Is it a lie when somebody keeps something from you?

If someone intentionally keeps something from you, is it considered lying?

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  • No, I don't consider that a lie. More of an omission of truth.

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  • For a person to lie, they must TELL something, as in telling a lie. You can't lie if you don't say anything. Keeping something from you isn't lying.

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  • Privacy.

    But in this case I'm gonna tell you all that I love this cake.

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  • I don't think of it as lying. But it isn't very honest.

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  • Only if they've intentionally not told you. If it's something major, and the topic has come up and they've still not mentioned it, then I'd kind of consider that a lie.

    Otherwise, like bananaface said. No one can remember to tell everyone every single little thing, anyway.

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  • It depends. If someone is cheating, then it is a lie. If it's a secret suprise for someone, it's not. Or if something is being kept from someone to protect them, that's not a lie as such. I think it really depends what it is. howaminotmyself makes a good point.

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  • I've always considered it lying by omission. Keeping something from someone isn't honest, so I have always thought of it as a mild form of lying. That's just me though.

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  • No its not. and i had a reason to lie so forgive me.

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  • Technically, no. Nothing false was said. It's not lying, just hiding. And it's up to you to decide if which one is more "wrong" for you. Being lied to or Not being told anything.

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  • No. Lying is telling someone something that isn't true. Simply not telling someone something because they didn't ask (or for that matter, even refusing to say anything if they ask, as long as you don't tell them anything untrue) is not lying.

    I very rarely lie outright, but I also very rarely broadcast every little detail about myself or what I do to everyone else.

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  • If they simply keep it from you,they are not lying. However, if they say something which is not true in order to cover up the truth, they are.

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  • I'm going to need more context than that.

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    • Okay long story short:
      We broke up because he cheated and/or had some type of relationship with numerous broads... I found out & left.
      He begged for me back in a way in which he's NEVER done. Which included 'telling me everything I wanted to know, no matter how mad I get.' (Because I HAVE to know the TRUTH)
      I asked him the other day, what else is there that he didn't tell me/ that I didn't find out about. He won't give up that "She can never find out about..." stuff.
      Enough context 4 ya?

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  • It's only lying if they tell you something that isn't true. If they don't answer the question at all, I think that it's techniqually not lying.

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  • It depends on the gravity of the information.

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  • Intent matters almost as much as action itself. Were you intentionally trying to keep the truth from him or did you just forget to say?

    If it was your wish to dissemble the truth and you succeeded, then it was the same as if you lied.

    Don't do things like this too often. A good reputation is worth more than gold.

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  • No

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