Lie to me
Tuesday, 17 February, 2009
I have to confess that after viewing just two episodes, I am hooked on Lie to Me. I find it utterly fascinating, and I've noticed it's making me watch other people's facial expressions (and my own) a lot more.
I think what I find so fascinating about it is that it unlocks a way of reading and understanding people that I find rather enlightening. Ben will be the first to tell you I'm not exactly cluey when it comes to social interaction, etiquette and manners. (In fact, he once bought me a book on etiquette; I still haven't read it.) He thinks there is this whole level of social engagement that I just can't see, and perhaps may never be able to see. I've wondered whether it's a bit like a very very very mild form of autism—the heavily distilled form of Asperger's. Most of the time, I'm pretty good at passing, and I've learned or pick up certain social conventions or nuances just from the people around me (which, I suppose, is how most of us learn it). But I am particularly slow at it and usually feel quite awkward. I've also realised that I stumble a lot more in my speech when I open my mouth around people I don't know very well because they tend to make me a bit nervous.
Anyway, I wonder whether Lie to Me is helpful to people with autism spectrum disorders (like Asperger's). It almost acts like a pictorial dictionary to the human face, teaching them to recognise things like anger, joy, grief, contempt, disgust, and so on. Perhaps if they learn to read people better, their social interaction will improve?
(P.S. I forgot to mention in my last post that the internet has now been connected at our house. Better yet, it's faster than our old place.)
Current:
Bible: Isaiah (ESV) 28/09/2010
seen: Tropic Thunder 26/09/2010
seen: The Life of Mammals 24/09/2010
seen: What a Girl Wants 19/09/2010
seen: Jerry Maguire 19/09/2010
seen: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 06/09/2010
seen: Tomorrow Never Dies 05/09/2010
seen: Nanny McPhee 28/08/2010
read: Mercury (Hope Larson) 27/08/2010
read: Spellcheckers Vol 1 (Jamie S Rich, Nicolas Hitori de, Joelle Jones) 16/08/2010
read: Solipsistic Pop Vol 2 (Solipsistic Pop) 16/08/2010
read: Chiggers (Hope Larson) 15/08/2010
seen: Josie and the Pussycats 14/08/2010
seen: Mr & Mrs Smith 14/08/2010
seen: Step Up 2 13/08/2010
Blinks:
How to recalibrate the home button on your iPhone.
Unsolicited manuscripts accepted by Pan Macmillan with certain conditions.
Thought Balloon is a group blog in which the writers tackle a new theme every week? month? with one-page scripts. This URL is for their Phonogram ones.
How to sew a zipper on a knitted garment.
Issues organised by tale.
Online magazine that publishes fairy tales that are not reworkings of old tales.
Journal that publishes fairy tale writing.
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Other comments
I have to say that I’m enjoying Lie to Me as well and not just because Tim Roth is made of awesome. I particularly like the emphasis of the show. Where House says “everybody lies”, Lie to Me says “everybody needs to lie.” Lying is a necessary survival trait in an urban environment where your personal space is being constantly invaded, and can be a way of loving your neighbour (though I’d prefer the term ‘tact’ ;p). Including, of course, lies of ommision. I babble.
Be careful, though: while much of what the show depicts about facial expressions is more or less accurate, some of it ain’t and there interpretations of facial tics can, at times, be… peculiar? It’s a nice guide to learning to notice visual cues in body language but interpretation of those cues is another thing.
Sorry, pet… erm… obsession. ;p
Yay for you! I got a LOT better at reading facial expressions working in the counselling service - telling when someone was angry or upset, or if they were about to cry. I think most people can learn and pick up facial expressions.
But I think the true thing is being aware enough to do it. I find if I’m tired, self-absorbed, or just generally don’t care, it doesn’t matter what facial expression I’m getting back, I can’t be bothered.
But when I’m training, I’m reading facial expressions constantly. Checking boredom. Checking interest. Checking puzzlement.
Never really thought about this before - thanks for the post!
I watched a few minutes of Lie To Me and felt it was contrived. Will give it another go since you like it so much!
I think I’ve spent so much time in books I expect people’s emotions to be more obvious than they are (“his face tightened with pain…”) but I think this is okay because at least I know people *have* emotions. I’ve just started coming right out and telling people that if they are trying to be subtle or dropping me hints the chances are very good that I will not get them