You lie, but this is not something you
need to be ashamed of.
All people lie, to a greater or a
lesser extent.
And everyone pretends that it is
important to be honest.
Observe yourself.
How many fibs do you use a typical day,
how many white lies, how many stupid
lies
and how many times did you withheld
something?
Also the question why we lie to
ourselves is trivial, as I see it.
You feel better when you tell yourself
that you're OK.
If you are telling yourself, loud and
clear, that you are a selfish idiot,
when you really are a selfish idiot,
then you're throwing a spanner in the
works.
For many people are lies and
self-deceptions absolutely essential
to make life worth living.
A religion, for example, regardless of
how crazy,
provides both consolation and
community.
Common sense and truthfulness provides
no consolation.
Self-deceptions can also be very
helpful for frustrated upper class housewives
who need to keep up the illusion of
success
and they can also help losers who need
justifications and excuses
for their excessive alcohol
consumption.
Negative people may be more realistic
than optimists
but optimists live a more enjoyable
life.
It is in so many ways better to deceive
oneself and have some fun
than to hound for truth.
Truth fundamentalists are such tedious
boors.
Nevertheless,
it's much nicer to spend time with
people who do not live in denial,
and delusional dream worlds.
So, white lies and little lies are
necessary in modern life, I believe.
However, problems arises if you lie
too much.
A few glasses of wine now and then is a
pleasure,
but a bottle or two wine everyday
you will end up as an alcoholic.
Robert Trivers: Why do we deceive ourselves?
