This document discusses various dilemmas involving lying or deception. It presents hypothetical scenarios and invites the reader to discuss whether they would lie in those situations or tell the truth. Some of the scenarios discussed include lying to protect a friend from police, lying during a job interview about plans to have children, lying to a landlord about having a pet, and trying to bluff your partner during a two minute discussion on various topics. The document aims to explore the complex issues around lying, deception, and ethical decision making.

1. You look
great in that
I was
stuck in
traffic
Just one more
episode
I didn't see
your
message
I only
had one
beer
I'm fine,
nothing's
wrong
I'll call
you right
back
I won't
tell
anyone
Let's talk
about
LIES
Welcome to
my web of lies!

2. Let's get into the mood!
Which of these
posters can
you relate to?

3. Do you exaggerate when you tell stories to make them sound more
interesting?
Some say that radical honesty is what the world needs right now. What do
you think? At what times do you appreciate people being honest with you?
Is brightsiding a way of toxic self-deception?
Would you rather give the hurtful truth or tell a little white lie?
Do you believe that wearing makeup is a deceptive practice?
How much of your real identity do you owe to people online?
What is the ethical problem with catfishing?
Assuming that the act of catfishing was not connected to a plan of
defrauding the catfishee of money or goods, is the act of catfishing
morally worrisome? Why or why not?
A catfish is a person who
tries to trick or attract
someone by pretending
on social media to be
someone different
Let's start our discussion!
Brightsiding is the
phenomenon where
someone insists that, no
matter your situation, you
look for some kind of
positive

4. Let's talk about facts and values
We all know what it looks like when people
lie about facts, but how does one lie about
their values?
Which type of liar is the most dangerous?
Do you agree that lying to others about facts
is always corrosive to relationships?
What consequences can a person face if
there is a disconnect between their
professed values and their actions?
In his novel, The Brothers Karamazov,
Dostoevsky wrote, “Above all, don’t lie to
yourself. The man who lies to himself and
listens to his own lie comes to a point that he
cannot distinguish the truth within him, or
around him, and so loses all respect for
himself and for others.” What do you think?
Why do people lie to themselves? What
motivates us to distort facts in our own
heads?

5. You are out for a walk one night and you see a
man running towards you. He looks terrified,
stressed and panicked. He comes up to you with
tears in his eyes and says, “I am going to hide right
here. I can’t run anymore. I didn’t do anything
wrong. Please, promise me you won’t tell them
where I am!” So you promise the man, he hides
behind a bush and you keep walking.
Ten seconds later four men turn the corner where
the panicked man had come from and head
towards you. As they get closer you see that they
are, indeed, police officers. They walk up to you
and ask if you have seen the man they were
chasing. What do you do? Do you lie? Why?
Let's discuss some dilemmas
Your best friend has just told you that he is
cheating on his fiancee. Both he and his fiancee
have been friends of yours since high school. You
are angry at your best friend for what he is doing
and want to tell his fiancee but at the same time
you promised him you wouldn’t. Would you tell
her? Why? Why not?

6. You are at work. You sit next to a man named
John. John just lost his wife, custody of his kids
and has been kicked out of his home. He is on anti-
depressants. He is constantly stressed, panicked,
etc. His wife left him for another man.
One day your manager comes around to John’s
desk in a rage stating that he was supposed to
hand up a report two days ago. The manager is
screaming at John to explain why he shouldn’t just
fire him on the spot. You know you could take the
blame and save John. Do you take the heat and
say it is your fault? Why? Why not?
Let's discuss some dilemmas
You are a woman looking for a job. You are in dire
straits, you are two months pregnant, you are
alone with no support from friends or family.
You’ve been invited to a job interview. The HR
manager says that you are perfectly qualified for
the job, but there is one more question to ask.
They want to know if you intend to have children.
Would you lie or would you tell the truth?

7. You’ve damaged your friend’s property. They
don’t know it was you. They have insurance that
will compensate for the damage. Will you confess?
Let's discuss some dilemmas
You want to rent a flat, but you have a pet. You
have found a perfect place. However, it has a
«No-pets-allowed policy». Your pet alligator is
harmless and would never spoil a thing. Would
you lie to the landlord to get the apartment?

8. Let's see if you can bluff!
Choose one of the subjects below to talk about for two minutes. During the
discussion try to tell one lie to your partner. At the end of the discussion, tell
your partner what you think he or she has lied about.
travel
reading
hobbies
work
food
gadgets