLf]

You're confusing choice with lying.

Is it lying if you're mad about something and you choose to rationalize that it is better to veiw this anger as a bad thing and try to view things in positive light?

Is it lying if you're choosing to be nice to someone you may actually hate?

By that logic is doing anything I want and feel like the only way to live? because there is no "lying"?

I do find those points, in some form or another, lying to one's self or one's peers. But then again, I guess thats what makes us all diferent: interpretation of this kind of stuff.

I feel that rationalization of ones actions is an excuse and an attempt to make them appear to be moral or socially acceptable.

If Im mad at someone, Ill let them know Im mad, politely, but Ill still let em know. Otherwise, one is lying to them by putting on a false show.

If Im angry, there is usually a reason. When I finally calm down, I usually analyze the situation to find that reason and what I can do to fix it. That helps way more than trying to find any positives that dont accomplish my primary goals. Looking at the positives of the primarilly negative outcome is usefull, but only looking at the positives is lying to one's self.

 

[Alecto]

You're confusing choice with lying.

Is it lying if you're mad about something and you choose to rationalize that it is better to veiw this anger as a bad thing and try to view things in positive light?

Is it lying if you're choosing to be nice to someone you may actually hate?

By that logic is doing anything I want and feel like the only way to live? because there is no "lying"?

Im angry that we have to hide ourselves behind these cheery little masks and NO ONE wants to know who we truly are.

A mann who rape thier daughters skipping around acting like all is well with the world, preaching and living his life.

 

[lawtonfogle]

actualy theirs lying, implying a lie, and choice.

besides the point though.

as for your story, im not messing with it.

Now for your question. why do we lie. Sometimes we are afraid of the truth. Sometimes the truth can cause harm. Sometimes we know we will be lied right back to if we tell the truth. Sometimes we don't mean to. Am i saying its ok, no.

Lying is wrong, but then when you do not know it is a lie, it is only wrong when you find out its a lie, to not try to correct what you did. Best, if it causes harm to say nothing, but then what if you slience says the truth for you. Then a guess try to avoid those situations, but time will come when you have to face the truth.

 

[ChrisLockhart]

I'm of the mind to ignore the side issues, and get to the heart of this matter.

If there is a pattern here of incestuous rape, especially if you suspect that it is going to continue.. then you are in a tough situation. You have to consider the best interests of they child, and decide which is going to have the worst effect on her.. the continued rape, or your betraying her trust by reporting it. I don't know the whole situation, but I'd lean towards reporting it and holding on to your hat, cuz it's going to get pretty nasty.

 

[MoodyBlue]

Im angry that we have to hide ourselves behind these cheery little masks and NO ONE wants to know who we truly are.

A mann who rape thier daughters skipping around acting like all is well with the world, preaching and living his life.

You do realize that you MUST report this to the authorities? If you do not, you are as guilty as her monster of a father.

 

[Kapeto]

Religious people can be very oppressive and hypocrite. I am not surprised. Christianity in itself is a big lie.

 

[Tirocupidus]

Why are people so fascinated with lies?

I suppose it's not so much a fascination with lies, as it is an inappreciativeness for the truth. I very rarely lie, and never do so lightly.

 

[Electra]

Why do we humans lie to eachother so much? We sugarcoat everything, not wanting to face the truth. Like the truth is some kind of poison. We cant even be truthful to ourselves

Tonight I sat down with a little girl. Shes the daughter of a family friend. Shes maybe...10 or 11. Ill call her "Anna" for the purposes of this thread. Anna is a beautiful child, very smart. But shes a quiet kid, and her parents and the people around her have never been able to figgure out why. I found out why tonight. Anna has always been sort of my little sister, shes talked to me and looked up to me. Tonight, as I was writing one of my stories, she came, sat down next to me on the desk and we talked. She was upset about her father. Her father is a very very VERY religious man who enforces his religious rules on his daughter. He has the best intentions, but he goes about it in a poor method. Anna is a free spirited girl who refuses to let herself be tied down by anything. Religion doesnt logically make sense to her. Its a consistant flashpoint between her and her father.

Last night they had annother little fight and she came to me tonight. She was angry and frustrated. Tonight everything came spilling out, the truth about her father. His "late night discussions", his "weekend father/daughter camping trips". I remember asking myself why people had to be like this, those that claimed to be so high and holy being the people most deserving of hate. Those that claim to be so high above the rest, are no better than the dirt scraped off one's shoes.

Why are people so fascinated with lies?

I am not entiraly sure where does ''lie'' come into all of this, since I cant see it anywhere in your story.

As for lies and truth issue - the truth is subjective. There is no such thing as the absolute truth. What is truth but an observation of one person. If you and I sat at the table and on the table I saw an apple and you saw an orange, who would be right?
Truth is perception.

As for telling someone something you know is a ''lie'' from your own perception - people do it because they are afraid of the consiquences, they do it because they stand to gain something, and sometimes they do it because they do not wish to hurt the other person.

 

[Seeking...]

People lie because they hate themselves (an often a lot that is around them) and dishonesty is comfortable.

Please speak to the mother. Tell her she has one opportunity to stand up for and defend her child - by calling the authorities herself to have the father removed from the home. If she will not - in front of you - call them yourself. This at least gives the child a possibility of not being completely turned upside down.

 

[MidnightBlue]

Why are people so fascinated with lies?

Who cares? That child trusts you, and she needs help. I hope you've already taken action, but if you haven't, do it now.

Don't confront the father alone. This is a job for the cops.

 

[Alecto]

Ive talked to her about reporting it, but she doesnt want to endanger her father. I cant report it untill shes willing to talk about it to other people. Im working with her on that but it might take a little bit.

Im just...I just dont understand why people feel like they need to live such lies. A monster puts on his party mask and suddenly everything is ok

 

[1GODALONE]

Alecto, this situation sounds much more serious than I previously thought. Do not wait! If this is truly happening report it now! You are obligated to care for the girl, like a brother would. Please act now.

 

[Illuminatus]

Alecto, they're right. Report it.

 

[Seeking...]

Ive talked to her about reporting it, but she doesnt want to endanger her father. I cant report it untill shes willing to talk about it to other people. Im working with her on that but it might take a little bit.

She doesn't have the time to wait. The reason she told you is because she needs it to stop now and she doesn't know how to make that happen. She loves her father and doesn't want to see him hurt but you have to tell her that isn't her problem. Tell her he has a problem and the only way he will get help is if you tell the authorities. Tell her he is too sick to ask for the help he needs and it isn't her fault. Everyday she lives with thie weight of this hurts her - you have the power to stop it - use it.