Why honesty matters

As our staff sat in the planning meeting for this issue, no one was readily volunteering to write this "Upfront" introduction. And I had the growing feeling that even though I'm on the design staff, it was my turn. I kept seeing long-ago scene of me standing by the phone in my college dorm room, about to learn a lesson.

I had just lied to my parents. Never mind what about. I virtually never lied—especially to them. So there I stood, by the phone, guilty. But rationalizing why the lie had been for the best. They'd never know. Why not spare them the anguish, save them from getting disappointed and upset? And in fact, this lie had saved my hide. ... Oh. There it was. The honest reason why I'd lied was to save me. Hardly a unique motive for deception, but this self-knowledge—well, it felt bad.

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
ITEMS OF INTEREST
ITEMS OF INTEREST
April 4, 2005
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit