Member-only story
The Big Intentional Lie
It was a planned lie from the beginning. It cost lives.
Planning a lie and then doing it in small matters is common. We probably all do it. However, only a few, when caught in the Small Lie, when disproven, will double down or keep claiming the lie to be the truth that they themselves planned and knew was a lie. That’s ridiculous when you know it’s a lie, they know it’s a lie but you insist it’s the truth out loud like nobody will notice. That’s Baghdad Bob territory, the delusional Saddam Hussein spokesman who would come out and claim victory where there had been crushing loss. No one was fooled. In these small matters, such denial of reality is just petty and possibly pathological (you can’t help it), usually reflects poorly on you, but is generally harmless. Frankly, some of the best salespeople are excellent small liars or embellishers up to a point so as I said, it’s common.
Planning a lie and then doing it in large matters, affairs of state, things that affect millions of lives or could cause massive harm to society is egregiously wrong. Being caught in the Big Lie that YOU planned and then doubling down on it as the Gospel Truth verges on demonic, especially the longer you do it. After awhile, it becomes so pathetic and too late to admit it was a lie so you have no choice but to continue or risk 100% discrediting yourself with the lie believers you have convinced, even…
