thanks for sharing. I learned and live by a simple saying. "If you think its wrong, it is."
Stories of how something happened seem out of wack or reason for being late or missing work, lunch, drink date...if you think a lie is being told to hide something...there is a reason and you are probably right questioning the entire story..
This can be used for just about everything.... "if you think something is going on, it is" or there is a reason you believe it is. Meaning if your suspect someone's story doesn't add up, it doesn't and there is a reason it doesn't.
Back to msniceass's situation
People want to believe the world is safe and the evil part isn't going to touch them. We ignore the "signs" and want things to be good. But evil lives in your neighborhood and we should all be taking an extra minute to listen to people. Someone maybe one sentence away from telling you something important or asking for help. Just need one more minute to spill the truth.
Now interrogation 101
So when you feel something might be going on, a friend abused or a person not telling the truth, there is a sixth sense or something telling you something isn't adding up, then take a minute and ask another question.
If the person hesitates only for a few seconds and then adds just one detail to the story, the next thing out of their mouth is probably a lie. They hesitated to think up something. you will know by how long the hesitation is...its a feel thing...you will feel them making it up. There is no exact time to this...practice it on a child, they are funny when they lie about something, you can see them look up to think of the answer. in their mind they are "looking" for the right thing to say. Same goes for big people. A short second to two is not a lie, 5 seconds probably should get another question to see if it will all fit together. 10 seconds without something said is just odd. So there is a feel for the time.
If they repeat what they said earlier, they haven't thought out the story completely enough. No details and we all have too many details to our stories, so something isn't right.
If there is a change in body position, a sinking of the eyes, or shoulders go down, wait ...and they might ask you for help. or confess, or spill the truth.
where is the truth???if you suspect a story is "off" that feeling will go away with the right answer. a light bulb moment where you get it. But the repeating of a story again and again doesn't make it true. There is a lot to reading body language with interviewing. But in a nut shell direct eye contact and not getting overly emotional, excited or mad and being able to add details that make sense to the story are usually truthful answers. Just like ordering a sandwich at a counter. An easy conversation without a weird smile or looking away.
But nobody needs pressured into telling the truth. Either way they answer, accept it and allow a moment of silence. They will ask when comfortable, not when pressured. But you will KNOW the real answer by their response and be ready next time.
Now go fight crime you Legion of Super Hero's
