ways we lie
The Ways We Lie
It is curious to know that every day without thinking everyone tells lies “The Ways we lie” by Stephanie Ericcson is a realistic text that demonstrates what a lie is, why lies are told, how lies are justified, and consequences. According to this essay “We lie. We all do. We exaggerate, we minimize, we avoid confrontation, we spare people's feelings, we conveniently forget, we keep secrets, we justify lying to the big-guy institutions.” (Page 408 of The Bedford Reader). Ericsson analyze the different ways we use lies to help and hurt our self in our everyday lives, and how this effects American culture.The purpose of this essay is not to make people feel bad about themselves or to censure anybody, but to make people think before they lie.
Everybody integrates a lie into de everyday life, but what is a lie? Ericcson presents to reader two different Webster’s definitions of lie “1. A false statement or action especially made with the intent to deceive and 2. Anything that gives or meant to give a false impression” (page 408 of The Bedford Reader), and supports her idea that everybody lies and in many cases are acceptable. Besides, it is nearly impossible to disappear lies to the human life. Also, she breaks into each individual kind of lie and uses these information to influence the reader. Ericsson cited the lies that are hardly disputed like the notorious “white lie”, the “out-and-out-lie” and facade.
The first lie that she debates is the white lie; it is inoffensively telling an untruth so that no hurt is done by telling the reality. Some individuals will feel disappointed, frustrated, or upset if the words from other people aren’t the wanted words that these people expected. But everything has consequences, in some cases a white lie helps in others not all depends on the point of view of the beholder. As the example of that is the Vietnam case, it is true family did not go hungry but they always kept their hopes alive, unable to move
It is curious to know that every day without thinking everyone tells lies “The Ways we lie” by Stephanie Ericcson is a realistic text that demonstrates what a lie is, why lies are told, how lies are justified, and consequences. According to this essay “We lie. We all do. We exaggerate, we minimize, we avoid confrontation, we spare people's feelings, we conveniently forget, we keep secrets, we justify lying to the big-guy institutions.” (Page 408 of The Bedford Reader). Ericsson analyze the different ways we use lies to help and hurt our self in our everyday lives, and how this effects American culture.The purpose of this essay is not to make people feel bad about themselves or to censure anybody, but to make people think before they lie.
Everybody integrates a lie into de everyday life, but what is a lie? Ericcson presents to reader two different Webster’s definitions of lie “1. A false statement or action especially made with the intent to deceive and 2. Anything that gives or meant to give a false impression” (page 408 of The Bedford Reader), and supports her idea that everybody lies and in many cases are acceptable. Besides, it is nearly impossible to disappear lies to the human life. Also, she breaks into each individual kind of lie and uses these information to influence the reader. Ericsson cited the lies that are hardly disputed like the notorious “white lie”, the “out-and-out-lie” and facade.
The first lie that she debates is the white lie; it is inoffensively telling an untruth so that no hurt is done by telling the reality. Some individuals will feel disappointed, frustrated, or upset if the words from other people aren’t the wanted words that these people expected. But everything has consequences, in some cases a white lie helps in others not all depends on the point of view of the beholder. As the example of that is the Vietnam case, it is true family did not go hungry but they always kept their hopes alive, unable to move