We’re all familiar with lying to help a situation go a little smoother. Who among us hasn’t done that? I am liable to do that in the back of taxis most of all. Sometimes it feels like a convenient place to lie, especially when they ask what I do for work. I rarely, if ever, feel like explaining it, so I just say I’m a teacher. Stolen valor? Maybe. But sometimes you have to animate certain truths just to make life go a little bit easier. You don’t want to make a habit out of lying, but it’s fine to do it every now and again. It’s why we have the term «white lies.» They’re just small enough not to matter too much.

But what about lying to get what you want? Is that manipulation, or is that self-protection? Those are the questions that came up in this story, where a woman was made to defend a seat she had rightfully taken at a comedy show. When a man came along and tried to talk her out of it, she snapped into action.