Lying with integrity/Suggestion for an 'alternative' field trip

Firstly, I'd like to suggest an 'alternative' field trip - I think Jeremy Kyle should come and film an outside broadcast at one of these lectures - the subject matter and some of the discussion would certainly fit the bill. But I've already made my views on this module pretty clear so I won't start ranting again.

Anyway, here are my comments on lying. Those people who say that lying is always wrong are seriously kidding themselves. In my working life I lie quite a lot- I work with communities, elected councillors and others and managing community conflict, dealing with community politics and generally trying to create community cohesion is a large part of my job. But I consider myself to be a really honest person - when I say lying I don't mean that I maliciously deceive people or deliberately give them wrong or mischievous information - my lies are 'professional' lies (white lies perhaps?) that often involve denying that I know about certain issues or pretending to be surprised when people tell me things that I already know about - I find I have to do this to 'keep the peace'. As Adrienne Rich suggests, "lying is done with words and also with silence" - more quotes on lying can be found at http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_lying.html. I wouldn't do my job very well if I always told the truth but I prefer to call it diplomacy rather than lying and I think I'm really good at it!

Another situation where people might lie is when applying for jobs. I'm sure everyone at some time has exaggerated their level of experience on application forms and at interviews - I know I have.

I agree with the people who said that lying to protect someone was OK. However, I sympathise with the story of the friend of one student who grew up not knowing that she had a different father to her siblings and felt bitter because she missed out on the opportunity to get to know her 'real' dad. But I can also understand why her mom didn't tell her the truth - as a mother myself I would have no hestitation in lying if I thought my children needed protecting or shielding from the truth.