> I'm sure a few people on here have been watching Survivor. If you haven't, the premise is that 16 people are deserted on an island and filmed. Every three days, someone is voted off of the island by the others. The last two people left are voted on by the previous seven who were there. The winner gets one million dollars.
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> Now, aside from all the strategies I've heard about how to win/survive, it appears that the only successful way to win is to lie at some point during the 39 days on the island (i.e. telling person A you are going to vote for person B to get booted but actually voting for person A). First of all, do you think that someone could win without ever lying?

Without having seen the actual show, I'll say, "Sure". It seems conceivable that someone could be truthful, nice to everyone else, simply avoid being voted off, and become the sole survivor.

>Second, is lying acceptable in this situation? Why?

In many games, a form of bluffing is not only acceptable, but also encouraged. In fact, in a couple card games, that's pretty much your only chance of winning (outside of blind luck).

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> Bonus question: Do you think a person who would never lie outside of this situation would lie because of the money or because it is a TV/Game Show where the rules are different?

It's possible for an individual to reason that since this island scenario is completely contrived and it is merely "a game" regardless of the stakes, that any form of lying would be acceptable simply due to it's inherent nature. In that capacity, it's really not comparable to any true, real life situation. It's like they've been able to step out of reality for 39 days, live a different lifestyle, become a different person.

Sidenote: I understand that any alliances are illegal, and anyone found to form them will forfeit any and all winnings. I.e.: I could not promise to split the money with Gabby if she sided with me against Liface, Howard, & Brunnen-G. Sorry Gabby.

Tra "...but I'll offer up a shiny quarter for you, if you can choke down that banana slug" nio