A Few Thoughts On Lying

If you are a fan of Nature, you may want to embrace the fact that lying is a natural process, i.e. recommended by Nature. Stick insects looks like sticks so they can avoid being eaten, chameleons blend into their background so they can eat. Tigers blend into the long grass of a jungle and polar bears are white so as not to be easily spotted by seals. There are many more examples but then this becomes a tribute to David Attenborough.

I lie constantly to entertain, however, not to avoid responsibility. I discovered, at an early age, that the truth behind a lie surfaces at the most inconvenient of times so lying 'to avoid the consequences' - is a waste of time. They always jump up and bite you when it least suits - just ask any MP.

They're funny people aren't they - MPs? Supposedly intelligent and well-educated yet so easily-fooled, perhaps because they believe appearances matter. Well of course they do, but only to other people who are just as easily-fooled. The public, in the main, are more street-wise and savvy. My friends generally accept what politicians say if they are present, then laugh at them behind their backs.

I mentioned in the first blog that I was raised in Basildon in the 50s and 60s. What an education that was. On the face of it - Secondary Modern, the predecessor to Comprehensive - nice sounding titles to disguise the fact that we weren't smart enough to get into Grammar School, but we got a full and hearty education in Life, Reality and whom to trust.

Our teachers were from an era when teaching was a vocation. They taught us manners, values and social skills - by example - as well as the curriculum. When did that change? How many teachers nowadays go into the profession with a desire to impart knowledge and how many go in because it's easier than getting a proper job where performance decides your fate?

There is an old adage that goes "Those that can, do - and those that can't, teach." And then there are those rare few - that can teach - Unicorn Hoofprints. You will find them, but you have to look hard.

However, my intent is to talk about lying and not about teachers. As lying is so commonplace, is it now acceptable behaviour? Politicians lie without thinking. It's just a reflex. Every day, you'll hear a journalist or newscaster interviewing a politician and ask a simple, loaded YES/NO question only to receive a response where you can't tell what the answer was. That way of speaking seems to have become accepted from politicians. They lie via evasion and omission - and no one cares.

It's not just politicians. It happens in the workplace too. Managers lie or give the slippery response, and rely on their status in the organisation to avoid a challenge. I wonder why people of status can't say "Sorry, I got that wrong. My fault. What can I do to put it right?"? Everyone knows when you're in the wrong. The fact that it is only discussed behind your back doesn't mean you got away with it.

It seems avoiding giving a straight answer is now accepted as the way of dodging the spotlight of accountability. But do you really dodge it if the reality is that people see through your lies and then express contempt for you behind your back?

Politicians ask why they are not trusted and what can be done to change that. Either they don't really mean that or more worryingly, they are so out of touch with reality that they can't see that telling the truth is what will set them apart from the production line politicians for whom we have so little time.

Let's close with a few thoughts on another type of politician; the manager in an organisation. I worked for a multi-national corporation for 30-odd years. They were very good at cutting costs but never took on the single most wasteful cost, the one thing that would have set them apart from their competitors - ending Office Politics. A ton of money was spent every day, out-manoeuvring other departments, and sometimes, managers from our own branch of the organisation. Why is that so hard to end? It's a mystery.

Our managers prided themselves on being good at the politics. I thought it should have been a sacking offence. What's the meaningful difference between wasting the Company's money and stealing it - especially when it's for reasons of self-aggrandisment?

Of course we heard all the empty noises about teamwork, given to us by people who had never played in teams so had no experience of team dynamics at first-hand. But the reality was that, not just my ex-employer but any organisation will spend lots and lots of shareholders' money on infighting.

So, there we have it, a few thoughts on Lying, nothing Earth-shattering. All stuff most of you will have heard before from your friends in pubs and wine bars, unless you're a politician in Westminster or in a medium to big organisation, when no one will tell you how transparent your lies are. We lie to you too. What did you expect?