Lies, Lies, Lies

In ''The Ways We Lie'', Stephanie Ericson classifies the different types of lies we tell. She categorizes them under the different types of lies we tell, why we tell them, and under what circumstances we tell that lie. Some categories she included are white lies, facades, ignoring the plain facts, deflecting, omission, stereotypes, cliches, groupthink, out-and-out lies, dismissal and delusion. By categorizing each lie as a different type of lie, it makes me question the heavy impact of lies and how many different lies we can tell throughout a day. Each lie also hits a different mark on the scale of lies from a little white lie to delusional lies. Stephanie Ericson's statement ''I tried hard not to tell a lie for a day and I found myself struggling''. This essay made me reflect on my own life and it made me realize that I too tell lies on a daily basis that it's become a norm.

I definitely agree with Ericson because each lie is made under a different pretense. Sometimes ''we exaggerate, we minimize, we avoid confrontation, we spare people's feelings, we conveniently forget, we keep secrets'' but it keeps the world round. Although each one is indeed a fib there are different degrees of the lies we tell and the reasons we tell the lie usually varies as well. Lies are inevitable, and will happen whether we do it intentionally or accidentally. I like how Ericson brings up how lies can be both positive and harmful at the same time. Some lies are told with good intentions such as telling your friend she looks good in a dress when she doesn't. You spare her feelings and give her that boost of confidence she needed after a bad week. Of course, this is still a lie, but if it's a lie told with good intentions, does it make it okay? Or on the other hand if you lie or withhold information purposely to harm someone else, if that wrong? Aren't lies in general bad? What makes them different and under what circumstances is it okay to lie? Stephanie Ericson answers all these questions in her essay where she classifies the different types of lies we tell.

I think Ericson's purpose of writing this essay is to show us that there is a story behind every lie we tell, and that lying is natural and inevitable. Even the most honest person will tell a fib eventually.  Telling a lie doesn't always make us a bad person. Lying isn't a black and white situation, but actually ends up in the grey area in between. Instead of quickly judging someone based on their lies, you should always question their intentions in telling that lie. Whether they did it for the benefit of others or the harm of others. Ericson also teaches us that lies are all around, us so we should always be wary of the rumors we heard around us. It's a simple nature of humanity that can not be avoided, so instead of trying to get rid of it, we need to learn to embrace it and know what to expect when words leave someone's mouth. It brings up a new perspective on lies that needs to be heard.