The Invention of Lying

[kbordson 8]

Went to go see The Invention of Lying and started thinking....

Lying v. internal filter v. Not randomly saying mean things

I think that this movie kinda confused those three categories.

What are your thoughts on "Lying"?

[wildcard451 0]

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Went to go see The Invention of Lying and started thinking....

Lying v. internal filter v. Not randomly saying mean things

I think that this movie kinda confused those three categories.

What are your thoughts on "Lying"?

You could technically call lying anything other than telling the complete truth.

If you think someone is an idiot, yet you filter that into some PC bullshit to avoid hurting their feelings, then it is not the truth.

[kbordson 8]

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Went to go see The Invention of Lying and started thinking....

Lying v. internal filter v. Not randomly saying mean things

I think that this movie kinda confused those three categories.

What are your thoughts on "Lying"?

You could technically call lying anything other than telling the complete truth.

If you think someone is an idiot, yet you filter that into some PC bullshit to avoid hurting their feelings, then it is not the truth.

But if your opinion wasn't asked for and you still proceeded to tell said idiot that he was an idiot.... is that lying or just being mean?

[wildcard451 0]

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Went to go see The Invention of Lying and started thinking....

Lying v. internal filter v. Not randomly saying mean things

I think that this movie kinda confused those three categories.

What are your thoughts on "Lying"?

You could technically call lying anything other than telling the complete truth.

If you think someone is an idiot, yet you filter that into some PC bullshit to avoid hurting their feelings, then it is not the truth.

But if your opinion wasn't asked for and you still proceeded to tell said idiot that he was an idiot.... is that lying or just being mean?

Well, then you have to try to differentiate truth from opinion. But I guess your opinion is the version of the truth through your eyes.

It is however interesting that we go immediately to the negative, when the unfiltered example could just as easily be "You're absolutely beautiful" but in real life you don't just say that to a stranger or a co-worker due to consequences. That stinks too.

[kbordson 8]

(but.... they were just so mean to the poor protagonist. He wasn't really a "loser" and while he might have been slightly overweight, he wasn't really fat.... ok... maybe he did have a stubby nose.....)

[ryoder 1,590]

The movie looks to be an inverted version of the Jim Carey movie "Liar, Liar".

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[ltdiver 3]

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The movie looks to be an inverted version of the Jim Carey movie "Liar, Liar".

Actually "Liar, Liar" was funny. "The Invention of Lying" is hilarious.

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[quade 4]

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The movie looks to be an inverted version of the Jim Carey movie "Liar, Liar".

It's actually a far deeper film than Liar, Liar could ever be.

I was happily surprised by where it went.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[MikeJD 0]

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The movie looks to be an inverted version of the Jim Carey movie "Liar, Liar".

It's actually a far deeper film than Liar, Liar could ever be.

I was happily surprised by where it went.

Pleased to hear that - I'd only heard bad things about it so far, mostly saying that the script was mean-minded rather than funny.

I do think Ricky Gervais is a bit of a one-trick pony, though. His movie roles (mainly cameos before this) haven't lived up to the promise of his classic TV work.

[kallend 2,112]

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Went to go see The Invention of Lying and started thinking....

Lying v. internal filter v. Not randomly saying mean things

I think that this movie kinda confused those three categories.

What are your thoughts on "Lying"?

You could technically call lying anything other than telling the complete truth.

If you think someone is an idiot, yet you filter that into some PC bullshit to avoid hurting their feelings, then it is not the truth.

But if your opinion wasn't asked for and you still proceeded to tell said idiot that he was an idiot.... is that lying or just being mean?

How about "Does this make me look fat?"

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[kallend 2,112]

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The movie looks to be an inverted version of the Jim Carey movie "Liar, Liar".

It's actually a far deeper film than Liar, Liar could ever be.

I was happily surprised by where it went.

Pleased to hear that - I'd only heard bad things about it so far, mostly saying that the script was mean-minded rather than funny.

Really? The review on NPR was very positive.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[shropshire 0]

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I do think Ricky Gervais is a bit of a one-trick pony, though. .

+1

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[quade 4]

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The movie looks to be an inverted version of the Jim Carey movie "Liar, Liar".

It's actually a far deeper film than Liar, Liar could ever be.

I was happily surprised by where it went.

Pleased to hear that - I'd only heard bad things about it so far, mostly saying that the script was mean-minded rather than funny.

I do think Ricky Gervais is a bit of a one-trick pony, though. His movie roles (mainly cameos before this) haven't lived up to the promise of his classic TV work.

I think that if people are of a certain mindset, they might think the movie is "mean spirited" because it challenges a particular notion about how lies have been used over the course of history. That might rub people the wrong way. Too bad for them; it's a very nice observation Gervais has made.

As for Gervais being a "one trick pony" that can be said about most actors. They develop a type of character and play that repeatedly. I could rattle off a list of actors that have played basically the same character in every movie they've made and we love them for it. Why should Gervais be any different?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[kbordson 8]

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I think that if people are of a certain mindset, they might think the movie is "mean spirited" because it challenges a particular notion about how lies have been used over the course of history. That might rub people the wrong way. Too bad for them; it's a very nice observation Gervais has made.

When I heard "mean spirited," I thought it was referring to how the "pretty people" treated the "losers."

And "Mark" never asked anyone if "these pants make me look fat"... they were just free with the mean lil snipes. (poor mark... even with the stubby lil nose)

[quade 4]

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When I heard "mean spirited," I thought it was referring to how the "pretty people" treated the "losers."

I can see it that way too. However, what I think he's trying to say is that lies are in fact a useful thing. They provide a certain amount of civility. If people where actually 100% honest in what they say, they'd openly show what jerks they really are in their heads.

Yet another message from the film is that lying is a way we enable ourselves to cope with the cruelty of the world.

There's a LOT of interesting stuff being explored in the film and to simply dismiss it as being "mean spirited" because some of the characters say mean things to each other is, I think, missing the point.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[kbordson 8]

Good points


I thought his invention of heaven was touchingly beautiful and in many ways does justify religion.... (but not the atrocities done in it's name... but lets not drag this to sc)


But.... is withholding unrequested opinions "lying"? and is having an internal filter a "good" thing or not?

[quade 4]

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But.... is withholding unrequested opinions "lying"? and is having an internal filter a "good" thing or not?

I think you're right in that they did confuse the issue a bit on that point.

I don't think you can really call anything a lie unless there is an attempt at deception. For instance, a person that says something they actually believe isn't lying even if the facts are not correct. That person is simply incorrect.

I think it's possible that where the writers were going with the unfiltered nature of opinions shown in the movie was that by filtering them, you are, in fact, possibly being deceptive with them.

Say for instance you see a mother beating a child. You say nothing. Are you saying nothing because you agree with the mother's behavior? Not saying something might imply that you do. No matter what your internal opinion, by not saying something you've made a choice that can be misinterpreted. By saying something, you've made your public opinion on the subject clear and whether or not the person agrees with it isn't the issue, you've at least been honest (truthful, the opposite of a lying).

I think this is made more clear by the woman standing outside the office building in tears that says she just can't stand working there. How many people do you know that never say anything about how much they hate their jobs? People that day after day put on a "happy face" and walk into a job they actually hate? I don't think it's a stretch to say those people are living a lie. I'm not blaming them for doing it either, but by keeping their mouths closed on the subject, it is lying.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver