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People tend to make negative associations with poverty.

To survive in social circles, we tend to mask such negative associations -- Because sometimes it does have genuine negative consequence, regardless if it is fair or logical. It comes from the same idea that certain topics aren't appropriate to discuss on first dates, with your extended family, with children present, etc.

So to guarantee social survivability, in this mindset, you must offer something that creates a positive association.

Lying is a risky way to create that association. It's social cheating, in a way. If you're convincing enough, your lie might as well be real, as far as your relationships are concerned, and you gain the social benefits of that; Intrigue, mystery, perceived power. But if you get caught, you are labelled as someone who will lie for these benefits.

Many of us can look at these consequences and say it isn't worth it -- Some of us look at those same consequences and say it is worth it. This doesn't make sense to you because you perceive the consequences as the former, not the latter.



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