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White Lies?

By definition white lies can be considered untruths that may not do significant damage or may 'help' the turn out of a certain situation. For others white lies can be devious and heart breaking. However, this thread seeks to discuss the use of such lies and if there is any good in them. Feel free to provide examples.

Lies White

Oh, boy, this is a hard topic.

"How do you like my new dress?" is one of my most hated questions from other people, especially if it looks *awful*! What do you say? Same with "new haircut" or whatever. Oy! Just a couple of days ago, one of the girls at work cut her hair short, and it makes her face look very round and fat. Do I tell her that? Or do I say, "Great haircut!" ? I did say that, in fact, because the haircut itself *is* great. I just didn't tell her that it makes her face look fat.

Roz

White Lies? Health & Special Psychology

I use the word "interesting"... so when they come with something I do not want to offend them with I say... "It is interesting", more than often they do not ask for my opinion anymore, but at least they are not offended

As for white lies in itself, there should be no reason to lie, there can always be a way of giving some info but not all. In other words, just because someone asks does not mean you HAVE to give an answer, once it is understood on this basis I think it is much easier to handle.

Lies White

Well, to me if it is a "white lie" or a lie sort of depends. I don't think there is anything wrong with my telling a girl friend her dress doesn't make her fat, even if it does. Technically, I am not being honest, but I don't think it is a bad thing. I don't think I am committing a sin. So, that would be a while lie. Anything told that is not 100% accurate, but only serves to preserve the feelings of another and hurts no one, in my opinion is fine. A lie to protect myself, then would be a lie. So, if you ask me to watch your chid and I don't want to and I make up an excuse why I can't, I wouldn't consider that to be o.k.

Lies White

I agree and disagree with this. If you are shopping with her and she tries it on, then I will be honest and say that it is wrong for her. But if it has already been purchased then I will tell the white lie and not be bluntly honest and say: Actually, dearie, you look like a barn door in that red dress.

Personally I think white lies are NOT devious and hurtful. That is where the *white* comes into being. When a lie is told with the intent to be hurtful then it is a *black* lie, or just a lie.

White Lies?

In Persephones defense I believe that 'can be' qualifies the statement. Also, a 'white' lie may be considered 'white' to one telling, but not to the one receiving. Hence when the receiver finds out about the so called, 'white' lie they can feel hurt.

White Lies

Most people say 'white lies' mainly when you do not want to offend someone. But I think we should not exagerate. For instance if a good friend ask me how I like her dress and the dress doesn't fit her properly, I may say 'Hmmm...I think you would look so much better in a blue one' or something like that but I would not say 'Oh, it makes you look so beautiful'. I don't think that's a 'white lie'. When people are flattering other people just to make them feel accepted are not consider white lies in my opinion. Because they do not have to say anything in the first place!.

White Lies Psychology Special & Health

With the haircut I agree, because there is no way you could change it, and it would only make you feel miserable for a long while. Dress-wise, however, it won't hurt to tell. You have plenty of other dresses that you can wear and look better in. If you know that one of your dresses is ugly, then you will stop wearing it.

Yeah. an exaggerated example is - you don't tell your adopted son that he's adopted, to not alienate him and make him feel abandoned. But then, somehow, when he's fourty, he discovers it. Imagine! Discovering that who you thought were your true parents were actually... not