Sideswipe
Why we tell lies
Lies are not usually acts of evil, according to Gizmod. A study suggests people asked to make a snap decision will often lie or cheat for their own self-interest. University of Amsterdam psychology researcher Shaul Shalvi put it this way: “When people act quickly, they may attempt to do all they can to secure a profit — including bending ethical rules and lying. Having more time to deliberate leads people to restrict the amount of lying and refrain from cheating.”
Lover’s dilemma
Seeking advice, “Frustrated but Happy” writes: “For the past four months, I’ve been seeing a wonderful, smart, funny man. My mother is worried because I’m 22 and he’s 32. He also has two small children from a previous affair and spent 10 months in prison. I understand her concern and anxiety — I do! But should that stop me from pursuing the first man I have ever truly loved?” The Bad Advisor replies: “Dear Frustrated but Happy, nothing should stop you from pursuing the first man you have ever truly loved, least of all the fact that you’re so unsure about this guy that you’re asking a total stranger whether you need parental permission to date him!” (Source: Theestablishment.co)
Hard to believe . . .
Knowledge gaps (some are bigger than others)
1. When the Government passed a law that students who died would have their loans cancelled, someone in our office spent half a day raving it was an obvious loophole that must be closed.
2. I had to explain to two professional, educated adults that eggs are not dairy. They looked at me like I was stupid and continued talking about how it’s hard to find some breads that don’t include egg products.
3. In Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds there’s a line: “We’re crossing into American lines.” My girlfriend turns to me and says, “Is this when the countries were connected?” referring to Germany and the US. Somehow her facts of Pangea and 1945 history had become twisted. “No,” I replied.
4. A New Zealand friend who was into German culture said he’d found a real bargain on some flights to Austria. He bought the tickets, went online to book hotels and prepaid for a rental car. A couple of hundred bucks for flights that should have cost several thousand made me suspicious. I ended up having to tell a grown man there isn’t a Melbourne in Austria.
5. “So was the Titanic a real ship? Because the news is saying it’s its 100-year anniversary, but Leo DiCaprio isn’t 100 years old?”
6. Someone in a class I was taking thought all Asians were Muslims. When we explained about the many different religions and showed her pictures of Buddhist temples, she still wouldn’t believe us. This one was particularly ironic as we were taking a travel agent course.