Once upon a time, I told a lie. Not a white lie. Not one of those little untruths we somethines use to grease the wheels of the daily round. A big lie. A dark lie. A lie to try to conceal a mistake that could have had fatal consequences.
I was a young soldier – that is not an excuse – and the crew of my tank were engaged in changing the tracks. It is not that complicated an operation: You lay out the new track in front of the tank, split the old track, drive the tank forward onto the new track, fix a rope to the rear of the new track and use the drive sprocket to winch it into place, then knock in a track pin and you’re done.
My job on this particular morning was to stand in front of the tank and relay signals to the driver to let him know when to drive forward, and when to winch the track. Everything was going fine until I became confused and gave the wrong signal. The cable attached to the track sprang taught, a crowbar being used to help guide the track over the rollers was catapulted out of the hands of the crewman using it and whistledspinning through the air , nearly decapitating one of the other crewmen.
When everything had settled down, I tried to blame the driver for mis-understanding the signal I gave. Of , course, I was soon exposed. I only had to spend a couple of days in the sick bay.
The bruises healed quickly, but the shame lingers to this day – I’m squirming as I write this. I have never told a lie since that day, I cannot, for shame. I can refrain from telling the whole truth, or evade giving a direct answer, – it is, after all, sometimes cruel to say exactly what you mean, but I cannot tell what I know to be a direct lie.
This is why I denounce hypocrisy so, and the root cause of my current little spat in another place.
Just thought I’d tell you.
Boadicea's Chariot 
But, do you feel better for getting it off your chest?
bravo22c
Trying to have a logical debate on MyT is like trying to teach a pig to dance ect………………………….
There’s fuck all wrong with honesty.
We all make mistakes, the important thing is to learn from them and pass what we’ve learned on.
The end justifies the means
Bravo,
Many have tried before you, myself included. Trying to get Brendano to accept your point is like pissing in the wind.
I feel your pain chum, but as is said above you are wasting your time.
Good story, I am physically incapable of telling a porky. I stutter and tremble if I try. When asked an awkward question like “Commentez vous mois derierre regardez la grande buffalo avec la coutuire?” I find it easier to say bugger all. 🙂
Val. No.
Jazz 🙂
Soutie. I know – but I still feel the shame – it’s one of a few things in my life that are were really painful lessons – did you catch my MyT blog on bullying?
Furry one, I know that well enough, but I cna’t help pricking him. Bit like herding cats, really.
Bravo – Everyone has a pivotal point in their lives. Some choose to share it eventually, others not. I am a better man for mine. 🙂
OZ
OK Pal,
I’ve been there, its hard to resist.
Knock yerself out, but just look at the vultures who are using your blog to pick at the bones. Between the gang mentalities, the spammers and the eratic moderation/function I just don’t know why I bother with it.
Ferret, I know, mate – but I don’t care about the others.
Just for interest, what do you think of Badger – any inking that he’s a bit misunderstood?
OZ. It’s easier to share when you’re just a collection of electrons. I’ve talked this over with my children, funnily enough, never with my ex.
OZ, I’m sure I am too – but, jeez, I could have picked a better way to learn that lesson
Bravo – I know. I can talk about A Zangada, to name but one, here in a way I could never talk to the family. The “collection of electrons” spares their embarassment, or perhaps this is just my perception.
Ferret – My first rule as a relatively novice blogger is not to say anything that would earn (or deserves) a well-deserved smack in the mouth in any decent pub in the land or a zap from the hairy, bad-tempered one with the shades who is hopefuly fast asleep at this juncture. I happen to disagree with you over the ‘Emmett issue over on the Dark Side, for example, but I’m not going to start a flame war with you about it here or over there. Smiley thing
OZ
I’m with Ferret on this one, Bravo. Yes, immensely irritating to be accused, in cyberspace, and I don’t blame you for having your say. There is however, probably a certain satisfaction in having the “gang” agree with you, but I doubt they actually give a toss for the rights and wrongs. It is just an opportunity for the vultures and cyber-thugs to vent their spleen.
My feeling is that a conversation over a pint in a pub would sort most, not all of these problems out. It can’t happen so yet another flame war. This is the sort of thing that is killing MyT.
Just had a look at your post on MyT, Bravo: interesting to see just who is commenting.
I enjoyed reading your confession Bravo. I would guess that we all have something in our past that would make us feel better if we coughed to it. Good for you.
I see that your blog has been nuked. No surprise there either I guess. A blog like that is just open season for those who use the report button. Your subject matter has his supporters, here there and everywhere. Can’t understand why but it takes all sorts.
God, Bravo…that is one hell of an ‘experience’ to have at that age. ANd although I will admit to being a bit lost on the arguments side, for what it’s worth, I think this is a well written and fascinating account… As someone else has said – OZ, I think – everyone has some defining moment at some stage. ; )
Bravo Old Bean,
You obviously missed out on th ehistory between myself and Badger.
He ha always been obtuse and called a spade a spade. I never had any problems with any of that.
One day he accused my cyber chum The Bulletin of making up his brain tumour and followed it up with a desire that TB should drop dead there and then because he, the almighty Badger, was bored with the whole attention seeking affair.
Ever since that moment I hold nothing but utter contempt for the wretch and will never forgive him.
OZ,
You may not know it but I have a very large degree of respect for you. You make oi laarf chum, in a good way. 🙂
Emmitt gets your goat, fair enough. I kinda like his style. I also like marmite/cheese/peanut butter toasties or as we used to call them, Scooby Snacks.
Doesn’t that always happen?
Just as we wake up down under the MyT demons delete whatever it is that everyone’s talking about. Could any kind soul tell me what Bravo’s MyT contribution was about and why it caused whatever it caused? Please?
Thanks for your intriguing post here Bravo – I’ll leave serious responses until I’ve finished that second cuppa! 😀
Bearsy,
Basically Bravo called Brendano out on account of all the usual snide remarks the oirish blogger had been mking about him.
Brendano seems to think that anyone on speaking terms with Larry or Katie must be the antichrist.
Anyway, the entire club plus one or two hangers on saw it as an ideal opportunity to rip in with a load of the usual ad-hom.
Nuffin New.
Thanks Furry, much appreciated. 😀
I’ve got to go as well, but suffice to say that I actually thought Badger or Old Stripey One or whatever he is was already here. LIke I said, this whole site hopping business is getting too much…; )
Bearsy,
(Post 2nd Cuppa posit of course)
Don’t you know how to pull off Souties googlecache trick for digging up old blogs?
Claire,
He has every right to blog here and he would be welcome to do so.
Every blogger gets the benefit of the doubt in my book, but if I find he has a new name here I will be equally filled with contempt for the wretch.
Yes, Bravo. I know exactly what you mean. I told a lie once, for no other reason than I thought that the person I was talking to would not like the truth. It surfaced, as such things do. I’m still really uncomfortable about it.
I think we need to differentiate between real life and cyberspace, and Bravo’s post was rather confusing the two. Yes, in real life, I understand where he is coming from, but his last sentence was a justification for his post in cyberspace. I understand that the two can overlap, but I, at least think that sanity perhaps should triumph and at least make an attempt should be made to distinguish between the two.
Others of course may disagree.
Bearsey,
I think this was part of the last comment posted? I would have expected nothing less.
“Bravo, I looked into Bearsy’s site, as I sometimes do, and saw your wheedling attempt at self-justification there. What an **** (not my asterisks, I assure you). What a hypocrite. I repeat that…”
As I said, he has supporters here there and everywhere.
Araminta. My point was, that we are what we are. If you write something in the wild internet, you must expect response – and I have been vociferous in defence of the right of free expression for all – even those who i consider to be total , – erm, insert disparaging descriptor of your choice , – in fact, especially those, as it is easy to support someone with whom you agree…
Ferret, I had forgotten about that episode and I agree it was entirely uncalled for. TBI was one of the grace notes on the site and is sadly missed.
Tocino, lots of noise and no content 🙂
Bravo,
Of course it is forgiveable to forget, we all have lives to lead in the real world.
I on the other hand will never forget what Badger did, not for one second.