I do a bit of coxing. For those of you not familiar with rowing, I sit in the back of a boat and steer it, while coaching/motivating the rowers. During race situations, I can't always be honest about how we are doing. If we're in a race and the other team is ahead of us and it looks like they'll probably win, I won't just say "It looks like they've got this in the bag", I've got to tell them to keep on rowing. There is always a chance that the other team will screw up. If they screw up, we will only be able to take advantage of it properly if our rowers have been going at it.
The above can be summarised as such:
In the situation we are racing with another boat and they are pulling ahead, I can either say one of two things:
-That they're faster and it looks like we won't win it
-That we're gaining on them and we just need to row a little harder to get the win
The first statement is a the truth and the second is false. However, if I say the first then the following happens:
-The rowers do not feel confident about the race
-Even if they do not make a conscious descision about it, they will stop rowing harder
-If the other team screws up, we will be less able to take advantage of it
The I say the second, then:
-The rowers carry on rowing hard
-Although it is more unpleasant for them, this is a temporary thing
-If the other team messes up, we will be able to take advantage of the situation
If I tell the truth, then we are less likely to win (which is the whole point of the race). If I lie, then the rowers have a harder time rowing. However, this is a very temporary effect. Lying also makes us more likely to win. Therefore, in this situation, lying is the better course of action.
When I cox a boat of rowers, I am in a position of authority. Although I am not putting any effort into the propulsion of the boat, I am directing the efforts of the rowers as I see fit. The rowers face the stern of the boat, while I face the bow, giving me an information advantage over them, which I use. Under maritime law, I am the master of the vessel.
It is not enjoyable to row as hard as you can - it is tiring, unpleasant and at times painful. Rowers are not inclined to do so unless they think the outcome of the race is dependent on it - the more dependant they are, the harder they are inclined to row. As a cox, I must get the rowers to do what they do not want to in order to increase our chances of winning. If each rower were to think critically about what I'm saying and drawing their own conclusions, then we would not be as good a boat as we could be.
There is a time and a place for independent thinking, and rowing in a race is not such a place. I put it to you that the military is another such place.