Read the following interviews with some teenagers.
Sheena
I usually lie to protect myself or so that I don’t hurt someone’s feelings. I think I lie most to my parents but I don’t really lie that much. I don’t lie very often but I hold back on the truth quite a lot. In other words, I don’t tell the whole truth. Some people might consider restricting the truth and lying to be the same thing. The problem with lying is that I have often been found out.
Louise
I only lie as a last resort. I mean if there is no alternative because the truth is not acceptable. On the whole though, I’m quite honest. I think because I am quite honest, people are quite honest with me.
Isabella
I don’t lie a lot. In fact I don’t even hold back on the truth a lot: I’m normally very “up front” (honest) about things.
Zina
I normally lie to avoid hurting people. I also lie if there is something that I am supposed to do but I haven’t done it, for example, my homework! Other times when I lie are when I am allowed to do something. I think I lie much less than a lot of people but my parents think I’m the biggest liar in the world. Last summer I went to a huge outdoor festival. I wanted to wear my favourite trousers which are really tight. My mum said I wasn’t allowed to wear them because she didn’t want lots of guys to chat me up and flirt with me. I promised not to wear them but I took them with me and put them on later. Unfortunately, while I was at the festival, I picked up a leaflet about it and put it in my trouser pocket. I was stupid enough to leave it in there and my mother found it when she did the washing. She was furious. At least I don’t tell ridiculous lies. One of my friends told me recently that she is related to the royal family.
Long
I don’t tell lies that hurt people. I just lie in conversation to annoy people as a joke or to humour people whose feeling I don’t want to hurt. Anyway when I tell major lies, I normally get found out very easily. Other people lie to me too. If I ask my eldest brother for a favour, he will invent an excuse why he can’t help me.
Hugh
Everybody lies sometimes. I lie to keep myself out of trouble and so others don’t get hurt. I guess I lie to my family the most because I am with them a lot. I normally lie about really minor things. I deny eating all the ice cream or breaking the TV.
Ned
When I don’t want to get into trouble, I lie. However, just because I’ve admitted that doesn’t mean that I lie any more than anyone else. People often lie to me when they are trying to sound “cool”. They exaggerate or pretend that they know what they are talking about. It’s something that most people do. It’s not really dishonest, it’s just that you don’t want to sound boring or look like an idiot.