Dr. Loren Pankratz is a psychologist and clinical professor at Oregon Health & Science University here in Portland, Oregon. the New England Journal of Medicine and the American Journal of Psychiatry and other peer-reviewed medical journals have published his articles on the subjects of deception, lying and

In a recent article in "The Oregonian" newspaper, Dr. Pankratz had this to say:

Lie-catchers often believe they can catch the lie within an interaction. But that's not the best way to catch a liar. The best way is to understand the larger context of what the individual knows, what his audience knows and how he manages his advantage. There are many clues to deception. They might look you in the eye, or flatter you. They don't provide credible information about the questions you ask. Clues always need to be checked out with facts.

Eye-contact is not detectable in Second Life, but flattery certainly is. In some role-playing scenarios, flattery is the norm, especially toward people of importance.

But checking facts and considering context is second nature.