Why do people lie online?
By missbdoll
@missbdoll (1165)
Australia
October 15, 2009 7:00am CST
Why do people lie on the inernet ?I know people figure that it's so faceless, no body knows you.
So I'm not really talking about sites like MyLot, I guess I'm talking about sits with "comuniites" and people being on several sites where they are easy to identify, like using the same photo .
A couple of months ago I recognised someone from an online auction site I'm on, he had his profile on another site and just about evrything he said about himself wasn't true. I know this cause I've met him several times at functions.
So I'm just wandering if people do this kind of thing shouldn't they be a bit smarter ? Or maybe honest ? Not that I'm saying anyone should be dishonest.
You always hear about lies online, but this really got me thinking.
So I guess the quetion is if you lie online, do you think you can ever get caught out?
5 people like this
29 responses
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
15 Oct 09
The thing with the internet is it provides a cloak of anonymity, so inadequate people can turn themselves into the type of person they want to be, or the type of person they think others will admire. As they're never likely to meet the people they are lying to, they're happy to go along with the illusion. Part of me feels sorry for them, but the other part screams, 'Go get a life!' If you're not honest with yourself, how can you be honest with others? I really don't get it, and I hope I'm never reduced to lying about myself, on the internet or anywhere else.
1 person likes this
@agv0419 (3022)
• Philippines
16 Oct 09
Yes it is easy to on the internet that's why I'm very careful about the people I meet on the net because I never know if there are telling the truth or they are lying. I'm never lie here or even to others that I'm meeting online I'm afraid of karma and I don't want to add my sins anymore. Some people having fun of lying to others.
1 person likes this
@missbdoll (1165)
• Australia
13 Nov 09
I really don't get it either, I guess I'm just too honest.
Why make up stuff, especialy in a situtation were it's so easy to get caught ? You just end up looking an idiot ( and dishonest )
@buping (952)
• China
16 Oct 09
hi missbdoll. about your discussion, i think people lie in nature. nobody never lie in his life. and i think sometimes a lie is not that bad, such as you tell your friend after a long time of her failure in exam. the same situation, someone told a lie on line, but not in bad intention.
@daliaj (5674)
• India
16 Oct 09
One reson why people line online is because they don't want to disclose their personal details to a stranger. Most of the people who chat in online open chat rooms lie about their personal information. The same with other social networking sites. Most of the people working onlilne social networking sites wear an invisible mask which they don't want to disclose.
@lealuvy2j (1986)
• Philippines
16 Oct 09
I think the reason why many people lie online is because it is so easy. Anyway, the person you are talking about in your discussion probably feels inferior if he stated only the facts in the online auction site. He probably thinks that he needs to embellish the truth in order for him to sell. Regarding your question about thinking of ever being caught lying online, I honestly think that all liars know that they will be caught lying someday because somehow and usually the truth eventually finds its way out.
1 person likes this
@irene3184 (898)
• Philippines
16 Oct 09
People online tend to disguise or pretend to be someone else for you to be in favor with them. That's why I don't trust people online, I always kept my profile private for them not to recognize me totally..
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
16 Oct 09
I am not really sure why people feel they need to lie or should lie. I guess it's in a way an outlet, or maybe they are insecure about things in the real world but online they get a chance to be someone different. I wouldn't call it dishonesty, but it is lieing.
1 person likes this
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
16 Oct 09
I think people lie because they may not want to tell other people who they do not know personal things about them. They figure they will not ever see this person so they will not know the differents. But with so many people joining sites some of them are found out.
1 person likes this
@crystallight1l (347)
• Canada
15 Oct 09
Well, people always lie. Even if in real life, we always lie. It's a habit (a bad one, usually breaks relationships) and it tends to break trust (e.g. the scammers in internet businesses). It's also a safety issue, telling the truth may lead to tons of spam in real email inbox, information in profiles can be taken for stalking or creating scams. When you mention a person you know is lying on other site, he/she may have a good reason;It depends on what site and what they were lying. Although internet is a good resource for finding information and connecting to others, but it may have it's negative aspects.
@patgao1118 (29)
• Canada
16 Oct 09
why? because it's so easy to lie on the internet. In the real life, if you lie, it's easier for others to find out. But on the internet, you say something, it's hard for other to find out if it's lie.
In this way, you can be anyone you want, you can be handsome, you can be rich, you can be smart......
To me, it's OK, in fact, internet is a place for you to be the one you are dreaming to be. And I believe most people don't care if someone is lie on the internet only if the lie will not cost you anything.
1 person likes this
@charles_li (27)
• China
15 Oct 09
I think that he(she) almost lie in actual life if he lie online, it's his character, just internet provides a more shady way....
1 person likes this
@dadoods (41)
• Philippines
16 Oct 09
Yes somehow you'll get caught by it if someone screw you up..People nowadays is getting smarter in using computer for registration, profiling, but it really depend on the site you are in..because we can inquire online jobs and job search on line and you will be ask for your personal information. i think it about learning a certain website if its legitimate or not..and people would prefer to protect there privacy and some tend to play on the site.
1 person likes this
@manong05 (5027)
• Philippines
15 Oct 09
It's not much diferent from the real world. People do lie. On the net it's easier thinking that nobody knows them and they can do whatever they want, it's a virtual world anyway. Habitual liars often make mistakes, sooner or later they will get caught in one way or another.
enjoy!
1 person likes this
@babyjesus (277)
•
13 Nov 09
people lie on the internet not be identified. These people enjoys the participation but would evade being known or identified because they might be scared that they will be tracked of their true self.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
15 Oct 09
People lie online and offline. Even parents can lie to their children, and many do not feel about lying.
It's just a fact of life. I interview many job candidates, and they are stupid enough to lie about their last salary.
They probably think that I will not check with their last companies, but I will, especially when I suspect something wrong.
Sometimes you just know when people lie, online or offline. I caught many gamers lying in online games. They usually lie about their age and gender. Some lies about practically everything.
1 person likes this
