You get downvoted because your story is about as rational as someone getting angry at you because you did something in a dream. Compare: "He told me he was th

You get downvoted because your story is about as rational as someone getting angry at you because you did something in a dream. Compare: "He told me he was the king of Nigeria. I didn't believe him, but if he is, how come the king of Nigeria is white?" By far the simplest explanation is that the candidate lied about having a PhD. You have no reason to believe this isn't the case. And yet you're holding onto this story as though the candidate didn't lie, and bringing it up in that context.