The Ways We Lie - 982 Words

Lying has is a part of our culture, and it seems as if not a day goes by where you do not lie at all. Our world could not exist as it does, if we lived in a society in which lying did not exist. However as humans, we are prone to lying, because of our need to protect ourselves, or the ones close to us, that we turn to lying in order to either make our lives easier or to avoid problems. Humans have adapted over time into societies where lying is an evolutionary advantage, which has made it a part of our DNA. Even children, as soon as they can talk, are using deception as a way to get what they want, and these children have not even had a chance to learn to lie. Lying also continues throughout our entire lives, because it is not something that we can help, it is a part of who we are. When evaluating the argument Stephanie Ericsson makes in â€Å"The Ways We Lie†, regarding the reasons we chose to lie, however it is also important to consider extending the argument to include the idea that lying is not only a daily occurrence, it has also become imbedded into human nature. A professional deception detector, and author, Pamela Meyer points out the fact that, â€Å" Lying is complex. It s woven into the fabric of our daily and our business lives. We re deeply ambivalent about the truth†¦. It s as old as breathing. It s part of our culture, it s part of our history. Think Dante, Shakespeare, the Bible, News of the World†, in a TED Talk in which she details certain clues about how toShow MoreRelatedThe Way We Lie1467 Words   |  6 PagesThe Ways We Lie In the essay, The Ways We Lie,† the author, Stephanie Ericsson, tells about the many ways people lie and explains the reasons for doing so. In her essay, she talks about ten specific ways of lying that she believes are prevalent in today’s society. First is â€Å"the white lie,† which is basically telling a harmless lie instead of the truth, if the truth is destructive. She writes, â€Å"Telling a friend he looks great when he looks like hell can be based in a decision that the friends needsRead MoreThe Way We Lie641 Words   |  3 PagesIt is very true that we lie. We lie everyday conscious or unconsciously, anywhere and to anyone. It has become a way of life to many people, when one lies it feels completely normal, actually they don’t feel anything at all. One can be couth lying in any place like work, home and to different person’s friends, family, clients, teachers and even authority. In the preface of the story the author had describe how in a day she had lied a minimum of four times to various people. In spite of this the authorsRead MoreThe s The Way We Lie1557 Words   |  7 Pagesscandalous lie, are self-serving and can cause a great degree of harm to others or even to oneself. In Stephanie Eric sson’s â€Å"The Way We Lie,† Ericsson categorizes the various types of lies and their ramifications, whereas in Anton Chekhov’s â€Å"The Lady with the Dog,† the writing touches on the selfish lies that both Dmitri Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna tell to sustain their adulterous relationship. Although the extent to which lying is selfish depends on the motives and circumstances of the lie, I claimRead MoreThe s The Way We Lie1464 Words   |  6 PagesIn Stephanie Ericsson’s â€Å"The Way We Lie,† Ericsson categorizes the various types of lies and their ramifications, whereas in Anton Chekhov’s â€Å"The Lady with the Dog,† the writing touches on the selfish lies that both Dmitri Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna tell to sustain their adulterous relationship. Although the extent to which lying is selfish depends on the motives and circumstances for the lie, and whose interest it benefits, I claim that not only are most lies selfish, but the y are also morally wrongRead MoreThe Ways We Lie Argument Essay674 Words   |  3 PagesLies have been around for as long as people have been. We all lie, whether it is to protect someone we love of to cover up something we don’t want others to know about, it is still lying, and we all do it everyday. Lying has become the new normal for our modern society, so much so, that some of us have lost our morals completely. It is just so much easier and quicker to just lie to someone than to tell the truth, and now you can never tell who is lying to you or who is telling the truth. People useRead MoreThe Ways We Lie By Stephanie Ericsson1146 Words   |  5 PagesIn today’s American society, lying has become something that we are accustomed to using almost every day without even realizing it. In â€Å"The Ways We Lie†, Stephanie Ericsson, screenwriter, advertising copywriter, and writer, elaborates on the act of lying and how it is used by everyone on a daily basis. Sh e comes up with a list of the common, different kinds of lies that we all have told. Furthermore, the text goes in depth about the significance of lying and how it is an essential part of every human’sRead MoreThe Ways We Lie By Stephanie Ericsson1148 Words   |  5 PagesIn the essay The Ways We Lie, author Stephanie Ericsson writes in depth about the different types of lies used by most people everyday. While listing examples of them, Ericsson questions her own experiences with lying and whether or not it was appropriate. By using hypothetical situations, true accounts, and personal occurrences, she highlights the moral conflicts and consequences that are a result of harmless fibs or impactful deceptions. In an essay detailing the lies told to ourselves and othersRead MoreAnalysis Of The s The Way We Lie 1583 Words   |  7 Pages To Lie or Not to Lie? I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. These were the infamous words proclaimed by former President Bill Clinton in response to the allegation that he had an affair with a White House intern while serving as President of the United States. A statement that was later found to be false and perjurious, and one that would eventually undermine his presidency. Lies come in different shapes and forms - while some lies are innocuous, others, such as PresidentRead MoreThe Ways We Lie By Stephanie Ericsson969 Words   |  4 PagesIs It In Our Nature To Lie? In Stephanie Ericsson’s essay, â€Å"The Ways We Lie†, she discusses the different circumstances in which people lie and describes the types of lies that are commonly used. The author argues that some lies aren’t very severe, and often times are necessary, whereas others can prove to be harmful in the long run and can exact harsh consequences. ( 315 ) Ericsson uses examples in which these lies are presented such as with business acquaintances, politicians or friends and evenRead MoreThe Ways We Lie By Stephanie Ericsson1355 Words   |  6 PagesShould we stop lying and should stop letting people lie to us? In â€Å"The Ways We Lie†, Stephanie Ericsson describes lying as â€Å"a cultural cancer that†¦ reorders reality until moral garbage becomes as invisible to us as water is to a fish† (Ericsson 186). Ericsson believes that we have accepted lies to the point where do not recognize it anymore. Ericsson has a point when she says that lying shoul d not be tolerated, but it should be the unnecessary lies that should not be tolerated. There are lies that