Most teenagers like to lie about their age to appear older than they are. Other people want to be younger than they are. However, this was not the case for a 104-year-old Michigan woman who just wanted to document her real age on Facebook. According to ABC News published today, Marguerite Joseph is blind and hard of hearing. Her granddaughter got her interested in Facebook two years ago; but has been trying to put her real age on her profile since then. The system only records up to 99 years old. The granddaughter states, ” I decided I would set up a page of her own so she could stay connected to her family in Canada.”
It is well known that socializing is a way to stave off depression and loneliness in the elderly. According to eHow Mom, “Social activities can help keep older adults engaged in the world and close to other people. Taking part in group activities and social events helps elderly people maintain a sense of meaning and purpose in life, which will boost emotional well-being. A lack of engaging activities and too little contact with others can lead to depression and other negative health effects. Many organizations such as churches, athletic facilities and senior centers offer a wide variety of activities to keep elderly people active and involved in their communities.”
On the other hand, lying is considered to be unethical. For people with high standards of morality, lying about one’s age not only is wrong, it can have negative effects upon one’s character and mental well-being. “Psychologist Robert Feldman cites self-esteem as one of the biggest culprits in our lying ways.”
Lying can make the person who is telling a lie feel untrustworthy. According to InnerSelf, “When you find out about a betrayal immediately after it happens, trust is broken. “This example would fit the scenario which happened to Marguerite Joseph. She never intended to lie and it is obvious by the fact that her granddaughter has been trying for two years to have Facebook record her proper age, that she believes this lie to be unacceptable. Negative feelings about oneself can lead to poor self-esteem.
Fortunately, Facebook has fixed the bug.
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