This is just me getting out some thoughts - I'm interested in the nature of truth, and what constitutes truth, and the different levels of "lies". As a writer, it's important to explore these issues.
The first writing class I had at IC was Intro to the Essay with a terrific, terrific person and Professor who unfortunately left IC shortly after I had him for class.
Well, that class was where I learned about the "A Million Little Pieces" controversy. This guy, James Frey, wrote a story - some parts were true, others exaggerated or fictionalized to make the story better. People loved the book - but they were also told it was a Memoir which lead them to believe every inch of it was completely true-to-life. Then Oprah endorsed the book and it skyrocketed in sales...when she and everybody else found out it wasn't totally true, they were pissed. Would the book have done as well if it was sold as pure fiction? Isn't there still some intrigue there since parts are true? But then again, isn't all *literary* fiction partly true by nature?
So what kind of lies are there?
The "little white lie":
-Usually told to avoid punishment or embarrassment, either of yourself or someone else. We believe telling this kind of lie not only doesn't hurt anybody, but might even improve a situation.
The "forgetfulness" or "delusional" lie:
-Probably the most innocent of lies, they happen when people forget little details and make mistakes. It's a lie that comes with the flaws of memory and perception. If someone is nuts and believes that they're Jesus, are they lying? However, it's easy to exploit as anybody can say they just forgot, or they really did believe XYZ...
The "misinformation" lie:
-Much like the above, only it's a way bigger problem. This lie comes from unfounded or misinformed beliefs. Only in the past couple decades (the 70s, I think) has homosexuality, for example, been taken out of the DSM and stopped being thought of as a mental disorder. These kinds of lies are dangerous because they are passed and propagated through society so large groups of people might think they're true and live their lives accordingly. Further, in more personal situations, if a friend lies to you and you tell someone else the same story, then they've made a liar out of you. Which sucks. I suppose this would also include the mislabeling of things, like when you say you feel sick (which you do) but really you feel depressed but don't want to sound dramatic or give away anything too personal.
The "outright" lie:
-Kind of obvious but this is when someone plainly just lies. Not all the lies here are necessarily evil, but I prefer to call those prone to this kind DAMN DIRTY LIARS. Because, seriously, you suck.
The "not said" lie:
-When the whole truth isn't told.
The "out of context" or "inarticulate" lie:
-I'm talking about limitations of expression. Emotions especially are complex, and many people either don't know how to say or describe the way they feel, or they might not even want to go that deep into their emotions out of fear. Others too will claim not to even have emotions like that. This is a lie told due to style - and partly the "not said" lie - leaving out all the pieces due to time or mood or whatever.
The "bullshit" lie:
-Being an intellectual, and a human in general, my brain stores all the words and information and scenarios I use to understand the world around me. When we come across something we don't fully understand, we take these elements and try to make sense of it. It's also founded on our process of logic. So, in class when you haven't read the book but you're able to talk about the issues discussed in the book - well - you're bullshitting. Sort of. It's a bit twisted because what you're saying is based on things you remember (though maybe you can't place just where you remember hearing or reading them)....
Also:
The "plagiarism" lie:
The "repressed" or "pretending" lie: I would apply this to people who are gay or angry or anything that society tends to ask us to hide. It's a lie told in shame or in the effort to be something we're not.
The "cover up" lie: based on honor or protection (road to hell is paved with good intentions)
The "political" lie: Lies told because frankly the person could go either way on an issue, they don't really care. Their main concern is something else (getting elected, getting laid, hurting you) and they don't really have an opinion, they just want to say what they think you want to hear (or, conversely, what they know will hurt you somehow). It's all about strategy, not truth.
The "manifestation" lie: a powerful kind of lie that is told so much it becomes true
I've got to get ready for class but I'll add to this later.
If you have any ideas, leave a comment. I'd love to hear it.