The NY Times reports today about Comedian Steve Rannazzisi, who has been lying for years saying he narrowly escaped the World Trade Center attacks. He even lied about working for Merrill Lynch in the South Tower. And not just once…over and over again in public forums and interviews. The gig was up this week when the NY Times outed him…14 years later.
The NY Times related another 9/11 liar that even more outrageous: Tania Head. She joined the World Trade Center Survivors’ Network support group and went on to become its president, but her story of escape from the 78th floor of the south tower was a complete lie.
It’s disgusting to me. There are definitely some underlying personality disorders in people who do this. But how does such outrageous lying go undetected for so long? I think average people don’t listen carefully enough or pay attention to cues; most of us are pretty trusting beings. Not so at the CIA! Found these cool verbal cues that someone is not being honest:
The NY Times related another 9/11 liar that even more outrageous: Tania Head. She joined the World Trade Center Survivors’ Network support group and went on to become its president, but her story of escape from the 78th floor of the south tower was a complete lie.
It’s disgusting to me. There are definitely some underlying personality disorders in people who do this. But how does such outrageous lying go undetected for so long? I think average people don’t listen carefully enough or pay attention to cues; most of us are pretty trusting beings. Not so at the CIA! Found these cool verbal cues that someone is not being honest:
- Failing to answer. Dodging a direct answer to your question may indicate the person is trying to come up with a good answer because he or she doesn’t want to admit the truth.
- Denial. If you ask someone, “Did you do it?” and he or she answers with “I didn’t do it,” “It was not me,” or “I didn’t do anything,” instead of a simple “no,” consider that significant. Giving such answers are a way for the person to psychologically avoid an out-and-out lie.
- Repeating the question. This helps buy the person time while he or she formulates a lie.
- Attacking. “Why are you wasting my time with this stuff?” can be a way to attack the person asking questions when the liar feels backed into a corner. He or she may try to impeach your character or abilities.
- Being too specific. Sometimes a liar may try to be “technically” correct while skirting the truth. They provide too much information to create a “halo” effect as they try to manage your perception of them.
- Being too polite. Complimenting you on a great tie or saying “yes, sir” in response to only one question may indicate the person is trying to get you to like him so that you’re more likely to believe him.
- Bringing up religion. Look for phrases such as “I swear to God” or “As God is my witness,” which may indicate they’re “dressing up the lie.”