Do you feel a lie is okay if it's for the greater good?
Recently, the Welsh government have been talking about cracking down on politicians that lie during elections. They're looking to bring in legislation that would mean more Welsh politicians are held to account for knowingly making false statements. There's lots of debate to be had around how that will work, but it got me thinking about lying in general.
Do you think it's ever in the public's interest for figures of authority to lie about things?
Do you ever think there's such thing as a kind lie, or a lie for the greater good?
Would be really interesting to hear what you think!
Comments
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Depends on the situation and who you're lying too. Politicians should never be able to lie, same as doctors or anyone who gives out crucial information. I mean its impossible to get a straight answer from a policitian anyway without them dodging questions or going round the houses for 30mins till you finally get to the same question.
In todays age where any information is readily available, I think transparency is really important and we would want to know everything that goes on. Regardless the damage it may cause.
I think politics at the moment is at an all time low anyway, I don't think a single person in the UK can say they trust their MP, or trust politics anymore.
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Depends who it is
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Really good points @rubin16. It's frustrating to watch politicians dodge questions and spin things and I definitely agree with you that doctors shouldn't be able to lie either. It'll be interesting to see how the Welsh system plays out and whether they start to bring something similar in for Westminster later on.
@Amberpearl Is there anyone that you feel it would be okay to lie to?
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I feel the public deserves honesty from people in positions of authority. Once trust is broken, rebuilding it is incredibly difficult. History shows that many political or prominent figures who engage in deceit aren’t remembered for the good they did, only for the deception they were involved in.
And I don’t think a lie becomes ‘kind’ simply because the intention is good, it still involves deceiving someone.
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My ex husband
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I think this is more complicated than it seems. I really hate being lied to, and lying to other people. But over time I realised that the truth often did more harm than good. Personally I'd rather say nothing than have to lie, but that doesn't really work in politics!
If politicians just told us all the country was ruined beyond repair and there was nothing they could do, everyone would be deflated, people wouldn't bother voting, they probably wouldn't bother continuing to do their jobs properly, and may even turn to crime. If a 'safe' lie helps to keep up morale and faith in the country and general society then I think that probably is ok…
All that said, I still wouldn't believe a word a politician says as most of the lies they make up are for their personal or party benefit, not the good of the country.
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That's very fair @Amberpearl. I think that's probably one of the circumstances where perhaps it's okay - if someone's done you wrong or hurt you in some way, maybe they forfeit their right to the truth. Especially if the truth might put you into a difficult or unsafe situation.
@MW123 Definitely. Trust is so important and the more we see lies from people in authority, the more disenfranchised we become.
@OverlyAnxious, that's a really good point too. I'm sure there's a balance to be had somewhere that protects the nation but still offers some transparency.
Makes me think about the little lies adults tell to children. In some ways, those are protective lies and can be necessary. But I think it's probably different when you're lying to adults with a better grasp of their own thoughts and feelings.
It's a difficult one, but so interesting to hear everyone's perspectives!
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Definitely was in danger
I still have nightmares, why I. Have ptsd
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Everyone lost trust its broken how can you believe anything they say they really lied to us starting with manifesto even that Larry fink ??? Did speech at Davos concerned to many people losing trust well yh we have and are going through the biggest psychological warfare I've ever faced if starmer said a major emergency is happening I'd totally ignore my motto is whatever they tell you to do !! Do the opposite lie after lie its sickening
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This is too big a question for me today 😅
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I like what you've written
My dad often says he'd vote for a party that promised nothing extraordinary – "we'll just keep the country ticking over" – you won't get rich, we won't solve the NHS wait lists, but we'll protect you from disaster let you keep pottering away
I always think, in a world where it wasn't possible to lie, most people would vote for that party because it'd be the only one with achievable albeit boring promises. But, how many would vote for that party in the current climate, against parties offering much more attractive - but unfeasible - propositions
In a lot of ways the way whole system, from the party level right through to the social level, lends itself to bending the truth. I don't think it's intentional as I really think most people want what I've explained above, it's just the way things have evolved
I watched Evita (the musical about the Argentinian revolution) recently and there was a quote in there that I really liked "politics is the art of the possible". I took that to mean pushing what is possible rather than ones actual intentions - even if not not explicitly lying
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So I'm going to go a bit 'out there' with this, but I think that it's kind of a good thing if we're being lied to about the existence of aliens. I feel like if they did exist and we were all told the complete truth it could cause widespread panic and could even start wars as countries begin to disagree with how to deal with them. Our whole perception of the world would be changed forever and I'm not sure how we'd cope with that.
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