my poor papa

[kho]

Having had an active online life for the past decade, I've seen my fair share of Online Lying. To the point that if I see someone bragging about anything (positive or negative, woe is me counts too) I tend to think chances are, it's a lie or an exaggeration of the truth. I've seen fake suicides, was front row center for a fake miscarriage, and

Comments

[bitchygrrl]

I feel bad for your dad. I'm guessing he's from my dad's era and their standards and expectations were created in a different time. I think that's good he has you to talk to about this. It always hurts. His wife sounds pretty awful for telling on him. It was probably a lie he told when he first met your dad and then felt too foolish to admit to once they became friends. She should have kept quiet.

[soho_iced]

I don't actually have a problem with people making stuff up about themselves, online or in RL, as long as they don't try to exploit it or labour the point (which I think most people would feel obliged to if confronted). It's an extended version of embroidering an anecdote or a harmless superstition like touching wood or not mentioning Macbeth backstage: they know, and probably suspect you know, that it's not actually REAL, but the pretending is fun. The danger is when the friendship becomes more solid and there is an assumption that you are basically truthful with each other, in which case it's hard to retract. I feel bad for your Dad as well.