Two stories were posted in the news today that have an interesting relationship. First, Reuters has reported on a UK study that people find it easier to tell lies when they do not have to be in the physical presence of their audience:

Just over half of respondents said using gadgets made them feel less guilty when telling a lie than doing it face to face, the study on behalf of financial services group Friends Provident found.

[…]

The survey found that while people were dishonest, most told lies with the best intentions and to spare others’ feelings.

Sounds like proof of common sense to me. Everyone likes to justify their actions in the best possible light, and it’s definitely less encumbered to speak freely into a piece of plastic than to interact with a real live person.

Second, the Associated Press has reported on a Fire Department in Tennessee that told a white lie to a caller in order to unravel a string of prank 911 calls:

After receiving a false report of a gas leak on Dec. 14, firefighters compared notes.

They confirmed 15 fake 911 calls over a two-month period, including four house fires, six car crashes and various other medical emergencies. All came from the same cell phone.

So they called the number and left a message saying the phone’s owner had won a gift card from a major retailer, Fire Capt. Brent Seymour said.

With so many people up in arms over privacy as it related to their cell phone, I find it notable that the fire departments may be the last group in America to have access to data. They probably just do not have the kind of leverage (what, with saving lives and property?) that large marketing and advertising companies will as they cozy up to telecom providers.

Needless to say, as the study above suggests, the prank 911 caller tried to say he had the “best intentions”:

Harms, 29, told authorities he thought he was doing taxpayers a favor by drawing otherwise lazy firefighters out of their cozy fire halls, according to court papers.