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BULL BRITANNIA BRITISH ISLES? MORE LIKE BRITISH LIES, SAYS NEW STUDY
YOU'RE not fat; I love you; I eat healthily and my other car's a Porsche. I'm lying, but what did you expect?
A telling new study by the purveyors of real honest food, Ginsters reveals that from the boardroom to the bedroom, we truly are a nation of fibbers with three quarters of us 70% telling up to five porky pies a day, and women lying more than men.
While Brits are most honest with their friends, the workplace is a den of deceit - a quarter of us 27% lie to our colleagues more than anyone else.
Meanwhile, those three little words have never meant less as a fickle fifth of 19% whisper,
"I love you" without meaning it. The bull extends to the bedroom too as a quarter 24% fake orgasms.
Once upon a time the romance in a relationship faded over time but for today's Brits, so does the honesty. The study found that the older a couple gets, the more likely they are to lie to each another; over a third 36% of persons aged 55+ lie to their partner in sharp contrast to only 8% of 16-24 year olds.
The fibs even creep into the kitchen as a self-conscious 40% of women claim they eat healthily when they don't. Equally, whether on a diet or just plain prissy, nearly a fifth 19% allege to others that they don't enjoy pies, pasties and all things tasty - when in reality they do.
As Professor Geoff Beattie says:- "Lying is a really big part of our everyday lives and we are lying for the benefit of others when we say, 'your bum doesn't look big in that'! We also tell fibs to make ourselves feel better and we even lie to ourselves when we claim that we can spot lies and liars with ease. We're actually not very good at the whole lying game and it shows!"
In addition, over a quarter 26% lie about their clothes size and weight, women far more so than men. Conversely, a third 33% of the nation wish women would be more upfront about what they eat. Furthermore, the real honest pie-scoffing man looks like making a comeback, with 20% of British men naming classic British cuisine as their favourite food.
What does the nation lie about the most?
1 Feelings towards a person they dislike
2 How much they have had to drink
3 Eating healthily
4 Their weight
5 Number of sexual partners
6 Whether they have a boyfriend or girlfriend
7 Age
8 Qualifications/CV
9 Salary
10 Background/upbringing
So why do we lie? Almost a third 30% fib to get out of trouble while one in ten 13% embellish to impress people. A massive four-fifths 79% cite compassion as their reason for dishonesty, preferring to lie rather than hurt another's feelings. And just to spare heartache, nearly two fifths 39% have deceived an overweight friend about whether they look fat in a certain outfit.
Ginsters spokesman, Larry File commented:- "A bit of directness really addsflavour to life: next time, you see that person at work you just can't bear, Ginsters urges you to tell them exactly what you think. Of course, sparing a friend's feelings is understandable but you can't beat a slice of real honesty. There are several good reasons for fibbing but our tasty findings imply this behaviour has got out of control."
Ginsters' research also shows a person's accent can determine how trustworthy they are. The cockney twang inspires the most suspicion, whereas the South West, the home of the Cornish Pasty, boasts the most sincere-sounding drawl:-
The Nation's Most Trustworthy Accents
1 South West
2 East Midlands
3 Yorkshire
4 North East
5 South East
6 Wales
7 Scotland
8 North West
9 West Midlands
10 Northern Ireland
11 London
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Prevention
is Better than Cure
NEW research on Identity Fraud, revealed this week, reinforces findings from
www.myequifax.co.uk. A quarter of respondents to a survey of MyEquifax customers had already been victims of ID Fraud and over two thirds are concerned that they may be at risk. ID Fraud is now one of Britain's fastest growing crimes. 2004 saw a 20% increase in identify fraud compared to 2003 and this hidden crime is estimated to be costing the economy £1.3 billion a year.
Neil Munroe, external affairs director of Equifax comments:- "Fraudsters will use any means to obtain personal information, from paying homeless people to rummage through bin bags, ringing you at home purporting to be your bank or another financial
organisation, or blatantly breaking into your home and stealing documents and identification. Our research also reveals that a friend, ex-partner or old flatmate is just as likely to steal an identity as is a stranger with over a quarter of victims knowing the person who perpetrated the fraud. This research proves that it's not just the financial industry that needs to tackle fraud. Consumers also need to do more to stop fraud by being more responsible with their personal information. Consumers need to be more aware of the actions they need to take to protect themselves."
Top Tips to Prevent ID Fraud
1. Check your credit report frequently. This is the most effective way of identifying fraudsters using your ID.
2. Shred statements, bills and direct mail. These contain vital personal information.
3. When you move home redirect your mail to your new address by contacting the Post Office.
4. When you receive your new PIN for your card do not write it down and keep it anywhere near your card. If you change you PIN or password, make sure they are all different. Also, don't use your birthday, phone number or any other obvious passwords.
5. Never reveal your passwords or PIN to anyone.
6. Always check bank statements and credit card statements against receipts carefully. If you find any unfamiliar transactions contact your bank or credit card company immediately. Fraudsters often do a small transaction first to see if they are noticed.
7. If you think you have been a victim of Identity Theft you should consider subscribing to the CIFAS Protective Registration service. A notice will be placed on your credit file indicating that documents have been stolen and that you may therefore be at risk of identity fraud. To register telephone 0870 010 209.
Munroe concludes:- "The introduction of Chip and PIN may also contribute to the rise in ID Fraud. If the fraudsters can't use a stolen credit card them they may turn to impersonating innocent victims. And, when it can take up to 300 hours to clear a victim's name, we should be concentrating on prevention rather than cure"
For just £11.75 consumers can obtain a copy of their Credit Rating, which includes their Credit Report, instantly, online at www.myequifax.co.uk
If you are looking for commentary on this subject, Equifax can provide consumer credit information experts who have extensive experience on this issue.
Transport Plan Roadshows
LIVERPOOL people are being given another opportunity to say what transport issues they want to see addressed over the next five years.
Further roadshows are being staged in the city at which people will be given the opportunity to outline what they think priorities for transport should be in the coming years. The new events are aimed particularly at people who would find it difficult to attend during normal working hours. Details of the roadshows are:-
Saturday 12 March 11am to 3pm Paradise Street Bus Station Stand 1
Thursday 17 March 5 to 7pm Municipal Buildings One Stop Shop (Interview Room)
Councillor Peter Millea, Executive Member for Regeneration, said:- "Transport issues are a vital part of the city and wider region's regeneration and we want to give as many people the chance to have their say as possible."
The second Local Transport Plan for Merseyside is due to be submitted to the Government, as a provisional document, in July and will cover the period 2006-2011.
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