Pinocchio’s nose grows longer when he lies.

My cheeks burn when I don’t tell the truth. Fortunately I am brown-skinned otherwise I am sure I’d have two clown-like cheeks that show me up. Sometimes it’s the situation that forces me to fib. Just a little white lie, nothing serious, certainly nothing malicious or harmful.

For instance, I stray from the truth when I say I am going to be out-of-town or the country when a friend invites me to her home. I know I am not going to enjoy the experience because her boisterous children will spoil it for me. I save myself the angst and her the truth as I don’t want to upset her. No mother is going to take kindly to unkind words about her children, never mind that they are little monkeys.

I have had all sorts of people not be truthful to me. I had a plumber who told me that a little piece of plastic he changed inside the tap of my wash basin costs RM200. A new tap would probably costs less. I have been misled by my contractor, whom I will never recommend but certainly bad mouth any chance I get. There was not much I could do mid-way through a renovation; short of firing him and contending with another person of a similar ilk. Taxi drivers have literally taken me for a ride and I have had dispatch riders who have sworn on their mother’s head they dropped off my shipment that never made it to my front door.

I am pretty sure I am not alone in dealing with people who are less than nice.  I am no sucker by any measure. I speak my mind and stand up for my rights when I feel I am wronged.  Sometimes, I can’t be bothered, and let it go.

It’s times when I am unsure how to act or react to suggestions or gentle persuasions that are supposedly in my best interest that irks me. For instance, one of my doctors ( yes, I have many) has this habit of suggesting that I take certain supplements and medicines. She would place the products in a little basket, then seamlessly add them to her consultation fee.

My mind always protests. This is incongruous with the image I have of a doctor. I think – caring and sensitive – not a product peddler with a basket! The basket bothers me silly and to make matters worse the supplements and medicines cost 20-40% less in local pharmacies. The only reason I still go to this doctor is for her counsel. Honestly, I’d be off like a shot if I could find a suitable replacement.

Sometime ago, I did a gene test that cost a few thousand ringgit on a doctor’s recommendation. I hear “sucker” loud and clear but like I mentioned earlier when I am unsure I can be swayed and I was. I am an adult and I take full responsibility for my decision. That said it was a bloody useless test as the only take-away was that the Mediterranean diet is apparently good for me. Or really? And for everybody else on this planet.

I get upset big time when I hear an outright lie but can’t or don’t call it out. It flabbergast me how people can lie with a straight face, and worse yet, repeat the lie. I read and listen to ludicrous explanations being spewed and the fantasy story telling that continues week after week. This has happened and is happening almost every day and everywhere.

Media reports on honourable prime ministers and presidents of countries, high-profile heads of international companies and associations, respected and revered ‘virtuous’ people working in beyond reproachable institutions like the police, churches, schools and hospitals being brought to book for their misconduct and transgressions. They vehemently deny guilt despite evidence to the contrary staring them in the face. Worse, there are people who destroy and kill with impunity, and have total disregard to humanity in the name of their so-called beliefs.

It’s scary and laughable how some people display such aggression and affront at being accused or allegedly accused of wrongdoings usually related to money, sex, power, religion and drugs. They repeatedly deny, decry, accuse and threaten to sue, only to be found guilty, dismissed, penalised and/or imprisoned, most times, but not soon enough.

I wonder whether these people really can’t tell right from wrong. I wonder if they feel so guilty and remorseful that they are in denial. Once they are in denial, they actually believe their lie or lies to be true.

I know this sounds simplistic but surely they must have had parents who would have loved them and taught them not to lie, cheat, steal and kill; elders who would have instilled good manners, shown them how to be decent human beings and to treat people justly. These same bad people would have attended schools where teachers, at least some of them, would have inculcated in them good moral and ethical behaviour and attitudes. Surely. Or am I just naïve? Are these just bad, bad people with no moral compass, feelings or emotions?

I am just grateful I live in a world where there are still more good than bad people; people who can think and not let themselves be swayed by people with selfish motives; people who can tell right from wrong and people who are kind and human. If only we could always – “Do unto others as others do unto us”.