Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Solon who wrote (73593)	8/28/2003 3:20:45 PM
From: Neocon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

If it is alright to adapt one's testimony to one's needs, one's word is not worth a damn. If one's word is not worth a damn, then one is a parasite upon society, bringing mistrust and presumably manipulating any situation to one's own advantage, without regard for others and their claims. Thus, one is contemptible. The point is that the bar to lying has to be high, so that the default position is truth- telling, and the exceptions are narrow. Society has agreed to exempt "little white lies", such as avoiding unnecessary offense or contriving a joke or surprise, and it will consider others mitigated, if not excused, such as lying to cover some indiscretions, and still others meritorious, such as lying to a killer to save someone's life, but someone who does not keep the bar pretty high is just a liar, which is something no honorable person wants to be. Taking an solemn oath in the court room to tell the truth without reservation makes it even more a matter of simple integrity not to lie or obfuscate, to the best of one's ability. Yes, sometimes telling the truth might be like walking against a strong wind, and there might be "trimming", even if out and out lying is avoided, but at least one pushed forward in the right direction........

To: Solon who wrote (73593)	8/28/2003 3:42:01 PM
From: one_less	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 82486

”I don't know why you use the word "contemptible" for those who find lying under oath conducive to their goals.” What would make the goals of another person worthy of admiration? In most cases, such goals, would be seen as some kind of positive example or as a contribution to humanity at large. Normal healthy people may have goals at every level of the continuum from insipidly personal to grandiose and broad sweepingly charitable. Some people have goals that are by their nature harmful to others. Society is strengthened by the ability of its members to have a positive regard for one another and to trust one another’s word. Lying under oath demonstrates a disregard for the needs of society and a contempt for the foundations of trust on which we depend. When your goals involve a demonstration of selfish disregard for others and for society as a whole; the associated lying behavior is “contemptable.”