And what if it also entails going to the nude beach because it's the only place to get pictures of humpback whales within 500 miles? "I" gets the photos from the beach and the person being half-lied to is none the wiser. What harm was done?
If it's that important why can't the person say that they want to take photos of the whales, and the best vantage point is from the nude beach? See, if that's the actual reason there's no reason at all not to come clean with it. It's when the actual reason is much more, shall we say, ethically gray that it becomes a big problem. Your hypothetical falls down on that front- there's nothing illicit in any way about wanting to take photos of whales. Who would care where the beach was? You're there for the photography.
What I'm referring to is something more akin to what children (and sadly immature adults) do. They leave out vital parts of a story in order to deliberately mislead the listener. If the full context were provided, the opinion of the listener to the story would change.
It's like saying "I want to go to this nude beach and take photos of the whales.", when you're leaving out "and participate in this big orgy they're having", when you're speaking to your spouse.
The actual issue in question is much more serious than that. It's about lying to friends and family by omission, because if you tell the whole truth, you will no longer be supported in your actions- in fact, you will be told that they're hurtful, wrong, and generally pretty fucked up. The part of the story that's being left out is crucial in order to discern context.
I totally agree with you, 100%. It's a total dick-move to use the half-lie like that. But what I am saying is that the half-lie as a tool is not necessarily exclusively bad. A good example is if it's used for planning a surprise party.
"Honey, I know you and Fish wanted to hang out on Saturday, but remember you promised to go to Aunt Velma's for dinner."
What wasn't said is that Fish is also going to Aunt Velma's because that's where "Honey's" surprise birthday party is being held.
Try this: "Mom, I'm going out with Gilda for a few hours." What's not said: "to take Japanese lessons because when I graduate college, I'm going to teach English in Japan because I love Japanese culture even though you hate anything Japanese because they killed Grand-pa and maimed Great Uncle Louie at Tarawa, who's been dead since 1979."
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-03 11:47 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-03 11:57 am (UTC)What I'm referring to is something more akin to what children (and sadly immature adults) do. They leave out vital parts of a story in order to deliberately mislead the listener. If the full context were provided, the opinion of the listener to the story would change.
It's like saying "I want to go to this nude beach and take photos of the whales.", when you're leaving out "and participate in this big orgy they're having", when you're speaking to your spouse.
The actual issue in question is much more serious than that. It's about lying to friends and family by omission, because if you tell the whole truth, you will no longer be supported in your actions- in fact, you will be told that they're hurtful, wrong, and generally pretty fucked up. The part of the story that's being left out is crucial in order to discern context.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-03 12:24 pm (UTC)"Honey, I know you and Fish wanted to hang out on Saturday, but remember you promised to go to Aunt Velma's for dinner."
What wasn't said is that Fish is also going to Aunt Velma's because that's where "Honey's" surprise birthday party is being held.
Try this: "Mom, I'm going out with Gilda for a few hours." What's not said: "to take Japanese lessons because when I graduate college, I'm going to teach English in Japan because I love Japanese culture even though you hate anything Japanese because they killed Grand-pa and maimed Great Uncle Louie at Tarawa, who's been dead since 1979."