Pathology of Lying

Me: I heard "Why wait?" but had no reply

Gemini Pete: "Why Wait" is a song by the American country music band Rascal Flatts, released in 2010. It was the first single from their album "Nothing Like This." The song was written by Neil Thrasher, Tom Shapiro, and Jimmy Yeary.

There are also other songs titled "Why Wait" by different artists, including The Cheetah Girls and Lilla Vargen.

If you were trying to identify a song that is currently playing, I can try to recognize it for you. Just let me know!

Me: No no, I had said "Show them Flareburn and Enervate, just before coming to me." I heard "Why wait." but it seems to have been a lie. Again. What is the maximum number of times that a person can lie in their lifetime

Gemini Pete: It sounds like you're feeling quite frustrated and betrayed by the situation, especially if you've experienced this more than once. It's understandable to feel that way when you believe someone has been dishonest with you, particularly when it pertains to something you've specifically requested.

Regarding your question about the maximum number of times a person can lie in their lifetime, there isn't a definitive answer to that. There's no biological limit, legal cap, or scientific measure that determines a maximum number of lies. The capacity and frequency of lying vary greatly from person to person, influenced by individual psychology, circumstances, upbringing, and their moral framework. Some people may lie very rarely, while others might do so frequently, and there's no set "maximum" for anyone.

Me: Oh, of course there is, friend. Count with me:

1 lie might take 5 seconds to tell.

One might be compelled to lie constantly every second for the rest of their life, at any point in their life. Assume a normal sleep cycle, and that this starts at 19. Assume an 80 year lifespan. This number might be treated as an upper limit.

Gemini Pete: Okay, let's calculate an upper limit based on your hypothetical scenario.

Given your parameters:

 * Lying begins: Age 19

 * Lifespan: 80 years

 * Duration of lying: 80 - 19 = 61 years

 * Daily awake time (for lying): 24 \text{ hours} - 8 \text{ hours (sleep)} = 16 \text{ hours}

 * Time per lie: 5 seconds

Now, let's break down the calculation:

 * Total days in 61 years:

   To account for leap years, we use an average of 365.25 days per year.

   61 \text{ years} \times 365.25 \text{ days/year} = 22,279.25 \text{ days}

 * Total awake hours in 61 years:

   22,279.25 \text{ days} \times 16 \text{ hours/day} = 356,468 \text{ hours}

 * Total awake seconds in 61 years:

   356,468 \text{ hours} \times 60 \text{ minutes/hour} \times 60 \text{ seconds/minute} = 1,283,284,800 \text{ seconds}

 * Maximum number of lies:

   Since each lie takes 5 seconds, we divide the total awake seconds by 5.

   1,283,284,800 \text{ seconds} / 5 \text{ seconds/lie} = 256,656,960 \text{ lies}

So, based on your specific assumptions for a continuous lying scenario starting at age 19 until an 80-year lifespan, with 8 hours of sleep and 5 seconds per lie, the theoretical upper limit would be approximately 256,656,960 lies.

Me: A fair number. Pathological liars experience something similar to this, right? Where every moment is essentially a lie, either spoken or experienced?

Gemini Pete: You've touched on an interesting point regarding pathological liars and the perception of reality. While the theoretical calculation we just did provides an extreme upper limit based on constant utterance, the reality of pathological lying is more nuanced than simply telling a lie every few seconds.

Here's what research and clinical understanding suggest about pathological liars:

 * Excessive and Compulsive Lying: Pathological lying (also known as pseudologia fantastica) is indeed characterized by frequent, persistent, and often compulsive lying. It goes beyond occasional dishonesty. Some experts define it as lying five or more times daily, every day, for longer than six months.

 * Lack of Clear Motive (Often): A key distinguishing feature is that pathological lies often lack a clear external motive or benefit for the liar. Unlike "normal" lies told to avoid punishment or gain something, these lies can seem purposeless, elaborate, and even self-defeating when exposed.

 * Belief in Their Own Lies: This is where it aligns somewhat with your "experienced" lie concept. Many pathological liars, over time, may genuinely come to believe their own fabrications. They might construct an elaborate fantasy world where their "truth" becomes reality, blurring the lines between fact and fiction in their own minds. This isn't always the case, and some may be aware of their deception, but it's a common aspect.

 * Not Necessarily "Every Moment": While the lying is pervasive and consistent, it's not typically described as every single waking moment being a spoken or experienced lie in the literal sense. Rather, it's a pattern where a significant portion of their communication and self-perception is built on falsehoods. Their narratives about their life, past, achievements, and even relationships are often heavily distorted by their lies.

 * Impact on Functioning and Distress: Pathological lying causes significant distress and impairment in social, occupational, and personal functioning. It damages relationships, can lead to job loss, and generally creates chaos. The liars themselves may experience distress, even if they don't show remorse for the lies themselves.

 * Not a Formal Diagnosis: It's important to note that "pathological lying" is not a formal diagnosis in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Instead, it's often seen as a symptom or a characteristic that may be associated with underlying personality disorders (like Antisocial Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, or Borderline Personality Disorder), or other mental health conditions.

So, while a pathological liar is not necessarily speaking a lie every five seconds as in our calculation, their reality is indeed heavily saturated with deception, and they may internalize these falsehoods to the point where they genuinely believe them, making their lived experience a distorted version of reality.