“The Ways We Lie” by Stephanie Ericsson is a fascinating look at the many ways we avoid the truth in our relationships. She explores the psychology behind why we lie, and how it can often lead to more problems than it solves.
If you’re looking for a thought-provoking read that will make you question your own motivations for lying, “The Ways We Lie” is a must-read.
White lies are, according to Stephanie Ericsson, the author of “The Ways We Lie” essay, essential for surviving. When bigger lies are used in more important situations, a lot of problems can arise. When lying is employed in any political or governmental context, it may develop into a cultural cancer; but when people lie to one another privately, it is sometimes required.
In relationships, for example, each person often withholds information in order to protect the other’s feelings. Although this may seem like a white lie, it is done with good intentions and generally does not hurt anyone. In some cases, withholding information may even save a relationship.
The broken promises of politicians have led to a common knowledge that they will say anything to get elected. In the 1988 presidential election, George H. W. Bush of the Republican party was pitted against Michael Dukakis of the Democratic party. To gain support and win votes, Bush made a series of false promises that he had no intention of keeping.
However, during his presidency, Bush did not deliver on most of his promises and as a result, he was not re-elected for a second term. In this essay, Stephanie Ericsson talks about the different types of lies and how they affect relationships.
Different Types of Lies:
1) The white lie: These are harmless lies that we tell to avoid hurting someone’s feelings or to make them feel better. For example, telling your friend that her new haircut looks nice even if you don’t like it.
2) The self-serving lie: This is when we lie to make ourselves look good or to get out of trouble. For example, lying about why you were late for work.
3) The malicious lie: This is when we deliberately try to hurt someone with our words. For example, spreading rumors about someone.
4) The fib: This is a small lie that we tell to avoid an uncomfortable situation. For example, telling your boss you’re sick when you just don’t feel like coming into work.
5) The whopper: This is a big lie that can have serious consequences. For example, lying on your resume or cheating on your taxes.
Lying can have serious consequences on our relationships. It can damage trust and lead to communication problems. If you find yourself lying frequently, it may be time to seek help from a therapist or counselor.
The CDC is a federal organization that works to help the United States’ people maintain their health and avoid diseases. Whether CDC was “confused” or lying, there have been times in history when it has provided false information to the general public.
The first example is when the CDC stated that the AIDS virus could not be transmitted through heterosexual sex. This was in 1982, only a year after the disease had been discovered, and at this point, all of the cases that had been reported were from homosexual men. The CDC’s purpose for releasing this information to the public was to prevent any sort of panic from breaking out, as there was still so much unknown about AIDS and how it was transmitted.
However, what they failed to realize is that by telling people that AIDS couldn’t be transmitted heterosexually, they were essentially giving individuals a false sense of security. It wasn’t until six years later that the CDC finally corrected their statement.
More recently, in 2014, the CDC made another mistake when they released a report that claimed that Ebola could not be transmitted through the air. This was blatantly false, as there had already been cases of individuals contracting Ebola through the air. The CDC later issued a correction, saying that while Ebola is not “airborne”, it can be spread through “large respiratory droplets”.
These are only two examples of times when the CDC has given false information to the public.
While their intentions may have been good – to prevent panic or confusion – their actions ultimately backfired and caused more harm than good. In a world where we rely on experts to give us accurate information, it’s important that we can trust them to be truthful. The CDC is not the only organization that has lied to us, but they are one of the most important. We need to be able to trust the CDC so that we can make informed decisions about our health and wellbeing.
The CDC had said that to spread Ebola, direct contact is necessary. It was later discovered via the media that bodily fluid droplets can be carried via skin and absorbed by the body, thus allowing virus transmission.
The media had caused a lot of unnecessary panic and stress that could have all been avoided. When it comes to the truth, we often times like to believe what we want to believe. It’s much easier that way and it requires less effort. In the essay, “The Ways We Lie” by Stephanie Ericsson, she talks about the different ways people lie and how those lies can affect relationships. People tend to rationalize their lies by saying that they are harmless or white lies. But in reality, any type of lie has an effect on relationships whether it be big or small.
Psychology plays a big role in why people lie. People might lie to protect themselves from getting hurt or because they are afraid of rejection. They might also lie to make themselves feel better or to avoid conflict. Whatever the reason may be, lies can damage relationships and it’s important to be honest with each other.
The CDC was caught lying about the disease’s transmission and has since said that it might be “indirectly” spread. If an organization is formed to safeguard people from illnesses, why would they deceive the public by lying? What is the maximum number of injuries or fatalities it would take for the agency to tell the truth? All of these problems are concerned with how the CDC would react, or if at all.
The CDC isn’t the only ones to lie in order to maintain power. In her essay, “The Ways We Lie,” Stephanie Ericsson writes about the various types of lies people tell on a daily basis and how each type benefits the liar in some way.
Even if it’s a small white lie, such as telling your significant other that you love their new haircut when you actually hate it, it still counts as a lie. Although it may not seem like a big deal, over time, these little white lies can add up and turn into something much bigger, such as lying about your feelings or intentions.
Lying is often seen as a negative trait, but in some cases, it can be helpful. For example, if you’re in a relationship and your partner cheated on you, should you tell them that you know? In this case, it would probably be best to lie and say that you don’t know, as opposed to telling the truth and causing an argument. In some cases, the truth can hurt more than a lie.
There are many different types of lies, but they all serve a purpose for the person who is lying. Whether it’s to protect themselves or someone else, or to avoid an awkward situation, people lie for various reasons.