On air: Is there such a thing as an 'acceptable' lie?
|10:46 UK time, Wednesday, 19 May 2010
He's accused of being smart enough to out-smart officials at one of the world's most renowned academic institutions. For many, Adam Wheeler's entry into Harvard is proof enough that he's one clever guy.
'The guy has balls - he "acheived" something. At least Adam Wheeler's lies were trying to get him somewhere,' says one comment on the Liars' Club forum.
This blog agrees - Wheeler is heading for stardom.
Wheeler's not the only one in the dock. US Democratic Party candidate Richard Blumenthal is fighting to save his campaign after being accused of lying about serving in Vietnam.
In Australia, politician Tony Abbot has caused a stir by saying that he doesn't always tell the truth and can exaggerate in the heat of the moment.
Interestingly, this article feels that women only lie about things that matter, whilst men are more likely to lie on the whole. How do you define what matters?
This report finds that kids who starting lying before the age of two end up being the brightest.
True/Slant questions a growing culture of lies,
'Perhaps it says something about the moral fiber of America in the 21st century. Blumenthal's actions seem something of an extension of an era in which facts are considered fungible, where the "narrative arc" - in politics, memoir and some documentaries - matters more to many than what actually happened.'
Are lies so common that we overlook them now? Have you ever lied and thought it justified?
