Truth Or Consequences

Lying that isn’t held accountable only increases in the absence of consequences

Once upon a time there was a quiz show titled Truth Or Consequences. It was on radio from 1940 to 1957 and on television from 1950 until 1988. The premise was that contestants had a couple of seconds to correctly answer a trivia question — typically one unlikely to be answerable or sometimes only a mediocre joke. The consequences usually consisted of some uniquely embarrassing stunt. Contestants regularly offered incorrect answers in order to participate in the stunts, but they also might be emotionally surprised with a long-absent relative or child walking on stage. The host (there were several over the years) might end with the phrase “Hoping all your consequences are happy ones.”

The show was popular for a very long time, both because of the content but also the premise: either the truth or the consequences for its absence. It seems quaint, even idealistic, now. Not that it should. For most people most of the time, truth, and thus honesty, has been and continues to be essential — fundamental in life. This is far more than simply being idealistic. It’s an eminently pragmatic reality that makes human relationships and endeavors successful and even possible. It’s an expectation we all have.

We rationally know that not everyone is truthful all of the time. I’ve written about total honesty being overrated. There are times when not lying but also not telling the truth is justified: not hurting someone’s feelings or shielding them from information they may not be able to cope with. There are incidents of “lying by omission” that we invoke when it seems better than the honesty of truth. That grey area separates the more general reliance on honesty from actual lying.

We know to be skeptical about advertising claims, offers too good to be true and at least some of what politicians say. What seems to have changed is the rise of lying by those we have the highest expectations of, and in turn an accompanying rise of those willing to accept their lies. This goes beyond common confirmation bias in which we prefer to hear or read that which we are in agreement with. Now it’s fabrication on a scale once reserved for those prone to conspiracy theories and extreme points of view.

When the president of the country lies constantly and pretends that news coverage of this dishonesty is fake, when a supreme court nominee resorts to dubious assertions, histrionics and partisan diatribes, when those in positions of public office offer untruths to justify avoiding information and facts — and if there are no consequences for any of this, the basis for a functional democratic society is undermined. Dictators and authoritarian leaders use lying and dishonesty (misinformation/disinformation) to both rise into power and then maintain it.

Consequences are what keep these kinds of behaviors in check or at least discourage them. Lying that isn’t held accountable only increases in the absence of consequences. Children are taught that lying is wrong because it’s a guiding principle essential to the individual, community and society. The practical realities of truth and lying are made obvious so it’s understood that the latter will have consequences both unpleasant and embarrassing.

While there are certainly exceptions, men in particular seem more prone than women to resort to lying. Indeed, they use it to undermine the credibility of females who accuse them of discrimination, harassment and assault. Not only does this allow these males to avoid consequences, it also makes females far less likely to speak up. The irony is the dishonesty of the men guilty of these things suppresses the honesty of women to defend themselves and push back against inexcusable behavior.

If political success is increased by lying without consequences, we are in very deep trouble both as a society and as individuals. Tyranny of the minority is only possible when the majority is complacent, apathetic, disinterested. Of course, any pragmatist recognizes this, but the message has to be repeated that doing nothing has consequences of the worst kind.