On a scale ranging from 0 to 10 how honest are you ?

I’ll start.

I’m around 6 [ sometimes 7 ].. wish I wasn’t so close to being a complete liar.

Hmm, probably around 3.

Probably an 8 or 9. The exceptions being Santa Claus/Easter Bunny stuff and perhaps the occasional omission or ‘noble’ lie. Honesty is very, very important to me. Also, I suck at lying, so I learned at an early age that it’s far easier to just tell the truth.

@augustlan .. I think you mean a 1 or 2 :)

@PluckyDog Crap! Too late to edit, too! Yes, I meant a 1 or a 2. Thanks!

11

@Pele is clearly lying :P

@PluckyDog no, no, not at all ;)

I try to hang around 1 or 2 but there’s always that occasion when aunt Martha visits and, well I want to tell the truth but how can you tell another human being that they look like they came from Jupiter?

9. I’d have said ten but that would be lying! I mean, a little white lie strategically placed never hurt anyone, now did it? :¬)

Would lying to hide a surprise party be a “white lie”? What about small simple pranks? I lie about Santa and the Easter Bunny to kids ..and about presents or surprises ..and pranks. That’s about all I do really ..lol.

I’m a 5, I’m usually guilty of white lies and exaggerations, when I don’t like someone I exaggerate how bad they are ;P

I would be about a five.

About a 3 and that’s the truth.

A zero here.

1. I’m known to joke around.

8.

I find it takes more effort to remember lies than to tell the truth.

Besides…you need a good memory to remember lies. I barely remember what I ate yesterday, much less what I said.

5.

I’m really honest most of the time. I’ll give back money if I got too much in my change in a shop, if I fib about something on the spur of the moment I’ll blush and give myself away and usually confess.

But if I plan a lie I’m really good at it, hardly ever get caught out.

8.5

I endeavour to be scrupulously honest, but sometimes, I see where the bald truth coming from me won’t help matters and might make them worse.

Forgive me, Fluther, for I have sinned. It’s been a year and a half since my last confession.

The last lie I recall telling was a few months ago. There’s a young man in our social group that everyone likes, but whom some people think is high-functioning on the autistic spectrum. It’s true that he can’t pick up on certain social cues or read other people’s emotions without being directly told what’s happening, or he’ll say the exact wrong thing with no filter and no affect and can’t see how the other person’s feelings are hurt.

I’ve lied to him 2 times recently. The first was when he asked me why I wasn’t interested in dating him. I told him it was because I’m almost old enough to be his mother and that he should find a young woman his own age. I am that much older, but I wasn’t interested honestly because of his social issues, plus he’s kind of evangelical, albeit one who likes beer. It wouldn’t work with my being an atheist. I have no objection to going out with a younger man if he’s mature. He also asked me if people thought he was ‘different in the head’, and my reply was, “Why would you think that? Stop that.”

@john65pennington GA for being honest! :)

Around 1 or 2. I sometimes catch mysef in a lie, but those are almost always unnecessary. Most of the time, when I don’t want to answer a question, I simply say, “Now why on Earth would you want to know THAT?” : )

11 2.

.05

I am truly an honest person. My lies have been relegated to a handful of ‘sick days’ for myself and my daughter when she was little, when, in reality we both just needed a mental health and extra day of rest.

I once lied to a boss I had years ago, she had tried to call me at work and while I was on an official break I did use the phone to make a call, which I denied. lol

a couple of times I have made an ‘excuse’ for not wanting to attend some sort of function, but, all in all, I do not lie, am not comfortable with it at all and, believe in karma.

I cannot fathom people that cheat in big ways and are able to conceal the truth from others that would have life changing effects on those people.

If I ever told a huge lie or cheated I would be able to keep it in for about 24 hours and then I would spontaneously combust from the pressure and guilt.

I am grateful that I am not a liar and detest those that are.

I would say a 6. Everyone knows a 1, 2 or 3 – those maddeningly-honest people who, if they find a $50 bill on the sidewalk, will go from house to house asking everyone if they lost it (until some 8, 9 or 10 person answers the door and says “sure, it’s mine.”) Or the person that admits to the cops that they fell asleep at the wheel and rolled their car, instead of saying they swerved to miss a jackrabbit, and wind up paying for their totaled car for the next 6 years. I do believe in being honest, but not to the extent of screwing myself.

Cruiser…......thanks. jp

@Coloma please don’t detest us! I lie about just the things you mention except it seems with more frequency. i generally lie for social smoothness not to deceive or steal or defraud. Or is it fraud to pull a sickie?

@Stinley

Nobody can claim 100% honesty, but, it’s just as easy to tell the truth, aside from the occasional social graces. :-)

I am talking more about habitual liars and those that really don’t have the evolutionary emotional skill to be truthful. Lying is the cowards way out for many. ;-)

@Coloma – Although I think that you are referring to people that lie for evil or selfish or greedy purposes, now you’ve got me thinking that I do tell lies in the circumstances you mention. My social smoothing is more so that I don’t have to tell hard truths. Actually a lot of the time, I don’t have the emotional skills to say the right thing that is the truth but doesn’t offend. It is easier then to lie. I lie so that I don’t offend. I get myself tied up in situations that I’d rather avoid because I can’t tell the truth. I am going to ponder on this as I think it makes me somewhat of a doormat.

People remember.

0 = no lies
10 = a born liar

@SABOTEUR and @aprilsimnel I think you answered wrong if I read our posts right.

@Stinley

Good for you! As we grow and mature we find we have less fear of being ‘rejected’ or afraid of what other people think.
Being truthful is all about YOU and your feeling good about who you are! Just say ‘NO!’ it’s easy, and saves a lot of bullshit! ;-)

@Hibernate You’re right.

See?! I can’t even remember what I friggin’ read!

I’m at a 3 on that scale.

Zero. I never lie. Ever.

Yay…looks like most of us are pretty damn honest! This is pleasing! ;-)

Of course, I could be lying…

@Rarebear

Well..you’d have to be, if we’re talking a lifetime.
But, as long as you do not lie right now, in the present, you’re not lying. lol

I’m not sure how to answer this question. No one is a born liar; a born actor, maybe.

I used to lie to cover up my mental issues easily and often, but I never lie to my spouse unless it’s for a surprise, or something similar. I’m great at some lying, really sucky at others.

People are what they do, in the moment. Sometimes I am a 10 (I honed this skill lying to my parents) and other times a 0—a time when I refuse to lie even when it would be in my best interest.

@Coloma Of course I’ve lied in the past; everybody does. My current practice, though, is not to lie.

@Coloma I know what you mean by habitual liars. My brother is constantly lying ..I don’t think he even knows what’s what anymore. Interestingly though, he was always a liar ..even as a child he constantly lied. When I was a kid, I was too afraid to lie.

I just don’t see the point in lying about everything all the time. My mom lies to her mate constantly. I could not imagine living that way.

Like I stated before, I am guilty of the Santa and Easter Bunny stuff, surprises that I have to hide from someone ..those type of lies. The ones that I know will be found out eventually and no harm is done.

I rated them individually, and the higher the number is the more positive, not the amount that I do the certain category (I did this to make the total average).
– bluffing: 9; I’m good at it but don’t really do it (meaningfully, that is)
– contextual lies: 4; had to look it up. Dang, I do that…
– exaggerations: 7; I think I exaggerate too much, but usually as a joke (people know I’m not serious)
– fabrications: 7; My brother would be a 1…but I don’t really. If I do, i’s part of exaggerations I suppose.
– lying to kids [ “The stork brought you” / Santa Clause / the Boogyman ]: 10 I am very much against any of that, especially Santa Claus I’m such a grinch
– omissions [ deliberate omissions that is ]: 8; I usually just say it but make it not sound bad.
– Misleading: 3; This is very general, but I tend to find ways to be misleading, as it relates to other categories.
– noble lies: 10; whatever needs to be said should be said, no matter what.
– white lies: 9; I find my way around it, as inspired by one of my previous questions.
So: 9+4+7+7+10+8+3+10+9=6.7 which is approximately a 7. I’d say that I’m more than that. Probably an 8, 9 at the max, as I tend to be too honest at times…many things weren’t taken into consideration.
Oops, I jus did this backwards, sorry! Whatever…you know what I mean.

About a 9. I lie to my mum a lot because I don’t want her worrying about me.

I think I’d say like 3.5
I do my best to stay honest, but of course I make up reasons not to spend time with my father. And small children… The questions you just HAVE to lie about. Haha.

Define truth.

Sorry, just being a smart ass, but there is some truth in that.

What might be a lie to you might just be a courteous gesture to me. Or vice verse.
What a cute haircut. I gotta go, dinner’s ready. I’ll be there in a minute.

Truth can be slippery.

@lazydaisy

True. To an extent, but… if we define truth by reality, not subjective reality, but ‘true’ reality….as in the facts only….well….there can only be just so much play in the rope of honesty.

Shades of gray do not remove the base color of black. lol

@dxs

Hah…good method to this lying madness you have! haha
Oops…I must confess, I was guilty of the Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy scene…what can I say, some programming is pretty hardwired. haha

But my tooth fairy was far more generous than most!

@Coloma

I would argue that subjective reality is perhaps the only ‘true’ reality. Facts can only be facts if I perceive them that as facts. You might not.

So….does that mean I’m lying?

@lazydaisy

I hear you, I know where you’re going with this, I’m just saying we can only split hairs just so thin. Unless we are severely mentally unwell. lol
Not trying to debate perceptions. ;-)

Fortunately, I am only moderately mentally unwell

@lazydaisy

LOL, okay..you’re pardoned, lets just hope if you perceive yourself to be bleeding to death I will too. Or…not looking good for you! lol

I would put myself at about a 2 or a 3. I don’t do any active lying but I will withhold the truth if I need to.

Yikes, 1.5.

Probably like a 3. I’m never dishonest about things that are important or to any of my close friends, but I exaggerate about things that don’t matter and oftentimes go on rambles where I don’t pay attention to what I’m saying. Then there are just certain people that I just tell the most ridiculous fabrications to, not in dishonesty, though, since none of it is at all believable..

@augustlan ROTFLMAO wow you are a good liar! Exaggerating accounts for lying too! also fooling the Fluthers makes your number go up by 2 so I say ur a 10 or 11! :/ LOL

I on the other hand am zero, zilch, nada liar every once in awhi..fine I’m a 2 be fair! ;)

Thanks all for replies.

10— I cant be
9— I try to be
I manage to be 7 or 8

Erm .. you mean 2 or 3 ..

10 = a person who lies a lot [ uncontrollable ]