How Do You Discern If Someone Is Telling The Truth or Lying?

minimus

What signs do you look for in determining whether someone is really telling the truth, outright lying or possibly using "theocratic strategy"???

I don't know when you left the org but the new TMS book (called the BE book) teaches you how to lie without lieing. But then when you use those strategies in court, school, or defending yourself from your parents, apparently its wrong.

Pleasuredome

well, in tony blair's case, you can tell when he's lying because his lips move.

hillbilly

Body language and eyes.... only the most confirmed , practiced liers can control their "tells". Observe!

Of course, documentation of the story told and measuring the outcome/results works too.

Liers most always get tripped up.

~Hill

Chia

One of my "friends" went to the elders and told them of my doubts. She told them I'd been talking to apostates and stuff. When that happened, the elders hauled me into the back room. The minute they opened their mouths, I knew they were lying. Here's why:

They said to me, "Well, the reason we want to talk to you is just to see how you are doing." I might've bought that if it hadn't been almost a year since I got reproved. It's a little late for that, don't you think? Then the very next thing was the clincher: "We want to restore your privileges." Liars! That was most definitely theocratic warfare. Of course they can say they want to restore my privileges...eventually. But I've been reproved almost a year, and I have been out in service exactly ONCE that whole time. My meeting attendance is pretty sporadic compared to what it used to be. When I do go to meetings, I leave immediately after. And you want to restore my privileges? Right. I knew then that my "friend" had talked to the elders.

Kinda off topic, but anyway, that's how I knew they were lying to me and they won't hesitate to do it again. I'm still trying to walk the line between not being ashamed of who I am, and not painting myself into a corner with the elders.

nicolaou

Ask questions. Don't rely on pupil dilation, perspiration or other bodily 'tells', an accomplished liar can fake them all.

Ask questions. Demand evidence. Learn about logic and fallacies. Read 'Straight and Crooked Thinking' by Prof Thouless or 'The Demon Haunted World' by Carl Sagan. Ask more questions. Don't be intimidated by so-called authority and above all else - ask questions!

Amazing1914

While body language can give away a liar, its not always a safe enough standard to judge someone. Different cultures and sub-cultures, as well personalities allow for differing body language.

Example: In Hispanic cultures (at least the Hispanics in my family) will look down as a sign of respect, but to an anglo-saxon, looking down is a sign of lying. Also, some people, who are insecure, will fear not being believed, and will act-out the signs of lying. This is typical in children and some adults.

The best way is to have solid evidence that contradicts the liar's statements. With independent evidence, the liar has to face the lie, or tell another lie to cover the evidence. Their body language no longer matters. Rather, their extended and strained logic will eventually give them away.

As a side not: What is more important is "why" they lied. That has a great bearing on making any judgments.

Jim W.

blondie

The hardest people to discern as liars are people who believe their own lies. They focus on one part that is true and come across as believable.

Fallacies:

If a person tells one lie, everything they say is a lie.

It is possible never to tell a lie.

New Worldly Translation

I usually put matchsticks up their fingernails and give them chinese burns until they admit they're telling porkies.

Evan if they are not lying about the subject in hand they would have no doubt lied about something in the past and usually fess up about that to stop the agony. Bonus!

ljwtiamb

Following are my steps for discerning liars:

Open my door to them when they show up uninvited to tell me that they only want to give me something to read.
Invite them in for regular discussions, as they convice me that they are not trying to convert me.
Attend their weekly meetings, where there are no obligations, financial or otherwise.
Join them at a large public gathering to see their promised spiritual paradise in action.
Get baptized to symbolize my complete dedication to their organization.
Do more than I ever have, accept less than I ever thought I would and still not measure up to their standard of righteousness.
Volunteer at incredibly self-sacrificing levels and thus be allowed to get on the inside.
Become totally disilllusioned by learning the truth of their truth.
Eventually give up on the whole thing and just fade away.

While this method is somewhat effective, it does take about 20 to 30 years to complete the steps.