Seven big lies

Without a conversation on major issues, the media's intent remains suspect | Joel Belz

Not many of the folks I know and work with enjoy being lied to. No matter how sloppy any of us might be personally in our own handling of the truth, it just isn't human nature to disregard it when someone else lies to us. Instead, we feel injured and taken advantage of.

We may be a bit forgiving if it's nothing more than social fibbing. Yet even then, when someone says how nice it is to see you when you know they'd rather be somewhere else, you still tend to mutter to yourself: "Why can't you tell me the truth?"

But especially when the lies' contents affect your future welfare and behavior, you understandably avoid people who tell them. On the internet, we call it spam. We have other words for unreliable weather forecasters, untrustworthy stockbrokers, deceitful used car salesmen, or hide-it-in-the-closet real estate agents. In short, we tell such people: Get a reputation like that, and we'll make it a point not to patronize you.