Living Without Lying
Written by: Tom Sawyer
I watched the final episode of the latest Survivor last night and it sort of got me thinking. The premise of the game was the same as it has been for years, but this season seemed to be a little different. I’m not sure if the lying was at an all-time high or if the lying was just different.
Since Richard Hatch won the first Survivor, the game has always been about making alliances and working people to get to the top. If you’ve ever watched you know they edit this show to make it seem like someone will get blindsided only to see the obvious happen in the end. This season there was actually quite a few surprises and the game changed up to the end. How does the success in this game compare to success in real life? I mean, is Survivor an abbreviated look at how things really are?
Do good guys really finish last while those who will do anything, to include lying their pants off, make it to the top?
I work in an industry that you would think – you would really hope – has honesty at the forefront. Unfortunately, honesty in my occupation will only take you so far. After getting to a certain point there seems to be an equal amount of honest people and sketchy characters that keep on rising.
If we took an honest look at our society, how hard to you think it is for a truly honest person to succeed? Of course we could say there are all kinds of honest people who have made it, but what about the dishonest people who have made it and the people who are in the process “by any means necessary?”
Law professor Tamar Frankel says the following:
“Americans must demand of their leaders, of themselves, and of one another more honesty and trust and less cynicism — a Utopian ideal, but a necessary cultural aspiration.”
Don’t you think this is true of not only Americans but the world as a whole?
December 15th, 2008 at 9:02 am
I believe you can absolutely live AND succeed without lying. Survivor is a game about people doing whatever it takes to win a million bucks. That tells you where their priorities are – money. I think if you do what you love to do, without a shadow of a doubt you will be successful. Also, when you’re doing what you love to do, I don’t think lying will come into play. Why do I say this? Because what would you have to life about – you’re doing what you love to do! We have to remember that sometimes success does not mean monetary gain. Some people believe that being happy is being successful. Just a little something to think about.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I think lying is one of the easiest and most second natured sins people commit. I think the show Survivor demonstrates lying for monetary success purposes. Unfortunately, I think many, many people use it for the success of getting out of a tight situation, the success of being the victor in a conversation/argument, the success of looking better in other’s eyes, etc. Some people lie just for the heck of it. I am always amazed at how easily people lie especially when the truth is so easily accessible to catch them in their lie. It is really sad.
Psalm 116:11 – And in my dismay I said, “All men are liars.”
Psalm 101:7 – He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
But again, unfortunately, lying, (especially for a just cause in the mind of the liar) is such a frequent occurrence.
April 2nd, 2010 at 7:12 pm
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September 16th, 2010 at 12:09 am
What a nice article. I really like reading these kinds or articles. I look forward to see what others have to say.