NationStates Jolt Archive

My personal favorites are "For your own good," and "national security." People of NSG, what are your favorite white lies?

"No that outfitdoesn't make you look fat."

And

"I love you"

"This will hurt me more than it will hurt you"

"God works in mysterious ways"

"No, those jeans don't make your butt look fat"

Take your pick

"God works in mysterious ways"

That's a white lie?

"They hate us for our freedoms."

"We fight them there so we don't have to fight them here."

That's a white lie?

When it's told to little kids or grieving mothers to explain why bad things happen, it is.

It can also be used as an intellectual copout

"I promise to help the country."

My personal favorites are "For your own good," and "national security." People of NSG, what are your favorite white lies?
Those aren't white lies. A white lie is harmless and simply used out of manners.
"No that outfitdoesn't make you look fat."

And

"I love you"
These are white lies (well, No. 2 depends on the circumstances. Someone could claim "love" out of a malicious desire, elevating it from a white lie to something more sinister).

When it's told to little kids or grieving mothers to explain why bad things happen, it is.

It can also be used as an intellectual copout

I kind of understand, but I've never seen it like that. The only things I got as a kid were varying forms of God's "tough love" and "divine retribution."

My favorite 'white lie' told on NSG on a regular basis is "Im a lawyer'.

Honorable mention to NM for claiming hes a lawyer on two state bars. :p

When it's told to little kids or grieving mothers to explain why bad things happen, it is.

It can also be used as an intellectual copoutI don't see how it's any more a lie (of any kind) than "There, there, it's going to be okay" is. They aren't true or false, they're consolation/grief-expressions.

Those aren't white lies. A white lie is harmless and simply used out of manners.

These are white lies (well, No. 2 depends on the circumstances. Someone could claim "love" out of a malicious desire, elevating it from a white lie to something more sinister).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_lie

A white lie would cause only relatively minor discord if it were uncovered, and typically offers some benefit to the hearer. White lies are often used to avoid offense, such as complimenting something one finds unattractive. In this case, the lie is told to avoid the harmful realistic implications of the truth. As a concept, it is largely defined by local custom and cannot be clearly separated from other lies with any authority.

Not exactly harmless...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_lie



Not exactly harmless...
The key part being the first line, "a white lie would cause only relatively minor discord if it were uncovered." Once a lie is used to justify government policy, it can no longer be called "white."

My personal favorites, some of which I say myself:

"I always lie"

"I am not a crook"

"*moans* I'm too sick to go to school today..."

"My Tourettes did it."

"Macs are always perfect."

Death: "*insert favorite pet animal name here* umm... went away on a very long vacation and won't be coming back."

On skipping class, "I missed my alarm clock." "I didn't shower and didn't want to stink up the class."

Missing homework: "I forgot to save my essay when I quit the program," "The internet ate it," "My RHD's dog ate my homework," "We had homework?" "I forgot my computer's password"

Not posting on NS I.I.: "Jolt is dead," or alternatively, "jolt ate my damn post."

"I'm from the government and I'm here to help" - I don't know if it's my favorite, but it's the first one that sprung to mind.

"It's a shortcut", along with it's close relative "you can't miss it"

'This will only take five minutes" No, it won't.

"Trust me, I know what I'm doing" This one might actually be my favorite, because I use it the most.

My personal favorites are "For your own good," and "national security." People of NSG, what are your favorite white lies?

In the cases where those are used as justifications to deprive hundreds, thousands, or millions of people of their basic human rights and civil liberties, I would call them anything but "white" lies.

"My opponent ran a fine campaign!"

These are white lies (well, No. 2 depends on the circumstances. Someone could claim "love" out of a malicious desire, elevating it from a white lie to something more sinister).

I can't honestly see how claiming to love someone when you don't could ever really constitute a white lie. That seems pretty huge and nasty.

"You'll understand better when you're older"

...or, alternatively, the parent could simply admit that they have no fucking clue.

When it's told to little kids or grieving mothers to explain why bad things happen, it is.

It can also be used as an intellectual copout

What about the phrase "even the very wise cannot see all ends"?

"We like you for who you are, Don't change a thing!"

"Wow! Did you lose weight?"

My personal favorites are "For your own good," and "national security." People of NSG, what are your favorite white lies?

I don't think either of those are actually white lies.

"For your own good" is usually said by a parent, who has generally more wisdom than a young child. It's not even a lie in the first place (in it's most common usage).

How is 'national security' a lie? I would call it a concept more than anything... it's not even a complete sentence.

I'm not a huge fan of white lies personally, if my wife asks me if an outfit makes her look fat, I'll be honest... because I'd rather she get a little mad at me, then wear an outfit out that would potentially make her more upset later.

(well, No. 2 depends on the circumstances. Someone could claim "love" out of a malicious desire, elevating it from a white lie to something more sinister).

Or, indeed, if they mean the phrase, then it isn't a lie at all. ;)

My favorite 'white lie' told on NSG on a regular basis is "Im a lawyer'.

Honorable mention to NM for claiming hes a lawyer on two state bars. :p

Yeah, it's easy to tell that he's not a lawyer. I am a lawyer, and I've picked up a sixth sense about charlatans.

"It's meant to be like that"

"No that outfitdoesn't make you look fat."


That's not a lie. The outfit wasn't to blame. :)

"My email isn't working so I can't get it to you for the deadline"

"Of course I don't mind not going for curry tonight"

I'm so PC, I only tell skin color neutral lies.

"I cashed the check three days ago."

I am only going out for one beer.

Downsizing

Short term pain for long term gain

"Wow! Did you lose weight?"

God, I've got a great story for that white lie. It was the second time I was meeting my ex-boyfriend's mother, and I was going to be staying at her place for three days. The first thing she said to me when I walked in the kitchen was, "You've lost weight! Not that you were fat to begin with ..." It was at that point I started fervently hoping the kitchen floor would open up and swallow me.

i'm so pc, i only tell skin color neutral lies.
qft

The key part being the first line, "a white lie would cause only relatively minor discord if it were uncovered." Once a lie is used to justify government policy, it can no longer be called "white."

Well, I was thinking along the lines of how a lie can be used to justify government policy for the safety or general well-being of the public. In that context, it could be argued that using "national security" was done for a positive reason, and can be considered a white lie. After all, the government does act in the interest of the people (in theory).

In the cases where those are used as justifications to deprive hundreds, thousands, or millions of people of their basic human rights and civil liberties, I would call them anything but "white" lies.

See above. I understand that it's pretty much what perspective you're looking from.

I don't think either of those are actually white lies.

"For your own good" is usually said by a parent, who has generally more wisdom than a young child. It's not even a lie in the first place (in it's most common usage).

How is 'national security' a lie? I would call it a concept more than anything... it's not even a complete sentence.


What do you mean by "in it's most common usage"? If by that you mean from parents to children, "For your own good" can be used to restrict them from learning about the world through mistakes (obviously with good intentions, but not really the best method). I'd rather be frank, and just let children learn the (nonlethal/incapacitating) hard way.

I think your definition is off. A white lie is a social dissemblance meant to spare someone's feelings. How do either of your examples fit this?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/white%20lie
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=white+lie

"White people can't dance."

EDIT:I think your definition is off. A white lie is a social dissemblance meant to spare someone's feelings. How do either of your examples fit this?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/white%20lie
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=white+lie

Oh. Never mind.

"I cashed the check three days ago."

or.. Checks in the mail.

'For your own good'

And

'Trust me'