# How would you answer this question if your boss asks? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 4, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-answer-this-question-if-your-boss-asks/556034 "2010-10-04T19:30:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-answer-this-question-if-your-boss-asks/556034/21 "2010-10-05T15:21:06Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > Frankly, and I’m being completely serious here, anyone who answers “yes” to that question is clearly lying. Who is incapable of lying, even though he wants to? That’s a dumb notion in the first place. You’re clearly _not_ one of those people. For some people (i.e. me) the fear that everyone can tell when you’re lying makes it difficult to lie. I can lie. But when I do it I feel like the other person knows it’s a lie and is just humouring me out of protocol or etiquette. So lying is self-detrimental and therefore we are reluctant to do it. The more serious the issue, the harder it is to lie about it without feeling like you’re digging a grave for yourself. I lied without thinking about it when I was a kid and it got me into trouble and hurt my reputation with people. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-answer-this-question-if-your-boss-asks/556034/22 "2010-10-05T15:53:19Z")
I’m one of those people who can’t tell a lie, so I couldn’t lie about this! Really, though, honesty is the best policy. If your boss asks you a question like this, I think it’s better just to tell the truth rather than trying to game the question. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-answer-this-question-if-your-boss-asks/556034/23 "2010-10-05T16:27:28Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > I’m one of those people who can’t tell a lie, so I couldn’t lie about this! Really, though, honesty is the best policy. If your boss asks you a question like this, I think it’s better just to tell the truth rather than trying to game the question. You just posted about a “friend” you had that turned out to be you, like last week! ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-answer-this-question-if-your-boss-asks/556034/24 "2010-10-05T16:31:18Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > > [@even\_sven](#): > > > > I’m one of those people who can’t tell a lie, so I couldn’t lie about this! Really, though, honesty is the best policy. If your boss asks you a question like this, I think it’s better just to tell the truth rather than trying to game the question. > > You just posted about a “friend” you had that turned out to be you, like last week! He might be his own friend. Is that a lie? One example of a lie that’s easy to tell is - “We have a team working on this” The truth being “I’m working on this” or “Me and one other guy is working on this” ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-answer-this-question-if-your-boss-asks/556034/25 "2010-10-05T16:35:06Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > > [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > > > You just posted about a “friend” you had that turned out to be you, like last week! > > He might be his own friend. Is that a lie? > > One example of a lie that’s easy to tell is - “We have a team working on this” > > The truth being “I’m working on this” or “Me and one other guy is working on this” Yeah, those are lies, except I don’t see a problem with a team of 2. Did you look up the definition of “lie?” “2. Something intended or serving to convey a false impression; imposture” [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lie](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lie) ---
**Author:** ![wheresmymind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-answer-this-question-if-your-boss-asks/556034/26 "2010-10-05T17:39:43Z")
It’d depend on the job and the boss, but I’d likely laugh and say “Are you kidding me? I’m lying to you right now!” and walk away. That’ll give her something to think about… Unless she was one of “those people” who have no sense of humor… ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-answer-this-question-if-your-boss-asks/556034/27 "2010-10-05T18:42:37Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > > [@even\_sven](#): > > > > I’m one of those people who can’t tell a lie, so I couldn’t lie about this! Really, though, honesty is the best policy. If your boss asks you a question like this, I think it’s better just to tell the truth rather than trying to game the question. > > You just posted about a “friend” you had that turned out to be you, like last week! To be honest, I don’t think even \*\*sven \*\*thought she was fooling anyone. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-answer-this-question-if-your-boss-asks/556034/28 "2010-10-05T18:56:57Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > To be honest, I don’t think even \*\*sven \*\*thought she was fooling anyone. Maybe so. But I still contend that “I can’t tell a lie, even if I want to!” ranks right up there with “Those are not my drugs, I’m holding them for a friend,” and “I’m just going to stick the tip in.” Yeah, right. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-answer-this-question-if-your-boss-asks/556034/29 "2010-10-05T23:05:48Z")
I would answer with a bright smile combined with, “I simply adore my job!” and let the boss figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-answer-this-question-if-your-boss-asks/556034/30 "2010-10-05T23:41:52Z")
> [@tr0psn4j](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > “You’re on of those people who can’t tell a lie even if they want to, aren’t you?” > > What do you mean, _THOSE people?_ 😉 What do YOU mean, those people? 😃 My answer to the boss’ question - “That’s a really stupid question.” (Not really.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-answer-this-question-if-your-boss-asks/556034.md?page=1)