But it definitely something kids would have a hard time learning and knowing the difference of when something like this could be acceptable. It is definitely not the same as lying to someone to protect them, or lying to have someone avoid trouble. But I like I said, it’s a major debate to say when is it good to do something like this man in the story did. In this case, I think it is a good thing he did it, to give the man in the other room hope and brighten his day. Granted I would’ve found a different way of doing it.

A similar behaviorial item concerns the way parents lie to their kids regarding Santa Claus, Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy. One psychologist explained that this teaches children that even their own parents can engage in elaborate lies and deception in order to entertain and indulge, even though they denounce lying in general. The outcome is that kids learn skepticism, even toward their parents. This extends to skepticism toward theological dogma. This psychologist claimed that these are positive experiences and are needed sociologically to teach kids skepticism. The guy in this story probably ends up wondering if the next room-mate is fabricating stories too – in a state of prepetual skepticism.