I
am very picky when it comes to television shows. That is why I don’t watch
local television; I think that all the shows, except for the news and a select few
are cliché. Telenovelas and the like are not at all my cup of tea. However,
when I am faced with foreign television shows, I usually gauge it by the first
episode. I think it is so important to make a good first impression since, as a
critical viewer, time will be spent watching these shows so there may as well
be an interesting storyline, an exciting plot and a worthwhile use of time. So
now, I watch shows like the Big Bang Theory, Merlin, House, The Mentalist and
Lie to Me.
Now, allow me to share how the
television series ‘Lie to Me’ has changed my perspective in life and how I look
at people.
‘Lie to Me’ is an American
television series released not three years ago. The main protagonist is a
doctor named Cal Lightman. I refer to him as the Lie Detector but he is
referred to as ‘the world’s leading deception expert’ in the show. This means
that Dr. Lightman can ‘read’ the lies that people tell through their body
language, particularly through their facial muscles.
It’s
very interesting stuff, believe me. You wouldn’t believe how many people I’ve
caught lying to me, thanks to Cal’s tips. For example, if you’re a sassy young
lady like me, you talk to boys. A sure-fire way to tell if a boy is lying is if
he scratches his nose or his nape. Men have erectile tissue in the part of their
noses that is above the upper lip. When they try to deceive others, it itches,
hence the scratching. As for the nape-scratching, this is called a manipulator.
It draws the eye away, even just for a moment, from the person who is telling a
lie. It’s the same with brushing hair away from your face or just running your
fingers through it. For more tips, I suggest you watch the series. It’s a very
gripping show since Cal is called to solve crimes and uncover the truth while
dealing with his own problems.
As for me, Cal’s tips and tricks
have helped me find out who lies to me. I’m no expert but I think I have the
fundamentals covered. One time, I asked my classmate if she sent me the
articles I needed for the school paper. She told me she did. Then, just to test
out one of Cal’s tricks, I asked her to tell me what else she did that night in
chronological order. She told me that she went on Facebook, blogged on Tumblr,
had dinner, sent me the files and did her homework before bedtime. After that,
I told her to tell me again, but this time, before she went to bed in reverse
order. She couldn’t tell me in the same, albeit reverse, order. So, I concluded
that she was lying. Neat trick, right? When asked to do that, liars usually
can’t because they actually make it up.
As
for what happened after that I prefer to keep it to myself. But I can reveal
that it involved raised eyebrows and dramatic exits.
Due
to this experience, I have been more observant of people and the idiosyncratic
nature of human deception. Just in case you’re wondering if this applies to all
people, the answer is yes. Why? As Cal said, it is because of human anatomy.
Structurally, humans are composed of the same muscles and bones. The muscles I
use to smile are the muscles you use to smile. So, the muscles I use to lie are
what you use to lie as well. It’s all very scientific. Knowing these things made
me into a better person, I think.
Through
this show, and the other ones I mentioned before, it is with confidence that I
can say that not all television shows are bad. Of course, there are some that
start out good and become worse with each season but there are shows that are
truly good and full of substance that will keep you on your tiptoes. As long as
it keeps you interested and gives you something to ponder, the television show
is worth watching. I don’t mean pondering about who ends up with who or what
will happen to his and her relationship. I mean something you will remember and
wonder when you can use it in real life, before our minds all rot.
No comments:
Post a Comment