Before I go any further I have to say one thing. I try not to lie, for one reason really, having a reputation as a deceitful person means that it's much harder to have every day interaction because people question if your telling the truth every time you open your mouth. as much as I know that lying is morally wrong I rarely feel any sort of guilt or regret over the action.
I don't know how you would describe it but basically I only go through with a lie if I know that the lie will only hurt me and no one else. That said, I've been trying to stop my lying ways in an attempt to better myself, I've come a long way from where I was a few years ago I tell a lie about once a month now instead of once every two or three days. I don't expect I'll ever be able to stop entirely, but hey, least I'm trying
and if it makes any you feel better about my character / your relationship with me here, I've never lied on the internet. Ironic isn't it? The internet for most people is a place to lie about who they are but for me it has always been a place where I could be me without fear of consequences. the only thing I've done that could be considered lying on the internet was withhold my name and at first my gender and birth date, standard identify protection.
now for the even stranger part, IRL I RARELY lie to strangers, and my friends even less. my family how ever I lie to regularly. yet another reversal of what is the social norm yes?
Now on to the topic of this post.
Lets face it, Lying is part of human nature. Everyone can lie, will lie, and has lied. But few people can lie well.
I'm fairly sure I'm one of the those few who are good at it. No really, I've told a few hundred lies over the last five years and haven't been called on one of them yet. the caliber of the lies ranging from "white lie" to "reason to accept my paper late even though the prof said he would never do that with out a signed doctor's note". in fact it's a testament to how good I am at lying (not that I'm proud of the skill) that I have a reputation as incredibly honest and trustworthy, most people I've talked to about the subject view me as one of the most honest and trustworthy people they know.
Through contemplation of my actions and an analysis of the act of lying. I think I've found the secrets to telling a truly effective lie (note that I do not use the term "good lie" I don't lies can really be good so I try not to think like that)
1) a Lie should lie about it's nature:
in other words, a Lie should appear to be the truth off the bat, if some one hears it and considered that it may be a lie then it's effectiveness is immediately cut in half. a lie should sound truthful so that when the person first hears it they think that it is the truth, and only after further investigation considers the possibility that it might of been a lie. most of the other rules are secondary in that they create this effect.
2) a Lie should contain the truth:
You can't change the facts, but you can obfuscate and manipulate them. base a lie on what actually happened, but don't stress details. if you stress details more that you would in a casual explanation of the actual truth you put your self on the defensive and weaken the lie.
3) to tell a lie you have to lie to your self:
to be a truly effective lier you have to convince you body that your telling the truth so that it wont act involuntarily and give you away. this can never be 100% perfect but if you have shifty eyes, shaky limbs or voice, or are sweating out of context these are good indications for the person to be suspicious of your statement, and even if they don't consciously notice those action their subconscious will pick up on it and cast suspicion on the statement.
4) actions and statements after a lie must never contradict the lie:
in other words, keep your story strait. if your witnessed in an action that can throw suspicion on your statement the lie weakens, if you say something that contradicts what you've already said even if you explain yourself out of it the doubt is still there.
Think of a lie as a piece of art made of random junk. in order to be accepted as art you have to pass it off as art and sell it such that no one questions why there is a kitchen sink welded to a pink mettle garden flamingo in the middle of the gallery. clearly it's there because it's art, and quality art at that.