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From MIT Technology Review:
Evolutionary biologists have long thought that lying ought to destroy societies. Now computational anthropologists have shown that nothing could be further from the truth.
It's easy to see how lying reduces the level of trust between individuals and so threatens the stability of societies. So how do societies survive all this lying?
Today, we get an answer thanks to the work of Gerardo Iñiguez at Aalto University in Finland and a few pals (including Robin Dunbar, an anthropologist from the University of Oxford of Dunbar's number fame). These guys have simulated the effect that lies have on the strength of connections that exist within a social network.
But they've added fascinating twist. These guys have made a clear distinction between lies that benefit the person being lied to versus lies that benefit the person doing the lying. In other words, their model captures the difference between "white" lies, which are prosocial, and "black" lies, which are antisocial.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Friday June 13 2014, @08:07AM
White lies are not lies at all, since they depend upon the complicity of the victim. If I tell a white lie, I am fooling no one. For example, if you were to ask me if a particular pair of pants make your bottom look large, what am I going to say? You already know the truth, it is staring at you in the mirror! So why ask? You want me to lie to you, you NEED me to lie to you! And as a dutiful (insert social relation here), I comply. You're welcome.
Now Black lies. Blacker that the depths of hell lies. I trusted you! I know that you knew that I wanted the truth, and you didn't give it to me, WHEN I DEPENDED ON YOU!!! And since I trusted you, I had no defense, I never saw it coming. And then there are statistics.
(Score: 1) by unauthorized on Friday June 13 2014, @09:07AM
And what if, hypothetically, the person asking is blind?
(Score: 1) by tftp on Friday June 13 2014, @10:19AM
Nobody wants to hear that she looks fat, no matter how good or bad her eyesight is.
(Score: 1) by monster on Friday June 13 2014, @01:58PM
Usually, she just wants you to tell her that she's still the hottest girl you have ever seen.
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Friday June 13 2014, @02:06PM
Since when?t
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Friday June 13 2014, @09:47PM
So no one tells you white lies, it appears! You are quite astute!
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Friday June 13 2014, @10:27PM
What?
White lies don't require "complicity of the victim."
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Friday June 13 2014, @11:55PM
What do you call a white lie without consent, at least tacit consent? In a court, under oath, a white lie is still perjury.
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Saturday June 14 2014, @09:03AM
It's called a white lie. That's what a lie is when it's practically harmless and saves hurting someone's feelings. It doesn't matter whether the recipient knows you're lying or not. It's still a white lie.
Well, yes, obviously, but who's talking about court?
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Saturday June 14 2014, @10:15AM
Let me put it this way: if they do not know you are lying, then it is a black lie. A white lie can save feelings only when there is a tacit agreement to do so. If you try to save my feelings when I expect the plain truth from you, it is no longer a white lie, no matter what you think you are doing all by your lonely.
The more interesting case is whether you can lie to some one who does not have the capacity to consent to a white lie, such a children or someone traumatically injured. Or someone who definitely should not be wearing those pants.
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Saturday June 14 2014, @12:45PM
That may be your definition, but it's not mine or most dictionaries'.
Oh no you di'n't!
systemd is Roko's Basilisk