Texting and Lying
Almost everyone knows lying is wrong, yet that doesn’t prevent a lot of lying from taking place.
Much of the lying around us is what we call “little white lies.” They are lies that likely will not create much of a ripple in the flow of life because they concern matters that are relatively insignificant, or if exposed the negative consequences to follow would be relatively negligible. Lying about where we ate lunch, a grade we made on a report, or how well we did in a game is not going to change the world or cause many people to hate us.
None-the-less, they are lies, and telling them does make an impact on our character. Over time, as we become more and more accustomed to lying, we also grow comfortable with it. In time, we will lie even when telling the truth is so much easier.
The idea of growing comfortable with lies should unnerve us just a bit. It means that our morals are corrupted and our conscience has become seared. It means that we don’t mind betraying the trust our parents, spouse, children, fellow church members or friends have placed in us. Growing comfortable with lying means that we have virtually lost all respect for other people, and we don’t even have much respect for ourselves.
People eventually identify those who are prone to lie. When they do, word seems to seep out to everyone in fairly short order, and the general consensus becomes you can’t believe anything that particular person says. Lying does eventually catch up to us and, when it does, it can be incredibly embarrassing when we lose our standing in the communities that are important to us: home, church, work.
Sadly, modern technology seems to make it even easier to lie. A recent article by Athima Chansanchai says that people are more prone to lie through text messaging than through any other medium of communication.
Athima’s article was based on research done by the Saunder School of Business. In the study, 170 college students were given roles as salesmen or customers. They were allowed to communicate through various mediums to either sell a product or buy one. The type of communication with the most lying being committed was with texting. “Researchers found deception in 83 percent of those who received text messages; audio chats were close behind at 71 percent. Then came face-to-face in-person contact, with 63.6 percent, and finally video chats, with 43 percent.”
Researchers believe video chats had a lower rate of lying because the awareness that it was being recorded gave it a sense of permanence, and perhaps made the college students a bit more cautious. But, at a 43% rate of lying, even video chats have a pretty sad record.
The test does not mean that 83 percent of text messages are lies or contain lies. What it does seem to indicate though is that if someone is going to tell a lie, the preferred method among younger people is through a text. Perhaps the impersonal nature of it makes it seem more innocent. (http://digitallife.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/21/9606853-liars-likely-to-use-texts-to-deceive)
But, lying is never innocent. Even if modern technology makes lying easier, it doesn’t make it any less sinful. And the damage to our reputations and character are every bit as real if we lie in a text message or in a face-to-face conversation.
Whether communicating with old fashioned methods, such as face-to-face talks, or with some new way, the truth of Leviticus 19:11 still bears upon us: “Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.” Proverbs 19:22 puts an interesting spin on this: “Better to be poor than a liar.” So, no matter how much it hurts today, give your character a fair chance. Tell the truth.
People eventually identify those who are prone to lie. When they do, word seems to seep out to everyone in fairly short order, and the general consensus becomes you can’t believe anything that particular person says. Lying does eventually catch up to us and, when it does, it can be incredibly embarrassing when we lose our standing in the communities that are important to us: home, church, work.
Sadly, modern technology seems to make it even easier to lie. A recent article by Athima Chansanchai says that people are more prone to lie through text messaging than through any other medium of communication.
Athima’s article was based on research done by the Saunder School of Business. In the study, 170 college students were given roles as salesmen or customers. They were allowed to communicate through various mediums to either sell a product or buy one. The type of communication with the most lying being committed was with texting. “Researchers found deception in 83 percent of those who received text messages; audio chats were close behind at 71 percent. Then came face-to-face in-person contact, with 63.6 percent, and finally video chats, with 43 percent.”
Researchers believe video chats had a lower rate of lying because the awareness that it was being recorded gave it a sense of permanence, and perhaps made the college students a bit more cautious. But, at a 43% rate of lying, even video chats have a pretty sad record.
The test does not mean that 83 percent of text messages are lies or contain lies. What it does seem to indicate though is that if someone is going to tell a lie, the preferred method among younger people is through a text. Perhaps the impersonal nature of it makes it seem more innocent. (http://digitallife.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/21/9606853-liars-likely-to-use-texts-to-deceive)
But, lying is never innocent. Even if modern technology makes lying easier, it doesn’t make it any less sinful. And the damage to our reputations and character are every bit as real if we lie in a text message or in a face-to-face conversation.
Whether communicating with old fashioned methods, such as face-to-face talks, or with some new way, the truth of Leviticus 19:11 still bears upon us: “Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.” Proverbs 19:22 puts an interesting spin on this: “Better to be poor than a liar.” So, no matter how much it hurts today, give your character a fair chance. Tell the truth.
Warren Baldwin
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3 comments:
It really does seem that technology removes accountability in many ways...not having to look someone in the eye! Lying is a slippery slope...just as you said "Growing comfortable with lying means that we have virtually lost all respect for other people, and we don’t even have much respect for ourselves." Amen!
Multi-Dimensional - Technology is a great blessing in so many ways - consider the computer that we are blogging on. But, like any other development, it poses moral challenges, too. Thanks for the visit and comment.
wb
What? I find it difficult enough to text the truth, let alone to make up a lie. :-) I guess this is a sign of middle age. But also, I'm always surprised by these studies when I hear how many people lie on a regular basis. It makes me look at people around me in a new light for a little while. I tend to take people at face value, at least for a little while until I realize I've been fooled. Or unless they're trying to sell me something!
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