[programjames]

The reason the requirements are so high is because everyone is lying. The solution isn't to lie more, it's to stop lying altogether and punish defectors. For example, putting people who say, "go full ham on little white lies," on a do-not-hire list.

[Fnoord]

I wrote white lies, then I wrote about exaggerating, and I said I cannot blame anyone for lying. You're on about lying. There is a difference. White lies are commonly made every day, while flat out lying is more rare. I'm not a proponent of big lies because they're easily found out, and possibly against the law. But little white lies? People get away with that all the time.

If you want to go against the flow and change the world, sure, be honest all the time. Unfortunately, my experience is that on short-term (with regards to the issue at hand) you're better off with white lies. Yes, because 'everyone does it'. Do I like that? No, I don't, but it is what it is.

[programjames]

I don't think "everyone's doing it" or "it's costly to go against the flow" makes something right, just painful. We can acknowledge something is wrong without deciding it's worth the pain to fight.