Is the ability to lie a skill or an illness?

I’d say it’s a skill or a pathology but not an illness.

It’s a skill. But narcissists can help lying too.

I’d say lying can be a symptom to an illness.

Depends on the reasoning. Personally I think it’s a skill.

What about lying when there is really no need to lie?
Is that an illness?

I think we ALL have the “ability” to lie; however, some “choose” to lie more often than is necessary & that’s when it become an illness!!!

There’s an old joke…How do you know when a lawyer is lying??? He opens his mouth!!!

The ability to lie? Trump is a genius? Do you mean the ability to lie convincingly?

Seriously, exactly what skill is required in lying?

The execution of a lie requires skill.
The compulsion to lie is a pathology.

It could be either or both.

I will let The Authority on this matter speak for me

I think there is a bit of personality involved, as well. I have a friend who has no “poker face” at all. It can get her in a bit of trouble at times. I’m not sure how well she can lie because I perceive her as very straightforward, matter-of-fact and truthful… but I doubt she’s very convincing with any lie.

I don’t think it’s a skill necessarily, because my values preclude me from seeing lying as a positive (although I bet under some circumstances it may be). Taken to extreme, lying is certainly pathological.

I think lying is developmentally normal for young children who realize that they can say something (untrue) that may prevent them from facing undesirable consequences. We see children (and adults) with developmental difficulties or those on the autism spectrum who may not be very capable of lying and being generally dishonest, and they may have a hard time socially because we value certain social tendencies that are not aligned with “radical truthfulness”.

I don’t think morality or popularity define skill.
I think perpetual lying is pathological, but successful lying, as in having a goal, and achieving that goal with a lie, is a skill.
Being skilled does not mean being right.
Actors are professional liars. Skilled actors entertain us with their lies.

YES^^ but they are not saying their lies are the truth ,they are acting they know it, and we should know it.
Unlike politicians who say their lies are the truth and expect the public to believe them.
And as you said there is a goal maybe to keep a nation safe, or to further their career, but what about lying when there is really no need for them to lie, and that lie can be debunked by anyone with a grade 3 education and a computer, that definitely has to be an illness.

I don’t agree that actors are liars.

I’d say the ability is a skill. Whether you use the skill for personal gain and/or evil is something else.

My husband’s family are the worst liars I’ve ever met. Not all of them are liars, I’m just saying the ones who do lie do it really poorly. I’m stunned how little they know about lying considering they do it quite a bit, they complain when they realize they are being lied to. I just don’t get it.

@Patty Melt. If lying and acting are both skilled professions, are the skills to be judged on how prolific the lies or acting. In other words does the fact that I lie every time I claim to be a business genius mean I’m talented because I can lie at the drop of a hat? Am I skilled if no one believes me?

Us parents are fantastic liars, Daddy Christmas//Tooth Fairy etc.
Mind you, not an illness to be seen.