Lied to again

I think I have been lied to--again.

Not that being lied to is that unusual. In fact, it is more likely getting told the truth is more rare. Working in a maximum security prison and having access to the one who has access to psychotropic medications makes getting lied to more likely. In fact, feigning mental illness in the correctional setting is a hobby for some and attempted art for others. However, one expects lying in the workplace--especially my workplace.

What I don't expect is being lied to by people who have no reason to lie. And yet it happens time and time again. There was the former university president(not deceased) who went on to work in the Baptist Building who was a liar of the pathological kind. I still remember the meeting in which he was the "resource" person appointed by the Executive Director, when it dawned on me the man was lying and had been lying.

Then there was the recent employee who is no longer an employee. His issues were such that lying was as necessary as breathing. Sadly, there was no real reason. When one fails and has nothing to talk about or brag about, or as Robert Frost said, "Nothing to look back on with pride and nothing to look forward to with hope," one can understand lying. One reshapes the past to imagine achievements that only exist in one's mind. But, in the real world where some achievements were made--apparently not enough.

Which brings me to the one recent liar. It appears to be a small thing, but it becomes a flag that causes the thoughtful person to look more sceptically. And when one looks more carefully, one realizes that there is no such thing as "just one lie."