I deliberately tell lies to children about …

Vote on this poll

Free software	19/5%
Catching flies	6/2%
What they can be when they grow up	37/10%
Sexuality	25/6%
Santa Claus	69/18%
Religion	7/2%
Their parentage	10/3%
Swimming after eating	10/3%
Television	5/1%
Politics	6/2%
Alcohol	9/2%
The goal of school	23/6%
Money	11/3%
The stork	4/1%
Everything	114/30%
Other	31/8%
	386 total votes

Comment on I deliberately tell lies to children about …

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by Boldra (Deacon) on Apr 02, 2012 at 11:00 UTC
Lying about everything seems a pretty good strategy. As long as children have the opportunity to test and find out the truth for themselves, they should learn to doubt anyone who claims to have answers. - Boldra	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by druthb (Beadle) on Apr 04, 2012 at 12:29 UTC
Where is the choice for "None of these"? I made it a point very early to tell my kids the truth, period, and to encourage everyone else to do so, as well. Age-appropriately, of course, so when my then-6-year-old asked about sex, she got an answer that would make sense and not scandalize anyone when (not if) it was repeated to the neighbor kids. And yes, that includes blowing the whistle on Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Faery, honest politicians, and other fictional characters. She's grown up a happy atheist, with a nice, functional baloney detector, as a result. D Ruth Bavousett	[reply]
Re^2: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by fisher (Priest) on Apr 22, 2012 at 09:56 UTC
You stole the childhood from your little one, didn't you?	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by chacham (Prior) on Apr 01, 2012 at 21:19 UTC
“I would never lie. I willfully participate in a campaign of misinformation.”	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by cdarke (Prior) on Apr 03, 2012 at 16:29 UTC
What they can be when they grow up Of course we tell them they can do anything and the world is their oyster, even though we know they are doomed just like everyone else. Might as well let the little darlings enjoy their youth before they learn the terrible truth about life, the universe, and everything.	[reply]
Re^2: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by shadowfox (Beadle) on Apr 03, 2012 at 19:53 UTC
I agree, kids grow up too fast as it is. Today the rolemodels are celebrities and I'd like to round up and drown them all, but hey thats just me. Life is hard, get your kids a helmet and let them below whatever makes them happy, it doesn't last long enough.	[reply]
Re^2: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by Tux (Canon) on Apr 06, 2012 at 17:35 UTC
A horse? Enjoy, Have FUN! H.Merijn	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by ChuckularOne (Prior) on Apr 03, 2012 at 13:17 UTC
Who'd have thought that the blurb I put in my home node over 10 years ago would ever be relevant to a poll!?! Sworn enemy of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and all of the other little critters that society makes us lie to our children about.	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by raybies (Chaplain) on Apr 05, 2012 at 14:02 UTC
Sometimes the clinical desire to be 100% factually correct only exiles imagination and stymies innovation. We all need a little fantasy, else why hope for a better world? If I wanted to remain uninspired, I'd program in Java.	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by nimdokk (Vicar) on Apr 02, 2012 at 14:58 UTC
I might tell a lie to spare someone's feeling (adult or child). I was the child that told everyone that there was no Santa Claus (at the tender age of about 5). I also blew the whistle on the Easter Bunny at the mall (probably about the same time).	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by chexmix (Hermit) on Apr 17, 2012 at 17:40 UTC
As a rule, I speak to children as little as possible. I didn't like them when I was one of them, and I see little reason now to revise my initial evaluation.	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by planetscape (Chancellor) on Apr 08, 2012 at 23:34 UTC
Other: "Why, no! Dragons don't eat little children! HTH, planetscape	[reply]
Re^2: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by ambrus (Abbot) on Feb 16, 2013 at 19:45 UTC
That one has a comic strip link too! Dragons don't eat little children!	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by Ratazong (Monsignor) on Apr 02, 2012 at 12:20 UTC
Right now, Santa Claus is only the second-most voted topic. I wonder if this would be different if this would be the december-poll... update: Thinking about seasonal truths, I'm missing the option Easter Bunnies here.	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by songahji (Friar) on Apr 05, 2012 at 14:06 UTC
about everything .. but they knew I when lied most of the time .. dang it	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by Anonymous Monk on Apr 13, 2012 at 16:19 UTC
Missing "Queen of England?" From the film Megamind : "You see the good in everyone, even when it's not there. You're living a fantasy. There is no Easter Bunny. There is no Tooth Fairy. There is no Queen of England. This is the real world, and you need to wake up!"	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by Discipulus (Canon) on Apr 24, 2012 at 10:21 UTC
one moment... 18 (or more..58now!) monks tell their children that Santa Claus does not exists!!??!? (the true lie about santa is his color: it was ever green dressed; a bad-respect-for-workers company changed it to red for an advertising campaign... can you imagine a forest's spirit red dressed? life expectetion 5 minutes..) L* there are no rules, there are no thumbs..	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by StommePoes (Scribe) on Apr 28, 2012 at 18:31 UTC
Over here in the Netherlands his predecessor shows up every year in November on his steam boat from Spain with his piets and his horse. We got dibs on the more-truthiness of Bishop of Myrna. Take that, Santa, Odin and Father Christmas!	[reply]
Re^2: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by Anonymous Monk on Apr 24, 2012 at 10:51 UTC
one moment... 18 (or more..58now!) monks tell their children that Santa Claus does not exists!!??!? Is that close to Santa Cruz, California?	[reply]
Re^3: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by runrig (Abbot) on Apr 24, 2012 at 15:56 UTC
Is that close to Santa Cruz, California? No, it's in Indiana. There is a Santa Claus Lane near Carpinteria CA, but I wouldn't call that close to Santa Cruz either.	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by ambrus (Abbot) on Oct 07, 2019 at 18:10 UTC
The links to the We the robots comic have bitrotten. I think they referred to these comics. Dear pollsters, please update the links. What they can be when they grow up Sexuality Santa Claus Religion	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by chacham (Prior) on Apr 21, 2017 at 13:57 UTC
Noone believes in Plato's Noble Lie?	[reply]
Re^2: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by Anonymous Monk on Apr 21, 2017 at 14:22 UTC
Plato was a troll.	[reply]
Re: I deliberately tell lies to children about … by Anonymous Monk on Apr 02, 2012 at 00:50 UTC
I deliberately tell lies to children about … Nunya	[reply]

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