Read the essay above. Which is the greater wrong: telling a deliberate lie
or withholding the truth? Are the
consequences the same or different? What
justification, if any, is there for doing either? Discuss your viewpoint using evidence from your personal experience, your reading, or your observations.
I believe that when it comes to lying, withholding the truth is the exact same thing. If you are asked to tell the whole story and you “just so happen” to leave out a part, you are still lying because that is still part of the events that take place. For example, if you are in a court room as a witness and when you testify and you just so happen to leave out a key piece of information, you are lying. You swore to tell the whole truth not just part, so leaving out that part was still a choice and it is still an action that you purposely decided to do. Deliberately lying is the exact same thing as withholding the truth and vice versa because it all has to do with choosing not to tell the truth.
ReplyDeleteTelling a deliberating lie is a greater wrong then withholding the truth. To make up a lie about a situation causes a lot of confusion which can bring a bigger consequence. Holding back the truth may leave out details of things but your being honest about how something was done just not completely. The consequences of the two can be the same but it will depend on the issue. In Ericcson, The way we lie, she speaks on dismissal and omission. dismissal was dissing someone's feelings and perceptions which can lead to mental disorders or something major. Omission was the truth but leaving out little facts which can cause harm but not to a point where it can have a major effect.
ReplyDeleteI agree very much with your reasoning. People make things worse with lying however sparing the situation of details will provide a sense of settling for confrontation. Lying is someone not caring the consequence or your impression of them because they risked lying and your trust in them. Withholding the truth could be not telling every step-by-step action that took place. For example, if parents have lost their child, the investigator would not tell how and what happened to their child; the investigator did not lie but he withheld the truth solely to reduce the pain, stress, and grieve of the parents.
DeleteWithholding the truth and telling a direct lie are indeed one in the same. Both methods are quite dishonest and can in turn cause log term damage. Though at times we as people believe that telling a white lie or not telling the whole truth is helpful to the ones we love or care about. Though this decision is one that is compassionate and not necessarily dishonorable, at times what is felt to be best, is not always what is needed. The truth shall always reveal itself and once the other must find out that they have been lied to, it can be more harmful than the truth itself. Though we may think we are doing one a service in lying or withholding the truth, knowing a valuable piece of information that could have any type of impact on one's life must be shared. I speak from personal experience that for me, knowing certain truths have been extremely painful, and in some situation quite unbearable, but knowing that I was lied to hurt so much worse than knowing what was true.
ReplyDeleteFor once I agree with you Kierra. The truth will always come out however I do believe that there are times when the truth must be withheld and discussed at a later time. Just because you know something does not mean you have to tell the person it concerns. In some cases the truth can be more hurtful when told by someone who they care about. Withholding the truth and lying are the same thing, but sometimes lying is the best decision
DeleteI feel like deliberately is just as wrong as withholding the truth. At the end of the day, a lie is being told. Why would anyone just make up a lie to tell someone also why would anyone withhold the truth? If the truth can save one’s life then let the truth be told; however if the truth can possibly hurt one’s feelings, then find out a way to tell them the truth but also not hurt their feelings. I would rather someone tell me the truth about myself or a situation rather than feeling stupid or anything like that. No one wants to be lied to; therefore the consequences are the same. Someone is going to be mad because they were lied to. I understand what people mean when they say "what they don't know won't hurt them", I kind of agree with it but at the same time instead of lying it would be best to just not say anything about it.
ReplyDeleteDeliberately lying is much worst then withholding the truth. When someone lies it takes all the respect and trust you have for them. Though, they can be considered the same thing the consequences are different because lying has an effect on someone mentally and emotionally however sometime not telling every bit of information is not necessary. For example, if your friend doesn't look well in an outfit; your reply wouldn't be “I don’t like your dress because it makes your butt look big” verse saying it looks nice when that’s a lie. Your friend in return doesn't feel that she has a good friend. Like Ericsson said “We lie. We all do. We exaggerate, we minimize, we avoid confrontation, and we spare people's feeling...” this is a prime reason for withholding information. Yet lying is from personal experiences used for selfish or malicious reasons.
ReplyDeleteLying. Something that you do everyday. Sometimes you do it unintentionally. I know sometimes you don't mean. Sometimes you do to protect those feelings. Some do it just because they don't care. The worst thing about lying is the fact that sometimes you can get caught up in your own lie.And then you don't know where it originated from.to hurt people you like. People kill peoples spirits and there self esteem when they lie to them. They play with there emotions and feelings when people lie to them. The monster experienced a lot of flies.
ReplyDelete