Disturbing

We were discussing the ethics of lying in Senior Seminar this week. I was greatly disturbed to find that the class listed as "desirable" reasons for lying: to maintain relationships, to avoid conflicts, to escape negative consequences, to protect a "child's world" (i.e. Santa), to protect your own image. Perhaps some of these are socially "acceptable" - but desirable? If this is the view of my Christian contemporaries, how can I trust anyone? The only time I see lying as desirable is if it is practiced within a defined set of rules, such as games like "Peanut Butter" or gifts such as surprise parties. Lying may also be "necessary" to preserve a greater good than honesty (depending on the circumstances), such as someone's life. But it's desirable to lie to protect one's own image?

I could perhaps understand if the question was interpreted to mean "desirable when I consider only my own feelings." I asked the class whether this is the view they were taking. Everyone remained silent.

What is happening?