Buzz
Alexander Pope once remarked, “He who tells a lie is unaware of the enormity of the task at hand; for each lie forces him to create twenty more to uphold that single falsehood.” Truly wise words, or were they?
Below is a list of the most frequently told fibs we encounter every day. From deceptions in our food to, brace yourselves, dishonest politicians, prepare to discover that some statements aren’t as truthful as they seem.
10. You Have Bad Credit
Car salespeople don’t exactly have the best reputation for honesty. While many are dedicated, truthful individuals who don’t rely on deceit, some still turn to sneaky tactics to swindle your hard-earned money.
It’s tough to choose just one widely spread lie in this industry, given the sheer number of tricks documented, but this one stands out: simple, common, and insidious, especially in the US and UK. It’s an easy way to take more money from customers. The tactic goes like this: “Bad credit? We’ll need to cover the risk we’re taking – that 0% interest rate you saw on TV? That’s for people with good credit. You’ll have to pay 9%. Sorry.” Most people are unaware of their credit score. So, even if you don’t have bad credit? Doesn’t matter—they’ll say you do and add a fee. Only those who know their credit score are safe. So, get to know yours.
9. A Bigger Splash
In the US, and in upscale neighborhoods around the world, there’s a widespread belief that hosting an ‘open house’ is essential to generate interest when selling a property. If you don’t let hordes of people wander through your home, eating your cookies and sipping free champagne, your house won’t sell. Many realtors and agents push this event, often multiple times, claiming it’s necessary to successfully sell a home. Really?
Statistics show that only about 6% of homes in the US (as of 2018) are sold due to open house events. Not great numbers considering the effort involved. So why do professional property flippers continue to insist on holding these events?
Networking.
An open house is a great way for an agent to showcase their ability to organize a flashy, attention-grabbing event 'for' their clients. This attracts people to the agent, not the house. It’s like the free food and drinks at a casino—free! You feel good, so you gamble more. As the saying goes—the house always wins. When the realtor tells you your house has sold, the illusion that the open house played a role is complete, and no one questions it. You’re satisfied… and that shrimp po-boy you ate (the one from when you lost the company payroll in Vegas) was free too.
8. Selling Houses… Again
So, you’ve decided that getting taken for a ride by a greedy realtor isn’t for you and choose to sell your house on your own. Good for you.
Prepare yourself to bend the truth a little.
Homeowners are just as prone as industry professionals to telling tall tales just to make a sale. Sellers trying to unload their property will downplay—or flat out lie—about various potential issues a buyer might have. “I don’t think you’ll need to make any repairs” really means the ceiling is about to cave in. “It’s a peaceful, family-friendly neighborhood with a strong sense of community” actually means you’ll hear gunshots as soon as the sun sets. “Check out these original features”… which were installed just two weeks ago. Before you judge those lying realtors too harshly, remember that ordinary people motivated to sell a big asset like a home are just as capable of fibbing as anyone else.
7. Fat Chance
Lies of omission are possibly the most frequent falsehoods told every day. The phrase “95% of scientists agree” conveniently ignores the tiny detail that science isn’t about consensus (thank goodness), but rather about the rigorously followed scientific method. For years, the concept of medical consensus has been a convenient shield for poor, sometimes harmful, products—“20,679 physicians claim Luckies are less irritating. It’s Toasted!”
Low-fat diets have been pushed onto the public for years, based on the belief that “eating fat will make me fat.” Or is it a tactic to justify adding products made from staple crops like genetically modified wheat and corn to the absurdly carb-heavy food pyramid? Surely not! Just look at how many scientists are on board!
6. To Be A World Leader…
...Is to lie through your teeth. No president in US history has made it through their term without standing before the public and telling lies. Trump? Clinton? Both Bush presidents? All the recent ‘leaders of the free world’ have dropped some L-bombs alongside the real bombs.
Whether it's a Democrat like Obama claiming “if you like your healthcare plan, you’ll keep your healthcare plan. Period,” or Harry Truman insisting that the world’s first atomic bomb was dropped on a military base called, uh, the city of Hiroshima, or equally dodgy Republicans like Ronald Reagan stating he had witnessed the liberation of concentration camps during WWII (when he was actually in Hollywood at the time), or Nixon (just Nixon), political allegiance is no guarantee against fibbing.
5. Sure, I Can Ride A Horse. And They Pay Me $150,000 For It Too… Then A Little Extra
Lying on your CV when applying for jobs has become so commonplace that it’s almost expected—it’s just what you do, right? What about lying during an interview? That’s common too. Not just harmless white lies like “Yeah, I just wanted to go in a different direction” when what you really mean is “I hated my last job so much that I almost set the HR department on fire, didn’t work for six months, and pooped in my boss’s desk drawer on my last day.” Actors are notorious for embellishing their CVs—skills like fluently speaking foreign languages, being able to sing and dance, or having combat experience, regardless of whether any of it is true. But white-collar workers are just as likely to exaggerate their knowledge of coding, proficiency with Microsoft products, and even academic credentials to secure a position.
Another frequent fib jobseekers tell is about how much they were paid at their previous job. This tactic is meant to secure a higher salary from the new company—say you earned $22,000, and the new employer offers you $23,000... when in reality, you were making $2.50 an hour plus a bag of magic beans if you hit your performance bonus.
Speaking of performance bonuses, this is one of the most widely accepted lies. You did well, so here’s some extra cash. The problem is that the payment rarely correlates with actual achievements or goals met. It’s just extra money, probably to avoid complaints.
4. Epicurean Innovation: Is It Deceptive or Real Culinary Progress?
Let’s begin with a widely accepted myth: the idea that ‘diet’ or ‘low fat’ foods are inherently healthy. When you take a closer look, this myth starts to crumble, especially once you realize how much sugar and salt lurk in these supposedly ‘healthier’ alternatives. The lack of fat in these foods is a clever ruse, designed to make you believe they offer nutritional benefits – no fat in the food means no fat on your body. But that’s not how food works. When a spokesperson or salesperson starts raving about the virtues of these products, it quickly becomes clear that this is a ‘lie’ – one based on omission.
The deception continues in restaurants, food markets, and even trendy farm-to-table eateries. The wild-caught salmon might actually be farmed from Norway, and that Parmigiano-Reggiano could just be a cheap imitation from Argentina (or worse, grated wood shavings!). The Kobe beef you’re served with truffle butter? Likely just low-grade American beef mixed with margarine and truffle-flavored oil. Restaurateurs, chefs, and food companies are fully aware of these tricks, knowing that the chances of facing a lawsuit over the discrepancy in price between the authentic and the counterfeit are slim to none. Be wary of what you eat – it might not be what it appears.
3. Women Lie Too… But Less Frequently
Don’t be too quick to assume men are the only ones spinning tall tales – women tell their fair share as well. According to the same study mentioned earlier, women often lie about their feelings – saying “I’m fine” when they’re clearly not. They also share common lies with men, such as “I didn’t drink that much,” “It wasn’t that expensive,” and, when receiving a gift, both sexes are likely to say, “It’s exactly what I’ve always wanted.”
Although women tend to lie less than men and often feel more guilty about the lies they tell, both genders exhibit surprising habits when it comes to bending the truth. A staggering 75% of individuals believe it's acceptable to lie in order to protect someone’s feelings. One might wonder if this means lying to avoid hurting someone’s ego, like saying 'No, don’t be silly! You’re not losing your hair' or more serious lies, such as 'No, don’t be silly! I wasn’t the one who killed your parents.' Both lies, however, serve to shield the other person’s emotions.
2. Men and Their Lies
A survey by London's Science Museum, conducted with thousands of participants, revealed that men lie approximately 30% more than women. On average, men tell about three lies a day, which adds up to a staggering 1,092 lies per year. That’s a lot of fibbing, gentlemen.
The same survey found that men lie more often to their mothers than to their partners. Common fibs include 'I’m on my way,' 'I lost signal,' or 'I’m stuck in traffic,' all suggesting many missed dinners with mom. Another frequent one is 'Sorry I missed your call,' implying a lot of video games are being played while their phones buzz in their pockets.
When men do choose to stretch the truth with their significant others, most of these lies revolve around their drinking habits. The classic 'I didn’t drink that much' seems to be a favorite, despite the fact that they clearly know exactly how much they consumed. Another popular one is 'No, your butt doesn’t look big in that,' which hints that the majority of these men may have been surveyed by the Science Museum in a parallel universe where 90s sitcoms still reign supreme.
But who are we to argue? After all, you can’t exactly challenge the science... museum.
1. The Most Innocent Lies
Some individuals firmly believe in the existence of God, while others view it as mere fantasy. But can we all agree that telling children there’s a giant rabbit leaving egg-shaped chocolates in their garden is, in fact, a lie? Or what about convincing them that a plump, white-bearded man will break into their home one night to leave gifts under the tree if they’ve been good all year? When you break it down like this, these seemingly innocent falsehoods start to seem a bit more dubious.
Perhaps the most innocent of all lies is also one of the strangest – the myth of the tooth fairy. Why do parents feel the need to pay their children for every lost tooth? And why is it that Tinkerbell’s cousin is believed to be the one who collects them? While these stories are playful introductions to the realm of myths, one has to wonder if we might do better without the tooth fairy altogether – unless, of course, we want to suggest that selling body parts for money is an acceptable career path, which seems to be a rather confusing lesson.
