No, I Cannot LIe

Imagine that you couldn't tell a lie? What would life be like if humans couldn't lie and always told the truth? Interesting eh. I think people wouldn't be so easily upset with one another, not because we knew no one was telling a lie, but because we would innately be more trusting and perhaps kinder to one another. We would perhaps listen more because it was always truthful and hence believable. No one would use "literally" wrongly, haha.

But "how do I look?" might often with a slap or a harsh exchange of words because the truth can be ugly, haha, quite literally. (Hey, a punny use of literally). "Yes, you are fat" but a millenia of telling the truth may just mute the response.

It would make advertising tough, wouldn't it? Remember those early ads which promised the world if you bought this particular brand of soap or flew with this airline. Always the best and the greatest, till they got sued and people got smarter. Well then advertising these days is less about flash and dash and in fact has got downright factual in some cases. Recall Dove's real women campaign. Would we be less creative if we had to tell the truth all the time? Sales people might have a problem.

There would still be crime. More people would own up to their offence though. Criminals would just admit to their wrongdoings more readily when they got caught. "Yes I did it, I stole that typewiter." Okie doke, into the slammer for you. No more mind games though like those we see on TV. Oh yes, truth telling would bloody affect television. Perhaps the whole notion of entertainment would be different. OMG, can actors lie if we were all programmed to tell the truth? Hmmm. We learn a lot from TV, so lying on TV might end up being repeated in real life. The truth tellers would go mad.

There would still be practical jokes. Just that we'll always know who did it pretty quick. But then telling the truth and knowing but not telling is another story. Would surprises be affected? Maybe but then knowing but not telling doesn't mean one is lying. Ahah! Kids might mature quicker because Santa wouldn't exist and the pet goldfish that went belly up didn't go to heaven overnight but was flushed down the toilet. Truth telling makes the case for atheists stronger I think but belief is another matter too.

Not sure why I'm on this track this evening. Maybe after an hour of Frasier did me in.