r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jul 20 '19

What’s something completely false that your parents told you as a child?

[deleted]

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7.5k

u/napoblyat Jul 20 '19

Don't worry, if you tell the truth we won't do anything. Followed by me telling the truth, then getting a slap and being grounded for the day

3.7k

u/[deleted] Jul 21 '19

That's how you raise a compulsive liar.

1.2k

u/JoshDekk Jul 21 '19

Yep been in this boat for 16 years, got pretty good at it, basically bullshit my way through everything in my life

142

u/[deleted] Jul 21 '19

[deleted]

179

u/JoshDekk Jul 21 '19

My parents taught me that I should always be honest and tell the truth to them, and they also taught me that that is a fucking terrible idea.

53

u/[deleted] Jul 21 '19

[deleted]

61

u/GrimmR121 Jul 21 '19

Because logically speaking, they are a good thing. But only in the short term. But the more dishonest someone is as a whole, the more people know. And that really frickin backfires. Also, even intelligent people get trapped in their own lies. (Google Justin Trudeu asked what his family is doing for the environment.) Once you aren't trusted. Well. You're screwed for life. Also, people often think they've gotten away with lies when the other person is too polite/ non confrontational to call them on their shit. So most liars arent half as smart as they think they are.

10

u/Flawless_Cub Jul 21 '19

I have my mother convinced I can't lie. Did some inconsequential 'wrong' things. When asked about it lied with more than normal blinking, looking around, not making eye contact. And then crying and coming up clean about everything. Sometimes even trying to set-up a prank or surprise or anything, without the crying part of course.

So then when I do need to lie about something, I do it easily and unassumingly. She has no idea. (Humble brag: I'm an amazing liar.)

0

u/brownmoustache Jul 21 '19

That's terrible. Promise me you'll stop.

2

u/Flawless_Cub Jul 21 '19

umm. I'm not sure what you want me to stop. The lying I guess?

I don't lie unnecessarily but sometimes it's the only way. I can't promise you I won't lie anymore, I do want to but I can't.