So.. I have two friends* who lie to me on a regular basis.
Up until this week, I hadn't really thought about it much. One of them I have always known they lie and one of them I had suspected. But what do you do in a situation like that? Almost for the sake of entertainment, I have kept them around, kept hearing their stories and, as they got more and more "out there," I have started to think, how stupid do they think I am?
And that's where it's starting to hit the fan. It's not so much about them and their stories, it's about me and how I am perceived. Why do they lie to me? After much discussion and thought, there are two reasons I have come up with:
1. Because my life is "thrilling" and "exciting" they want to be like me, maybe "one up" me.
B. They think I'm really stupid and I will believe just about anything.
Now, for "Stroke Debi's Ego Day" I went with #1. But the more I think of it, it's probably the second. Josh also mentioned that maybe they sense me lying to them and that's why they do it; although I don't think I've ever lied to one of them so that goes right out the window.
So.. why do people lie? Where does it get them? I'm not talking the, "yes you look good in that dress" lie (Josh!), I mean the stories about your life, your experiences and relationships. The who and what you are. They both have made up these fake versions of themselves; these wilder, more interesting versions to .. what? Compete with me? Impress me? Shock me? Am I really that important in their lives that they have the need for my acceptance and approval? Or is it that they have so low self-esteem that telling me lies makes them feel better about themselves?
Am I the sort of person that people feel they need to lie to? Is it for me or for them? And what is it about me that makes people lie?
Whatever it is, I don't like that.
*I use the term "friends" very loosely here.
