This past weekend I visited with a friend from home. I thought it would be a perfect chance to try out assignment 4. Much of our weekend was spent laughing about and telling stories from the past and some stories from our college experiences. While communicating ftf, I told him a hysterical story about my ride up with my parents to orientation during my freshman year…this one was true. To be honest I didn’t remember all of the details, but I got the majority of the story right, and from his reaction, the story seemed to be a success.
Next, I waited until my friend was back at his own school. While chatting online, as we frequently do, I pulled out another story, this time the story was completely made up. I started tell him about the time I went to Costa Rica with my family. Another mutual friend had actually been to Costa Rica recently, so I knew I could answer some questions, if he pried further into my story.
Now, onto the results…but first I noticed something interesting. Upon telling him my made up story, and now needing to know which of the stories he believed and which he did not, I stopped using the semi rich media channel (AIM) and reached for my cell phone, a more rich media channel. I did this completely randomly and unknowingly, yet I suppose this transfer of media could have occurred since I needed to get as much data from him to write this assignment. In order to do so, a richer form of media would get me the most information with the least amount of distraction, confusion, or lack of cooperation. Anyway, I briefly explained the assignment, then quickly reminded him of the two stories and asked which one was false and which one was true. He said had I not told him that I had this assignment, he never would have suspected me to lie about some random story I decided to tell, and thus he believed both stories as fact. There was no reason to doubt my stories since there was no reason to make up a story which I decided to share. The subject matter (A family vacation) was not conducive to or worthy of a lie. Had he asked about a test grade that I was clearly unprepared for, and I responded that I got a 100, then he would have a reason to doubt my truthfulness, but not in a good hearted family vacation. For the sake of forcing an answer out of him, I asked, “Well which story was more convincing as truth.” He interestingly explained that the first story (the one in person) was more convincing. Despite it not having all the details and facts as my second story did, I showed much more enthusiasm and interest. I didn’t focus so much on the details as I did on the general story and experience, but again he explained both were accepted by him as truth. This is better understood through the Social Distance Theory (Depaulo et al, 1996). Without thinking, it was simply easier to lie and more comfortable to lie with a more lean type of media. I was able to disguise my lie through aim since it wasn’t 100% synchronous and he wasn’t receiving so many vocal or facial cues. In addition, I was able to explain myself, look up information, or hide in the event he found out I was lying. The media I choose and, interestingly, the subject matter both seemed to effect his perception of lies.
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4 comments:
Hey Scott, that's an interesting observation you made about reaching for the phone when you needed more information out of your friend.
I think you are right in stating that the Social Distance Theory is at play here. Since lieing is uncomfortable (for most people) a lean media works better for this purpose. You showed that by lieing on AIM you were able to hide the discomfort (facial expressions and tone of voice etc.) that lieing causes. Long pauses on AIM are acceptable as opposed to long pauses in FtF. Also you said that you were able to look up information about Costo Rica on the interent, while on AIM. In FtF you could not do that and a long pause would be odd. Further, your friend said that he was able to see your excitement in the FtF truth scenerio. If you are excited about something you usually want to talk about it FtF so you can see the other person's reaction. Thus if you are not lieing you do not want to be distanced. However, if you are lieing you would want to be further away (leaner media).
Scott, it looks like you did a great job with the assignment. I found it interesting that your friend trusted that both stories were true—it goes to show that the truth bias may be more pronounced between friends than strangers. Even on AIM, your friend believed your story, even though theory predicts that the truth bias may be reduced in CMC interactions. However, if you had been talking to a stranger online, I think the stranger would be a lot more skeptical about your trip.
I also thought it was interesting that your friend thought that your first travel story was more convincing, even though you did not focus as much on the details as you did for your story that you told on AIM. I would have predicted that your friend would have thought that a story with less detail would be a lie. You brought up a good point in saying that your enthusiasm had a lot to do with why your friend believed your FtF story was more convincing.
Hi Scott,
This post was quite interesting and enjoyable. I especially liked where you mentioned about switching to a richer medium as to not lose information regarding the assignment. I wonder if you had this in mind as you switched or if it was a realization afterwards. I also wonder if the fact that less details were told in your first (true) story, even in the FtF setting could caused your friend to form an image of what the trip must have been like, leading to a more believable scenario than the second where more details were more orchestrated and specific. Given that he had more to work with, the story may have made less of an impression on him causing him to believe that it was less believable. Thanks for the interesting post.
Its interesting that you used chat as your first option to send the lie. I think this is a universal first response. You think to your self, well I could tell this lie on the phone but then Id have to have them hear my voice. That thought is extremely discouraging to most people. I think this really shows how important social distance theory really is to how we interact online.
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