Is exaggerating the same as lying?

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   suzzycueposted 11 years ago

   Is exaggerating the same as lying?
   
   Do you exaggerate or do you tell it as it is all the time?

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   AlexK2009posted 11 years ago

   It depends on the situation. If looking for work I know others exaggerate and being honest is a handicap so I spin things positively. 
   
   (It seems to me honesty and professionalism are fatal handicaps but a reputation for them is a priceless asset, but I try to be honest and professional as much as possible.)
   
   In  day to day life exaggeration is something I  try to avoid.

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      suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Me too thanks for answering.

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   caponposted 11 years ago

   I'm a bold hyperbolist and loving it!
   Tony

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   stanwshuraposted 11 years ago

   I believe exaggerating is lying.  I am very literal, so yes, I am *anal* about the truth.

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   dashingscorpioposted 11 years ago

   In my opinion "deception" is lying. Therefore exaggerating is lying.  This would also include lying "by omission". Although legally lying by omission is not considered lying under oath nor is saying, "I don't recall." (Unless someone can prove your memory events are in tact.) ha ha
   I want to be told the truth and this is why I strive to be honest but tactful when dealing with others.

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      Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You might want to fact check that about omission, you could start by asking Martha Stewart.

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      suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you dashingscorpio.

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      dashingscorpioposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ericdierker , There is never a reason to fact check one's "opinion"! A lie is in the eye of the beholder. If you have (not been asked a question nor answered one) in court with a "false answer" then you have not legally "perjured" yourself.

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   Ericdierkerposted 11 years ago

   I ain't never heard a story that was not made better by a healthy dose of embellishment. Poems and short stories need exaggeration. Warnings for safety sake need exaggeration. I once heard a man tell a fishing story and he had the exact weight and length of the fish ---- boring!  Same for how fast something is.
   
   Cast aside exaggeration and I think we lose some good books, The Bible and the Dharma come to mind. That line about all men being created equal -- So you can cast out the declaration of indedendence and constitution.
   I think you could probably put about 2 million sales people out of work.
   Forget about talking about baseball or pretty women.
   
   And if all my exaggerating here did not answer your question, I could do more!!!

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      stanwshuraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Perhaps all of the habitual hyperbole has desensitized us to the virtue, value and stand-alone interest the real truth holds!

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      suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you Ericdierker. I loved your answer.

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      Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Maybe you are right. But you should have seen the one that got away!

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      stanwshuraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      LMAO!  "Had to have weighed a hundr'd pounds, I tell ya!  Nearly snapped my rod in two it did!   Reminds me uh the time I awmost reeled in a great white, Nearly tore my arm square off, swear m' life on it!" 

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   celafoeposted 11 years ago

   there should be none If it pertains to scripture             otherwise     . 
   it all boils down to intent.   If your intent is to deceive it is wrong.  but if it is to make a point or for fun what does it hurt Those are the guidelines I use

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      suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree celafoe.

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   Markie Wposted 11 years ago

   Well, people have always told me that not telling the truth is the same as lying, so I guess it would be considered lying... which I guess makes me a liar because I tend to exaggerate when I'm all worked up in a story that I'm trying to make comical haha. But I only do this when I'm entertaining someone, not when talking seriously or telling a serious story.

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      suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Go ahead ,exaggerating to bring joy seems harmless to me.

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      Apostle Jackposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Just a little bit of poison,may seem harmless...but don't bet on it.
      A small lie is just as bad as a hand full of trouble.
      Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.

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      Markie Wposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I don't do it to deceive, Apostle Jack. My listeners always know when I'm exaggerating. Like when you're hungry and you say I'm starving. Same concept.

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      Apostle Jackposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I fell what you are saying Markie. But it is still a negative concept,no matter how small it is.
      Not to do it at all will bring rewards to your spirit than a negative return for doing it.
      Righteousness mean a lot to God. Even the small pieces.

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      IDONOposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Apl Jack:  Compassion means a lot also. If you tell a lie to make a suffering person's day more tolerable, I think God will appreciate you sacrificing your own conscience for the sake of reaching out to comfort someone in need.

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   benashirazposted 11 years ago

   Depends on the situation. It's almost the same as lying, but is a different word, according to me.

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      suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I think it depends on whether you are hurting someone by doing it. Thank you all for the great discussion on lying. I enjoyed your answers.

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      benashirazposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes you're right (:

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    ytsenohposted 11 years ago

    What's the distinction between lying and embellishing?  Therein might be your answer.  Are there varying degrees of lying?  A lie is a lie.  It just sounds like a harsh word, so people sometimes use the term, "untruth."  If it's 10:20 in the morning and someone asks what time is it, do you say, 10:30?  That's an exaggeration, and it's not the truth, however, is it a malicious lie?  If it's not the truth, it's not the truth, but I don't know if I would define it as a malicious lie.

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       Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       If you were my wife you would stick to it to get herself there on time. I look at my device and expect some push, that is cool I get our son there on time.

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       suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Interesting concept ytsenoh.

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       Janelle Coultonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I do not condone lying in any form, but sometimes it is necessary if the sole purpose is to protect someone from being hurt. if the lie will hurt them in the long run, then don't do it.

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    Healthy Mikeposted 11 years ago

    Exaggerating is not the same as lying otherwise both words would be synonymous! My proposition is that exaggeration is merely the ugly younger kin to lying. It is stretching facts while lying is merely giving false information. When we exaggerate, we lower the threshold required to lie; more the reason why we don't take hyperbole seriously-it is merely a stylistic device. In a nut shell, when you lie, you do not necessary exaggerate but when you exaggerate you inch closer and closer to lying. Hit or miss?

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       suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       That is true Mike.

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       Apostle Jackposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Exaggerating is false information. It is a part of what is call negativity.There is no in between.

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    raajaneesposted 11 years ago

    not yet........................
    this include many things

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    khmazzposted 11 years ago

    Yes, I think that they're the same...I am very strict with myself about always telling the truth, fabricating, exaggerating and lying have always seemed to lead to trouble in my life and I have worked very hard to rid it from my life.

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       suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I believe lying is negative and does bring trouble also khmazz.

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    Apostle Jackposted 11 years ago

    Yes. All negative thoughts...bring negative consequences,no matter how small.

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       suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       True fact. I agree Apostle Jack.

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    lupineposted 11 years ago

    It may not be lying, but is stretching the truth.

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       suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I like this stretching the truth answer Lupine!

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       lupineposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks suzzycue, I like to say it this way better because the word "lying" is a strong word that implicates others or yourself.

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    TerryK81posted 11 years ago

    This is an easy question, but kinda difficult because there are so many to choose from. I'm going with the Gospel of Luke. I know, you asked "story" and not "book", but to me Jesus' life is the best. He is the way to live and be. I am getting back into working on my hub about the medical view of the Crucifixion, as I have been away handling personal difficulties. When I began all the research that I did so far into Jesus' death combined with medical research, I was blown away. How many know about this?? It uses authentic history from many honest historians plus medical research, and I think people need to look deeper into what Jesus endured for all of us and the symbology included. Otherwise, the book of Revelation is really great also. You asked a question that makes the mind pick and choose.

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       suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you Terry an very interesting answer.

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       TerryK81posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Um, somehow I answered another question in this forum, but my answer was to ANOTHER question.......I feel retarded

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    MartinKennyDesignposted 11 years ago

    In a very short answer - I think anything that doesn't include all the facts or has additions that persuade or sway towards the speakers desired intention are not honest. Over doing it by exaggerating is probably an unintentional lie.

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       suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Right on.

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    Lor's Storiesposted 11 years ago

    No. I thought I saw a snake in my sisters house. As I told the story the thing got bigger.
    Well it wasn't a snake. It was a mouse.
    So then I said it was a rat.
    But exaggerating helps you get your point across faster. Especially when it comes to crawling things in your house or wherever.

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       Apostle Jackposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Taking things out of proportion is like.Over-filling a glass of water ,it will not be a good ending to the story.

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       Ericdierkerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Jack, not if the dog had no water in his bowl and he could drink the overflow.

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    Lauren Amy Smithposted 11 years ago

    I'd say exaggeration is a form of lying. Although there is an element in truth in what is being said, it's still not reliable and can mislead. We all do it though, I often exaggerate to make a story more interesting or to get my point of view across, just in our nature I guess.

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       suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Yes Lauren, it is human nature but some would disagree.

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    rosaleelawsposted 11 years ago

    I think exaggerating is the same as lying, because not telling the whole truth is lying.  Whether it is lying by omission or exaggeration which is just on the other end of the spectrum, adding to the truth.  I think I'm learning in life that everyone is human and not every human will be 100% honest all of the time. Unfortunately lying is not black and white either, for instance when someone lies to protect someone's feelings. Personally, I still prefer utter honesty.

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       suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Me too rosaleelaws and trust goes right along the same path.

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    ellocin27posted 11 years ago

    Well, exaggerate means you over react on a certain situation or something. And lying means you didn't tell something because it's either you're scared to be scolded or you're hiding something. I lie but when I lie I don't exaggerate.

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       suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Interesting point of view. thank you ellocin27

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    manatita44posted 11 years ago

    Most of us who exaggerate, do lie. There is something called embellishment which is quite similar, but it is the positive form. Spiritual teachers use this to entertain their students and give them joy. Embellishments feed the heart, Exaggerations come from the mind and tend to feed the mind.

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    Amy Pirozzoloposted 11 years ago

    No, exaggerating and lying are not the same...Exaggerating is embellishing...Lying tends to mean you are significantly not telling the truth...
    
    I tend to truly tell it like it is, although everyone embellishes sometimes...

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       suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Very true Amy.

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    Vlorsutesposted 11 years ago

    I believe that it depends on what is being exaggerated. For example, if I were asked whether or not I finished a project, and I answered that I did a good while ago (when in reality I had completed it maybe a minute or so ago), it's technically not lying since you are telling the truth towards the given question. You were simply altering the circumstances to bolster my position while still being truthful to what I was asked.
    
    That being said, if you go by a strict definition of a lie, which is not telling the truth, then I can understand where the idea of exaggeration being considered a lie would come from. You are painting a false picture of the event in some regard, whether it be a minor alteration of the details or such a significant change that it doesn't even resemble what actually happened.

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       suzzycueposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       awesome answer Vlorsutes

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    IDONOposted 11 years ago

    If this makes any sense, I think exaggerating is more manipulating than lying. I don't believe it is done with the purpose of deceiving. I believe it's done to make what you are speaking of more interesting and to gain more of a person's undivided attention. If the facts of a story are mundane and boring, human nature tells us to make it more interesting and the only way to do that is to make the story bigger.

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