Sociopath Community

"I have a problem with lies."

Oh, me too. EDIT: oops I thought that read " I have a problem with liars"

" Not that I really lie that much. I usually speak the truth and sometimes dislike when I have to lie.  I do often deliver versions of the truth that have been modified or altered though."

If you're saying you dont lie much and then say you often give modified versions of the truth your just contradicting yourself. Lying through omission still bears the same as fabricating lies. 

"For all intents and purposes these versions are the truth, at least as far as other people are concerned"

No, they aren't.

"What they believe doesn't matter if they're not aware it isn't the truth."

Then you don't have an issue with lying and are comfortable being a liar in action, you just have a problem with the label.

"The problem is I catch myself believing in these altered versions"

And why is this? To be honest that sounds a lot like delusion or you being very susceptible to it. 

"One way is of course to tell the orginal truth, but I can't or won't."

So, now you're just a liar. Ok. 

"How can this be avoided?"

Stop lying to yourself. You can't say you don't lie that much and then state you give altered versions of the truth regularly. 

"Not that I really lie that much. But I do often deliver versions of the truth that have been modified or altered though. And then I end up believing my own shit because I like it better. But no, I never really lie that much, because I dislike having to do it. "

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I care more about the subtext and motivation behind the lying than the lies themselves. It shows why they are bothering to do it, which is important when people lie so commonly, readily, and easily. Sometimes a lie is for another's benefit instead of their own, or to cover up for something. Sometimes they may not even recognize that they're doing it until it's pointed out.

"I usually speak the truth and sometimes dislike when I have to lie."
Only sometimes?

"I do often deliver versions of the truth that have been modified or altered though."
That can be just as bad if not worse than lying. The why matters more.

"For all intents and purposes these versions are the truth, at least as far as other people are concerned."
Any lie can fit this criteria as well.

"What they believe doesn't matter if they're not aware it isn't the truth."
So why do you hate lies again? You've tried to justify tricky truths with logic that also justifies lying itself.

"The problem is I catch myself believing in these altered versions. How can this be avoided?"
Keep notes.

"I care more about the subtext and motivation behind the lying than the lies themselves. It shows why they are bothering to do it, which is important when people lie so commonly, readily, and easily. Sometimes a lie is for another's benefit instead of their own."

Yes, I sometimes lie to spare other people's feelings or for someone else's behalf. These can be very elaborate lies, like completely changing circumstances and situations. I never do it for any bad reasons though.

"Only sometimes?"

Yeah... And I think I've realized what the difference is. If I want to lie and it's necessary I have no problem with it. It's usually only about minor things or to get something done. But when I'm forced to lie in some situation where I should be able to tell the truth, I really dislike it.

"That can be just as bad if not worse than lying. The why matters more."

You might be right since it's so close to the truth it also can fool me sometimes. I am usually aware of what the truth is though. Come to think of it, I would really like to live in a world where it would be possible to tell the truth at all times.

"Any lie can fit this criteria as well."

Perhaps...

"So why do you hate lies again? You've tried to justify tricky truths with logic that also justifies lying itself."

I don't really hate lying. If I have to do for a reason that benefits me, I'm fine with it.

"Keep notes."

I should perhaps do this. Like a diary... As I wrote, I don't really lie that much. When it comes to lying to e.g. friends it's in cases where I need to put myself in a better light and so on. Also when the truth is impossible to tell. Apart from this I'm very honest and even reveal "too much" about myself. 

Changing the truth slightly isn't really lying. If it isn't things that matter to other people, it's not important for them whether it's true or not. And yes, I might like those versions better... I should not believe in them though since I could end up basing my actions on them.

"I never do it for any bad reasons though."

This statement reeks of bias sooo hard.

I'm stronger than most people.

I was actually thinking about how I do this too today. For example, when I'm exaggerating an event that happened, my fabrication sounds more favorable to the truth. I start to believe the lie because I get so immersed in this false situation, that I forget about what really happened. I have to backtrack and think - oh wait this didn't actually happen, I just made it up. Is that what you mean?

Almost exactly and when it comes to things I've repeated very often, I sometimes go first to the "official version". Then I think "no, it didn't really happen like this".