I have/had a cousin Bud that everything he had was better than yours, I only saw him once a year on our deer hunts we used to do, I had no use for him at all, have not seen nor heard from him in 10+ years. Someone that I just did not enjoy being around any.
Cody I never H&H just calf roped and still have some Billy Leach Ropes (grass) that are like new my knee ended all that, relate totally, Leach may be to old for you to remember Kilgore Tx I think where he was.
I have never called anyone an out and out liar. If it's obvious that they are lying, they already know it. And they know that I know it. I see no need to confront them. I might avoid their company in the future, though.
Now, think about it Frank. On the street where I live there are only maybe 5 or 6 people who are who they say they are and what they are. We have a lady who is a professional waitress but wait, she hooks on the side. Another guy sells drugs but is that who he defines himself as? Nope.....a carpenter. On the internet, how many people go by their real names? How many people on the net can you name who seem just a little bit too good to be true or the opposite perhaps? Moreover, how many of your personal friends aren’t a bit misleading or unclear at times? Don’t know about you but there are only a few people I have ever personally met who are genuine in every aspect and that I could count on to be the same from one day to the next. Nothing hidden, no paradoxical moments, no confusion but just people who are definitely what and who they say they are and with nothing to hide. Yes, it is a natural tendency for mankind to be by definition.....ambiguous.
I have nothing to hide...but that doesn't mean I would want to share everything I've been through in my life with just anyone. If someone asked me about something that they heard that happened in my past and I just didn't want to go there...then I wouldn't lie and say I don't know what they are talking about. I would say that's a part of my past that is done and gone and I don't want to bring it into the present or the future.
I did write that mankind has a tendency to lean toward ambiguity but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t people who take it as a task to be totally honest. Similar to you Babs, I say I’m an open book but then, there are some things I prefer to keep to myself but if asked there is nothing I will not reveal. I do warn people sometimes though that asking me a question about myself or themselves might be the worse thing someone might want. Just to take the OP one step further, “Perception” plays a large part in what we believe or do not believe about other individuals and also what they say and do. I once knew a devout Christian who owned a convenience store. The church he went to was catagorically against drinking alcohol and smoking and although he did neither, he sold beer and cigarettes in his store. Some would perceive him a liar when he would speak of himself as being a Christian but others would take him at his word and without any doubts because of the way he openly displayed his personal life as a believer.
When I was little we use to call all of our playmates 'liars.' We would call an adult a 'liar' behind their backs. That being said once I saw the outcome of calling someone a 'liar' to their face I knew it wasn't a good thing to do and instead would say 'I don't believe you.' I don't like being called a 'liar' either especially when I'm telling the truth. It's an awful hurt.
I agree, nothing hurts more for me to be accused of something I haven't done... My mother used to be really angry if we called each other liars when we were kids, , she didn't like that at all... When I say I call someone out if they're lying Von, I mean I tell them I know that it's absolute tommy rot..or words to that effect..I rarely use the actual word Liar.. unless I'm furious, and I always ensure I know that I have my facts right before I confront anyone,.. but I have to tell you, I hate lying with a passion..I detest being lied to. I've always, always said...if it's some thing bad, tell me, I might be mad at what you've done or said but I'll get over it ..but lie to me about it, and I'll be furious, and the anger will be unleashed and I may never speak to you again.!!
Strictly speaking, I suppose anyone who tells a lie is a liar. I tend to reserve the labels for people who make a habit of telling lies, but that's not exactly consistent, I suppose. If someone murdered only one person, I would still consider them to be a murderer.