The Truth About Lying

No one likes to be lied to. We can all agree on that. But do you know what is the worst lie of all? It's when someone tells you they are being honest with you, but instead they are lying. What if I told you that there are two types of lies: white and black - would this change anything for you? Let me explain...

Lies vs Black Lies

There is a huge difference between white lies and black lies, but it's not just about color or morality. A White Lie is something harmless that may only protect the feelings of another person, like telling your friend their new haircut looks great even though it doesn't really suit them.

Surely this changes things for you, right? Now I can hear some of you may think 'but everyone does this to me' or 'he/she keeps lying to me'.

Well, maybe this is because you never asked the right questions. You see, there are different kinds of lies and these depend on the person's intentions. In fact, psychologists have found that people tend to be more honest when they know they're being watched - so why don't we try watching our friends a little closer from now on? It's never a bad thing to keep a watch on someone, not if you want them to be truthful with you.

Lies and the law

The law is clear about lies: any lie told under oath or affirmation is perjury. The punishment for perjury varies depending on the country and the circumstances of each case, but it's usually a fine or imprisonment - sometimes both! In England, lying under oath was first made an offence by an Act passed during the reign of Queen Mary I in 1554. Today this still applies as perjury or false evidence under section 1(1) of the Perjury Act 1911 .

In England and Wales , there are three offences which may amount to perjury; they are committed when;

• A makes a statement which he knows to be false,

• A makes such a statement knowing it may well be used in the proceedings and

• A wilfully suppresses some material evidence which he is under a duty to disclose.

Who's Lying To You?

Let's start with those people who seem to lie all of the time: politicians! In this case there are always two questions you should ask yourself: 'What do they hope to gain from lying?' and 'How can I prove that they're lying?' It sounds easy, doesn't it? Well it isn't always as simple as that - especially if the politician is really good at telling lies.

As a result of this, more and more people have started using a lie detector machine. These machines are usually used to detect heart rates and breathing patterns - which can give you a clue about whether someone is lying or not!

The next time you get into an argument with your friend, ask yourself 'am I being lied to?' While this might hurt to think about, it's important to remember that you never have to be a victim of lies. For every lie there is a truth waiting in the wings...so remember: if in doubt, test them out!