The Value of Untruths: The List

Amusement and entertainment value
Avoid conflict
Avoid punishment
Belittle others
Change the course of events, history
Denial
Distraction
Entitlement – used selectively, not for the inferior
Empower – create false hope
Empower – self
Ego
Etiquette
Fear or to create fear
For gain
Inconvenience

The IT guy wanted to get a start on his vacation. I asked him to fix my phone. He told me the Director told him he could fix the phone when he returned from vacation. I found out the Director didn’t say that. The IT guy looked disappointed and grumbled. He had to add another thing to his to-do list.

Justification for bad behavior
Make trouble
1% Rule
Peer pressure
Protection
Publicity
Sex
Shame
Status to be cool
Takes too long explain
The way things are done
Truth can be sooo boring

 

Janet Cormier is a painter, writes prose and poetry, and performs comedy. JC prefers different and original over pretty. She loves collecting stuff, but cleaning not so much. Janet also talks to strangers… a lot. Her column appears weekly in Oddball Magazine.