The Joy of Lying

Have you ever noticed that there are some things we say that are pretty much always lies? The best example I can think of is when we use the word “busy,” as in the following context:

“Did you read the email I sent you?”

“I haven’t had time. I’ve been so busy.”

“Um, it was only one sentence.”

“I’ll try to get to it this weekend.”

“But it’s one sentence.”

How could anyone possibly be so busy that they don’t have time to do these little things that only take a few seconds? What it really boils down to is that we don’t want to do something. How many times have you been invited somewhere, and you don’t want to go, but to avoid risking offense you made up an excuse? I know I have.

I’m not saying honesty is necessarily preferable in this situation, but it is funny to me that we are willing to ignore blatant lies.

Comments

Nathan Mulford said…
You make lying sound like a chore. To me it sounds like it would just be easier to read the dang email.
July 12, 2007 at 9:25 AM
Turbo said…
Don't forget about one of my favorite lies, "It's not you, it's me." But if you think about it, the person may really be trying to protect the other. In regards to your post, whether or not they are 'busy' they do not want to make the other party feel bad. Although in your case it looks like they failed.
July 12, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Jer said…
"It's not you, it's me" is NEVER 100% true. One person may be trying to protect the other, but in reality, they're saying, "I can't be with you". No matter the justification, to some degree, it must be the other person.

I agree that the little lies all come down to "I don't want to do it"
July 12, 2007 at 12:18 PM
Brooke said…
Joel, when I said I was too busy to look at that proof, I meant that I wanted to give it my full, undivided attention because it deserves the best. Yeah, that's it...
July 12, 2007 at 8:35 PM
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