TOW #11 The Future of Lying

            As an Associate Professor of Cognitive Science and Communications at Cornell University, Jeff Hancock studies the way in which we communicate using modern technologies.  Hancock recently gave a TED talk, titled “The Future of Lying”, in which he explained the effect these technologies have on our ability to lie.  For example, he describes a certain type of lie, known as a “butler”, in which a person responds with an ambiguous message like “got to go” in order to exit a conversation without insulting the other person.  Essentially, Hancock argues that because nearly every form of communication now produces some type of written record, it is important to carefully consider what you say to others.  He is able to transmit this message to his audience at the Winnipeg TED Conference through employing logos.  For example, he describes how up until recently, humans have not been held accountable for what they say.  Only since the invention of the printing press has communication been widely recorded, and therefore humans have evolved a method of communicating that does not emphasize accountability.  This logical progression of thought allows the audience to understand why we often converse in a way that negatively impacts our reputation. 

In addition, Hancock is able to hold the attention of the audience during his presentation through informal surveys and humorous examples of certain lies.  For instance, he enables his audience to identify with the subject matter by presenting a relatively common situation in which he felt compelled to lie to a friend even though it was inconvenient to do so.  The fact that Hancock was able to present his findings in a way that directly related to the audience enabled him to effectively communicate his thoughts on communication in the digital age.