Lies are fascinating because there are so many possibilities for
invention and elaboration. In a liar's mouth, facts are no longer
boring and predictable, but interesting and surprising. The sense
of unlimited possibility is what lies have in common with another
*vice that most people find irresistible: gossip. Gossip is 5
interesting because what we hear and pass on to others may be
( 2a ), but it could also be a wild fantasy; we are captivated
by the very uncertainty of what we hear.