The Benevolent Lie In Chapter Three Alternatives To Self-Disclosure

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After reading chapter three Alternatives to Self-Disclosure I have concluded a benevolent lie is when someone manipulates the truth to benefit the situation, but not with the intentions of harming anyone in the process. This type of lie is better known as the harmless little white lie that is intended to protect those we tell them too. Learning about this topic pointed out how often it happens without notice, for example my little girl just lost her front teeth and asked me if she will look pretty for her school pictures. My reply was “You’re going to be the most beautiful girl in the world!” Don’t get me wrong, she is beautiful to me no matter what, but not to the world. I just want her to have self-confident in her smile. The most common …show more content…

This benevolent lie is told to benefit me I guess to threaten her when she misbehaves. I am sure I’m not the first or the last to use this as a discipline tactic. Another example is my second born goes around saying she is my favorite child so, I just agree that she is my favorite child and not to tell her sisters so their feeling won’t get hurt. They’re all my favorite girls in their own special way not just her but It makes her day. These benevolent lies just keep coming. My oldest daughter had a pet fish that she cared for. The fish recently died so I had to replace it before she came home. She noticed it looked a little different and asked if I noticed anything dissimilar. I replied, “No dear.” Why? This lie was said to spare my daughter from devastation caused by losing a pet. These types of white lies are created to protect those we care for although feeling justified because they’re done with good …show more content…

Come to think about it sometimes when texting there’s a lot of benevolent lying going on. Like when my friend texted me asking if I’m still in bed around noon my text reply was “I am up and ready to go” but I was still in bed. It’s evident that we’re all guilty of elaborating on the truth though social media. People lie because it’s easy due to no one can see you or your actions through these texts or post. Social media seem to be full of deception now that I have knowledge on this benevolent lie. Realizing that in my group of girlfriends there is a lot of benevolent lies going on. Last week we gave each other gifts and I received a set of storage photo boxes with a peacock pattern. The friend that had given me this gift asked if I had liked the gift. I said yes, but really, I disliked the pattern. I choose not to tell her because her feelings get hurt very easy. Out of common courtesy for her efforts and our friendship I kept it to myself. We have been friends for a long time so I know what and how she feels in different situations. As for me I want people to be honest no matter what. I rather hear the truth and I’ll not hold resentment towards them for expressing what they really feel. Some folks want to hear or tell the truth and some others want to avoid the truth rather than say something they don’t really mean or that is rude. Not all individuals can take the hurtful truth in good

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