Problem of popular misconception about sincerity

[Owledge]

I've watched the movie ""the Invention of Lying" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1058017 recently, and I won't debate about whether the movie was entertaining. What I found appalling is that it serves to perpetuate a common and very blatant misconception.

The premise of the movie is a world where people are unable to tell a lie and where one man learns how to lie (and naturally everybody believes him, no matter what he says).

Right from the beginning all the way to the end the movie ruins this premise by equaling an inability to lie with an inability to keep any thought to yourself - a compulsive behavior of telling all the mean thoughts you might have about other people - taken so much to the extreme that there seem to be no positive thoughts, everything is cynical. Easier to realize if you know the movie.

 

As a sidenote, another thing that bugged me about the movie is that the world should be very much different based on the premise, but it isn't really. In fact the movie begins as if just when the movie started the world had forgotten how to tell lies. Very lazy writing.

 

But back to the main blunder:

Based on the reviews of that movie, it seems people don't even realize the obvious. They just seem to natually accept that someone who cannot tell a lie is also unable to keep a secret. Thus, this would explain why honesty is so difficult to maintain in society, why it is not something that ensures an easy way through life - ironically. Because people falsely believe something that isn't true and thus alienate sincere people based on that false assumption.

Bottom line: People tend to keep secrets, and they don't trust people who speak out secrets, thus they distrust people who are said to be completely honest. They feel they cannot trust them with their secrets, which is the reasoning of a confused mind. But I can imagine why false assumptions like this are spread through society. Because those who have great influence in society and shape it - those who are keeping the dirtiest secrets and thrive on lies and deception regard sincere people as among their greatest enemies.

 

This is how subtle and invisible (and probably even unintentional) propaganda can work and perpetuate myths and irrationality.

[Flolfolil]

yeah it is just some peoples' opinion that keeping the truth to yourself is also a lie. i don't really agree either

 

i like the threads you post

[joeblast]

dude are we making SSW return

[Vanir Thunder Dojo Tan]

aahhh... opinions are hard to express when they are expressly disgusted and disgusting.

Edited February 28, 2013 by Northern Avid Judo Ant

[Owledge]

I'd like to add that in the imagined world of the movie, there also seems to be no mistake or delusion in people whatsoever. If someone says anything mistakenly, it is equally taken as absolute truth. Same for delusional behavior. This implies that every human being in that world is the bearer of absolute truth.

As I said, it's lazy writing and to a great degree spoiling the whole movie. If it's a Hollywood production, I'd not be surprised at all.

 

@joeblast

Who or what is SSW?

 

P.S.: As another sidenote: Yesterday I noticed how widespread propaganda is in the entertainment media. There was a TV show episode (from 2012) that was all the way through an ad for getting rid of the second amendment, fortifying all the idiotic stereotypes about gun ownership.

Edited February 28, 2013 by Owledge

[Vanir Thunder Dojo Tan]

 

@joeblast

Who or what is SSW?

 

 

someone, like anyone else, even you, who has been through a lot and not known how to handle it:

 

http://thetaobums.com/forum/144-stoner-shadow-wolf/

[Owledge]

Ah, your 'older ego'.

[Vanir Thunder Dojo Tan]

hmm... something along those lines, i suppose.