Stephen A. Lawrence <sa...@pobox.com> wrote: Previously he said he did ship it. Now he says he did not. He is >> contradicting himself. He often does that. I would not call it a "lie" >> > > He said it shipped. That's a binary statement, either true or false. If > false, I, personally, would call it a "lie". >
In that case I suggest you learn something about psychology. I would define a lie as something intended to deceive other people for some purpose. I don't see how Rossi can accomplish any purpose in this instance. Lying is quite different from something like confabulation, defined as: "To fill in gaps in one's memory with fabrications that one believes to be facts." (I am not saying that is what he is doing. There are many similar behaviors.) You seem to have a two-dimensional view of human behavior. Small children, confused elderly people, and others like them often say things which are not true, but are not lies either. Don't be so judgmental. > Photos indicate Rossi didn't ship it. That makes his statement false . . . Yes, of course. But it does not prove he was lying in the conventional sense. As I said, when someone tells you 3 or 4 outrageously conflicting things in a short time, that's not lying. That would be mental illness. Perhaps Rossi's behavior does not go that far, but it is abnormal. Nothing to laugh at, or get upset about. Just what would he have to do, Jed, for you to say he "lied" ? He would have to benefit in some way. He would have to have some plausible motivation to lie. He would have to cover up the previous statement -- or at least, try to cover it up. He would have to exhibit consternation, anger, fake anger, or some other indication that he is a aware of the truth. I do not see any of that. I have been dealing with him for years, and I have seen him act this way countless times. He never fools me. He does not seem to be trying to fool me. - Jed
