Not all lies are evil. In any case, Steel Trap Mind here has, so far, never forgotten an important conversation. Also have a good radar for detecting lies from others -- as Jondude says, it's all in the body language, voice inflection, etc. You can use lies to manipulate, you can use a lie to lessen the devastation the truth might bring. There are good and bad results. The truth is not always the kindest road.

Funny you should bring this up. Over at the knitting forum we are attempting to get admin to do something about a dreadful bully who has humiliated and offended more knitters than you can shake a stick at.

You have to have a wonderful memory to lie. That is what I told my second
ex who couldn't live without lying. His memory was poor.

During my long divorce fight I started seeing a professional Ph.D. social worker who was also a Psychologist and who became a good golf buddy and friend. I got his discount from $120 an hour to $50 because he liked me. He also had a session with my to-be-ex wife. During my counseling the subject of lies came up often. I discovered that you simply could not tell a lie to this man. He was very very good. of course, his professional rules would not allow him to inform me about the lies my ex told him, but after the divorce he did. Anyway, I asked him how he learned to tell when a patient lied to him and he recommended a couple 'body language' books to me. I bought and read them and still refer to them once and a while. You CAN detect lies by observing body language and a person's eye movements, lip shapes, diction, etc. The professionals know this and try to keep it secret.

Your lie radar must be going nuts this political season.

Hear, hear! Lie to me or steal from me and I'll never trust you again, period. It's sad, but true. Great article.

'I did indeed make a mistake,' OMG!!!! I'm destroyed!!!!!!!

I was a 'professional liar' and a good one for the first 25 years of my life until I learned why I lied *(and why most people lie) and haven't lied for the past 50--and that's not a lie!!~!

Doing great, Al. Vanity certainly plays a role. No one likes to admit he has been caught in a lie, so he will try to lie his way out of it or blame it on the person who caught him in the lie by accusing that person of "twisting his words around." It's the weakest excuse in the world because it's a dead give a way that the person has been lying.

I've known a couple of people of whom it could be said 'you can tell when he's lying: his lips are moving.' I'm not sure why they were compelled to do this, but they couldn't seem to help themselves. Although it took some time to figure it out, once I did, I simply assumed anything they said was a lie and went from there.

well this could be an interesting topic here.I was hoping to see if any comment on this and then worked it from there.But the one thing that I liked is no need to lie and just admit you may a mistake.This is fine.But I am not sure this will worked out for many.
As for me.I admit so many time in making a mistake.Lot of people will not and the reason for this so that he will not feel so stupid etc.People do lie and will continued out to do so.
Many men will not admits if they made a mistake.Maybe the next subject will be vain.
I know that they are and not sure about the women.But this was an interesting post and will come back to hear what others say.Thanks.How are you doing there CJ>