Lying on the internet

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OneAugustKnight

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Okay,

I’ve read about protecting my identity on the internet, so when I reveal personal stories about myself, sometimes I change some details, or the story is really about someone else and I say it’s about me. Or I say it’s about a friend, but it’s really about me, or a story that is made up and I just want to know the hypothetical answer.

I don’t do it to make myself look better, and I try to make sure I don’t make anyone else look bad, but I don’t want to take the chance of people finding out identifying information about me either. I don’t really alter anything enough to misrepresent myself, just little things about the weather where I live or if I am talking about my children I might change their names in the story.

Is this wrong?
 
If it bothers you, you could add a footnote…to the effect that some details have been altered to protect the identity of the people involved…

cheddar
 
i was just on a flight back on my private lear jet from the island i own in the azures, when my butler brought me a copy of last months fortune magazine with an article i wrote detailing the very question you’ve posed.
right now i’m preparing for my next shuttle mission, spacewalks require a good constitution, but when we land, i’ll post the details. i’ have to run, my pet monkey just spilled my caviar all over the persian rug.
cheers.
 
OneAugustKnight said:
Okay,

I’ve read about protecting my identity on the internet, so when I reveal personal stories about myself, sometimes I change some details, or the story is really about someone else and I say it’s about me. Or I say it’s about a friend, but it’s really about me, or a story that is made up and I just want to know the hypothetical answer.

I don’t do it to make myself look better, and I try to make sure I don’t make anyone else look bad, but I don’t want to take the chance of people finding out identifying information about me either. I don’t really alter anything enough to misrepresent myself, just little things about the weather where I live or if I am talking about my children I might change their names in the story.

Is this wrong?
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Monica,

No you are fine according to many reputable theologians.
 
I don’t know…I remember a quite lengthy thread here at CA a few months back where the consensus was that lies are from the devil and that lying is always a sin under Catholic doctrine. There was the “mental reservation” angle, but that apparently does not constitue a “lie” under Catholic theology.

You really can’t take anything at face value on the net, nonetheless you know and God knows whether you are telling the truth and my advice would be to be truthful. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you need to volunteer information about yourself just don’t misrepresent things. Somebody made the suggestion of using hypotheticals, I think that’s a valid and viable alternative under the right circumstances.
 
Hypothetical? So, if I am trying to use an experience to make a point, or have a question about a situation, I just word the story like a parable and I am in the clear? Hmmm, I’ll have to try that.
 
Yes, it is wrong. You simply could say who it is really about and make the same point.
 
Christ used parables. Theoretical stories to protect identities is okay in my book. Something tells me the same people who would slam you as a liar and a sinner for altering those details to protect identities would be the same one to accuse you of calumny, slander, backbiting and libel if yo:shrug: u didn’t cover up identities. Can’t win…

Charity demands you hide identities, but say you are doing that, I guess.

I think all readers here know things are kept vague and not every detail is put here for safety reasons. We’re adults. We can handle that.
 
You know, I’ve heard the speakers do this at different missions that we have. They use humor and personal stories to make a point, and make themselves a main character in the story or joke. Now, if you hear them tell the same story more than once, the details are different enough that you start realizing this didn’t happen to them, or they are exaggerating to be entertaining.

Now, I know lying is wrong. The thing is, I don’t want to gossip. I’d rather change the name of the people in the story or say it was me than make people I love look bad. When I do let something negative about something slip about someone, I don’t want that person to be able to read this and say “Hey, that’s so-and-so, and she is talking about me!”
 
To protect one’s identity on the web…is smart. Its not a sin.

For it to qualify as a “sin” it must be purposefully designed and presented in a fashion which is intended to deceive or cover an ill or evil intent.

IMHO:D
 
RobHom said:
To protect one’s identity on the web…is smart. Its not a sin.

For it to qualify as a “sin” it must be purposefully designed and presented in a fashion which is intended to deceive or cover an ill or evil intent.

IMHO:D
Click to expand...
Most sensible answer yet. IMHO

Betsy
 
After all this concern is your name really Monica Carroll?

By the way in the Gospels I don’t see Jesus before telling a parable, some of which could have been based on some past experience, but perhaps some facts changed to make the point, warning everyone, “Now, I am going to tell you a story the details of which are fabricated.” Telling stories to make a point are not lies. Telling stories to harm or discredit someone would be. Got it? Keep it!
 
rwoehmke said:
After all this concern is your name really Monica Carroll?
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😃 No, not even close. I didn’t even pick a name I might like to have. I just thought I should make a pseudonym because it’s easier to reply to posters on a forum who have a real name.

It’s not really a concern of mine, more like a just wondering thing. I don’t talk about things that really bother me on the internet, just with my husband or parents or priest.

My profile is true stuff, but the information is so vague nobody I know would know it is me.
By the way in the Gospels I don’t see Jesus before telling a parable, some of which could have been based on some past experience, but perhaps some facts changed to make the point, warning everyone, “Now, I am going to tell you a story the details of which are fabricated.” Telling stories to make a point are not lies. Telling stories to harm or discredit someone would be. Got it? Keep it!
Click to expand...
Yeah, that’s what I have been thinking. Jesus taught with stories and he never said, " Now this is just a made up story and it didn’t actually happen."
 
thechrismyster said:
i was just on a flight back on my private lear jet from the island i own in the azures, when my butler brought me a copy of last months fortune magazine with an article i wrote detailing the very question you’ve posed.
right now i’m preparing for my next shuttle mission, spacewalks require a good constitution, but when we land, i’ll post the details. i’ have to run, my pet monkey just spilled my caviar all over the persian rug.
cheers.
Click to expand...
That’s exactly why I ordered my personal chef to stop serving caviar. 😃
Some primates just never learn.:rolleyes:
 
RobHom said:
To protect one’s identity on the web…is smart. Its not a sin.

For it to qualify as a “sin” it must be purposefully designed and presented in a fashion which is intended to deceive or cover an ill or evil intent.

IMHO:D
Click to expand...
You do not need to tell anyone about yourself on the internet. It is your choice. If you lie you have chosen to lie. Why get into a situation where you feel you need to lie?
 
OneAugustKnight said:
Okay,

I’ve read about protecting my identity on the internet, so when I reveal personal stories about myself, sometimes I change some details, or the story is really about someone else and I say it’s about me. Or I say it’s about a friend, but it’s really about me, or a story that is made up and I just want to know the hypothetical answer.

I don’t do it to make myself look better, and I try to make sure I don’t make anyone else look bad, but I don’t want to take the chance of people finding out identifying information about me either. I don’t really alter anything enough to misrepresent myself, just little things about the weather where I live or if I am talking about my children I might change their names in the story.

Is this wrong?
Click to expand...
If your real name is Monica Carroll, I have a few other suggestions on how you can protect your identity 😃 HINT: Remove name from signature 👍
 
RobHom said:
To protect one’s identity on the web…is smart. Its not a sin.
Click to expand...
There are ways to protect one’s identity on the internet without lying. I think cheddarsox offered a good idea to add a disclaimer. If you are going to discuss other people’s personal situations on the internet, I certainly hope you do not use the person’s real name with identifying information–otherwise might be gossiping on a very large scale! I believe rules about lying and gossiping still apply when using the internet. Still, you also never know who is reading what you post, so use caution.
Does anyone else have a Brad Paisley song running through their heads while they read this thread? azlyrics.com/lyrics/bradpaisley/online.html
 
cheddarsox said:
If it bothers you, you could add a footnote…to the effect that some details have been altered to protect the identity of the people involved…

cheddar
Click to expand...
So, I can always end a conversation with a disclaimer that all or any part of what I said may not be true and I never will be seen to lie???
 
So, let me guess…in your profile you’re trying to tell us that you’re really a man…in fact you’re a stay-at-home dad who hasn’t a clue about money…a home-brew enthusiast…and a Lutheran…who loves take-out…you live in the U.K…and you actually have a dog and you love it?? 'Cos you know it IS a sin to hate cats! 😛
 
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