Is Cheating and Lying Justifiable?

Devils do not lie to each other; even hellish societies depend on truth.

By Sierra Slade, Marketing —

‘Everyone does it, so I can too,’ is a common rationalization individuals fail to see as a behavioral problem. The more individuals think that lying or cheating is a common and widespread practice, the easier it is to justify.

Blurred Lines

What exactly constitutes cheating you ask? Some results I found online state that cheating is “deceit, trickery, depriving of something valuable, swindling.” When hearing these words, you kind of squirm in your chair, right? Sadly, the world we live in is teaching all of us that there is a blurred line between honesty and cheating.

Little Lies

“No, that dress does not make you look fat,” is a lie that fools no one. That’s because this is commonly called a “white lie” which involves small stakes and is not necessarily viewed as a deception. Other lies, occurring under especial circumstances provide justification for the lie itself. Some individuals consider white lies to be good manners, and use them to avoid insulting others.

Liars, Cheaters, and Justifiers

Justifying lying and cheating is a grey area in today’s world. The cost of justifying one’s actions is taking a toll on the society we live in today. Daily we are hearing of celebrities, politicians, and even our neighbors being accused of harassment, fraud, and cheating. Our society is no less dependent on truth than any other, but how do we turn back the hands of deceit?

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Photo courtesy of Mohammad Metri