Today I Lied
You know the saying that we all lie a hundred times each day, right?
I think that might be true in subtle ways, but deep down I believe it's bullshit.
But today I lied completely consciously, thinking it through in a second and deciding to do so. Why? Because it was easier.
I have been in Norway for a week now. A week ago I took a Covid test and last Monday it returned negative. Considering my low risk of being infected, the test result is really safe. Still, I need to complete a ten day quarantine.
Generally, I wouldn't give a fuck about it, but the fine for breaking the quarantine rules (only going out for necessities like shopping groceries) is set quite high and my employer also wants me to start after the quarantine.
And as I'm rather introverted, I don't mind avoiding people. Except for today. The wind was awesome, the weather sunny and I needed to get a fix of flying my RC glider. I figured that the best slopes were probably at the golf course.
Being out there, of course I met people who were playing golf. I asked them for permission to fly and also had a small chat with them. Even if I had been infectious, there would have been no chance of transmission as I was standing leewards of those people. Still they were asking me with a sort of shocked expression on their face:
“And you were simply able to get in?” [to Norway]
I thought they were referring to the general rules of the Schengen area, so I said:
“Yes, of course.”
“You didn't have any restrictions?”
Now I understood that they were referring to the Corona situation, and I figured it wouldn't be a good idea to say:
“Oh yeah, I'm on quarantine for ten days.”
So instead I said:
“Oh yeah, I had to go to quarantine for ten days and take a Covid test.”
That was the small lie. It didn't feel wrong because it avoided unnecessary discussions and the risk of paying 20.000 kroner.
What do you think? Was that morally okay? I always feel a bit wrong whenever I am literally lying.
Just send me an e-mail to: elias@mortemale.org