why do people lie about obvious things?
145312
cause some people just like to Lie it's a disorder people have!!
93384
Probably not. People who lie about one thing tend to lie about others, also.
112292
A person is dis-honest usually because it is a reflection of their character. They may feel sorry that their dis-honesty was discovered, but it doesn't change who they are. People tell you who they are all the time by their actions. A liar is a liar, case closed.
617083
The same reasons women do. Lying is not gender specific.
925075
It is always better to be honest than to lie or to go along with something you do not want to do.  There are many ways of being dishonest such as cheating, lying, commiting fraud, conning people, going along with something even though you think its wrong, etc.  No matter what kind of dishonesty you commit, in most cases it catches up to you and you must tell more lies to cover it up or confess your dishonesty.
526373
There are no moral absolutes.  Anyone who tells you they always tell the truth is offering their next lie to you. I think what is important with a question of honesty, are motivations.  I think offering the truth most of the time can be shown to be the proven necessary course for most human interactions.  Without a trust in honesty, society fails.  But there are times when a falsehood could be considered.  The question then must be asked, why?  Do you lie for selfish self serving reasons?  Or are you lieing for perhaps something greater than yourself?  A stupid example, say a roommate or lover was irresponsible the night before and got tanked.  After they sober up you might discuss the behavior without beating them up about it.  But I'll call that boss everytime and explain that she is really ill and can't make it work.  Sure, the question of true alturism can always be raised, and such propositions can always be questioned from a perspective of relativity, but my emphasis would be, that circumstance can be considered in any variety of thought experiments within which the right thing to do could be to lie. Is it a lie for yourself, or are you attempting to help someone or something?  That said, lieing does suck.  Crush my heart but please tell me the truth, I've lived long enough, I can handle it.
125303
The short answer is: they don't.  Many people go through life lying to others and some of these lies end up not being caught.  But when it comes down to it lies won't hold up to intensive investigation and the light of truth.\n\nIf someone has reason to suspect a fact or is curious enough they will eventually be able to find out any mistake, omission or outright lie as evidenced by these proverbs from around the world:\n\nlies walk on short legs.  (german)\none can't stop the spreading of lies with more of them.\na liar is not to be believed, even when he speaks the truth.\n\nhope this helps.
26038
I think it depends on an individuals personality.  Some lie because they may be afraid of the other persons/peoples reaction.  Maybe the fear of being disliked.  Others may lie and give quick answers cause they don't feel like explaining themselves or the whole story.  I think alot of people do it even unintentionally and it becomes a habit.
1083610
Great topic!\n\nI am amazed that there are so many adults who do not consider some of the things they say or do not say, as a lie. For instance: sometimes people make up stories and tell it for fun. It may be a hunting story, fishing story, etc. This is done as a fantasy. The important thing to remember is that if you tell the story...you and the others must identify it is not really true....or it is a lie. Another example of a lie people do not always admit as lying is...when someone states something they think is true and then discover later that it is not true. The person really should then rectify the situation and admit they said something and found out it was not the truth. When a purposeful untruth is told, it is an outright lie. It is meant to deceive. This leads to disappointing others, others never really belive you and they eventually stop trusting you.  Then the time may come and you may be telling the truth...but too late...others don't believe you even when you do tell the truth. Some people actually believe that the only way a lie is told is in that manner. Not true! You can lie with your actions. You may cause a person to believe something not true by acting a certain way. (Example; child breaks a vase and throws it out and pretends not to know anything about it.) A lie can be done by being silent. You may cause someone to believe something by saying nothing. (Example: a mother asks the children who broke a window, and all the children know, but no-one tellls anything).The cycle of lying usually continues when one lies. The next thing one knows is they lie to cover another lie and so on. Most intelligent people, know when someone is lying to them. It doesn't change anything...except the credibility of the one who lies. Another form of lying is not telling a complete truth. Any form of not telling a complete truth or an admission of a complete truth in words or actions is a lie. \nI honestly do not intentionally lie. However, about two weeks ago we had company and this person asked me something and I did not want to go into it so I lied. When the company left. my husband said to me ..."why did you lie?" I reallly had to stop and think about it. I am a woman of value. I work hard to practice what I believe in. I am an honest person. I try hard to use tact and not lie. I usually would reply to someone who asked a personal question that I did not feel like answering with something like...why do you ask? I usually try to find an answer that will not offend the other person, but will also allow me to keep my personal life personal without lying. Sometimes, I like everyone find myself in a place I don't like to be. I feel dirty or shamed when I do that. Long story short...I felt guilty and called the person up and explained it. No one is perfect. There is not a sole alive who has not told a lie at one time or another. I can honestly say I do not lie on a daily basis, but sometimes I do find myself bordering the ethical line. I want people to trust me, I strive to be honest and keep integrity....but it is a daily struggle to be in tune with complete and open honesty!
1021523
Intelligent people, because they can see through the lies.
107730
You can tell if a person is lying when they hesitate in revealing certain information, they avoid eye contact and they shuffle their feet (if standing). Avoiding eye contact is one way a person lies, as people feel uncomfortable in lying to another person and as such, will try his best to avoid eye contact at all times...\n\nThey will also try to do anything else but focus on the conversation at hand...
319071
Yes, advertisers do it and I call it lying. Politicians often do it too.  Religious people do it,  but they don't know any better.  Understatement is closer to the truth.
64764
This is such a general question that can'b possibly be answered fairly. There are many many motivations for lying: being considerate of how you feel, take advantage of you, etc, etc. Sorry for not able to answer your question completely. But I doubt anyone else can.
81244
People lie to you because they don't want you to know the truth...
22170
People lie for various reasons - sometimes for selfish reasons, at times to hurt others & at times to help somebody or even to save a life. Sometimes a lie is better than the truth. (Not always:)
1154691
Because a lie is easier to accept.  When we ask for the truth most times what we are asking for is for you to agree with what we are asking about.  For example: Do you like my new dress?  If you don't like it, are you going to tell me or are you going to find something about the dress that you can mention.  "That's a pretty shade of blue."  "I like the sleeves."\n\nWe don't want to hear what you are thinking..."My goodness, where did she find that ugly thing?  It does nothing for her."\n\nThese kinds of social lies are true in any area of our lives.  If I am married to a bum, do I want you to keep telling me that?  No.  I know he's a bum but I don't want you to continue to tell me you recognize that I had bad taste in picking a man.\n\nThe lie strokes our egos.  The truth often hurts.
550184
Men generally lie to protect their ego, and just to show that they are never wrong. but then the question is quiet general, so really can't say that its only men that lie, girls also lie to protect their pride and to avoid any embarracing 'in your face' situations