comment: >
context: This is a friendly reminder to read our rules.
  Remember, /r/Showerthoughts is for showerthoughts, not "thoughts had in the shower!"
  (For an explanation of what a "showerthought" is, please read this page.)
  Rule-breaking posts may result in bans. >
  
  Only if they don't know they are being lied to. I feel like this is a crucial point to add to your statement >
  
  When you invite someone and they say "I would love to but I can't" you know that thay're lying but it's better then them saying "no i don't want to" >
  
  Personally I disagree. They might decline because they have a problem with me (and I'm not OK with friends being uncomfortable around me so I need that communicated) or they decline because of reasons unrelated to me (don't feel like, have other plans, etc) inwhich case it's no big deal. That way I know when they do visit or are spending time with me it's purely because they enjoy it. Includes everyone, not just friends. I don't have time to waste on being with ppl I'm not interested in nor should they waste theirs on me if I don't enrich their experience >
  
  This sounds like something that a CIA agent who’s hiding the existence of aliens would say. >
  
  That's a rather cynical view, but it's true that sometimes a little white lie can make people feel more secure. We just need to remember that honesty is the best policy and be careful not to get too caught up in the lies we tell ourselves. >
  
  It's more about enjoying being kept safe than enjoying being lied to, but what do I know. >
  
  I suspect it's around half. And the greater than average predictor is XX or XY. >
  
  Wrong IMO, give humanity truth and let humanity focus on its safety. >
  
  SCP Foundation much? “We die in the dark so you can live in the light.” >
  
  Those who disagree with that statement should look at the official definitions of negative and positive freedom. >
  
  In the wise words of my sociology teacher quoting someone else lmao, its easier to fool someone than to convince them they have been fooled >
  
  This has been the operating model for religions for all of recorded human history; and probably long before that. >
  
  Religion. Human rights. Laws. The existence of good and bad. The value of fiat currency. The concept of fairness. The American dream.  
  All complete fiction. Made up by and agreed upon by humans for the purposes of making societies of millions of individuals capable of running.  
  Check out Yuval Noah Hararis book "Sapiens" for more nightmare fuel. >
  
  Harari's work has been criticised of being scientifically inaccurate. Still I think your comment here is relevant and the concept of collective myth is something that leaves you thinking.
  To go a bit deeper on why people believe what they are told, I would like to mention the illusory truth effect which is an interesting (and terrifying) phenomenon. In short, people start believing false information is true when they hear it repeatedly. That is due to familiar information being easier to process than unrepeated information. This may work even when the person initially knows the truth.