Suebob's Red Stapler: Poll question

27 October 2007

Poll question

When people are lying to you, but the lies won't change your life at all - the equivalent of "big fish" stories, what do you do?

I have several people in my life who...um...embroider things to an unbelievable degree.

On one hand, I could say "no harm, no foul."

On the other, I feel disrespected - do they really think I am stupid enough to believe the fake facts they spew?

Do you call them on it, or do you let them have their over-active fantasy life?

12 comments:

Mignon said...: Both. My brother does it, but it's all stories we've heard and know of first hand. So we always call Bull. With pleasure.

But, when others do it I ignore it. It reminds me of the way some people have the (annoying) habit of telling you something, like instructions or concepts, over and over, as if you're an idiot. I think in both cases the perpetrator is just trying to get it straight or make it more real in their own mind. It's annoying, but apparently my coping mechanism is to paint them as dumb. Maybe this isn't the best solution after all...; 12:38 PM
Count Mockula said...: Sometimes I give them the droopy-eyed blank look. Other times I get over-enthusiastic: "Oh WOOOWWW!! I had no idea that was even POSSIBLE! I mean, science would seem to contradict it, but there you are! That is just amazing! Unbelievable, even! I've never HEARD of such a thing!"

Then I can rest easy knowing that I am a sarcastic asshole, but leaving them wondering. That's my favorite.; 3:13 PM
super des said...: I like Count Mockula's idea.
I usually just call people out on it. "No you didn't" I say. Hopefully then they learn not to lie to me, and I know not to believe them.; 3:53 PM
Mimi Lenox said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5:12 PM
the mystic said...: I have an Irish friend who says that as a culture they appreciate a good story over honesty. They even have a name for it -- blarney. And that they do call each other on it, "Oh that's blarney!" but it's not seen as a bad thing.; 8:24 PM
Amie Adams said...: Oh my boss!!! I just cluck my tongue to myself and let him live in his fantasy world. Sometimes he tells a story in front of me knowing I know the real story. Must be pretty with rainbows and unicorns in that world.; 10:47 PM
meno said...: After i won the Nobel Peace prize, i decided that the Pulitzer i won wasn't as important.

Do you like me better now that you know how cool i am?; 11:15 PM
Anonymous said...: I tend to think that people who do this all the time have some serious insecurities and might be perhaps a touch "off." So, I am more inclined to just ignore it. There's a woman at work who does this, coupled with the repeating of instructions/facts/whatever over and over again - and it's clear as day that as a person with a high school education who works with a bunch of over-educated dorks (that'd be me), this is her way of feeling superior.; 11:26 AM
Anonymous said...: I don't enjoy being the victim of the assumption that I believe everything anyone tells me. There are people in my life who lie or (stretch the truth) because they are insecure. I think it bugs me more when it's someone I really love because I expect more from them. I usually call them on it.; 1:17 PM
Anonymous said...: My husband does this and it drives me nuts. However, correcting him in public is a big fat taboo and I try very hard not to do it. It's just not worth it.; 8:22 PM
Suzanne said...: Generally I roll my eyes a lot in front of them and then complain about them to other people. Once in a while I speak up and call them out. Oddly enough, I am not a confrontational person, but I can't let political lies go unanswered.; 8:44 AM
Anonymous said...: It actually doesn't bother me at all. I find it sort of endearing. Did anybody see the movie "Big Fish"? That's kind of the way my family works--the bigger the better when it comes to stories, and everyone knows that not every detail is literally true, that's part of the fun.; 8:00 AM