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I’ve known a few people like this and I always got the feeling that it was a defense mechanism and they were deeply afraid of people finding out who they really

I’ve known a few people like this and I always got the feeling that it was a defense mechanism and they were deeply afraid of people finding out who they really are as a person.

kjaftaedi 5y ago
I think you misunderstand the art of storytelling. It's not about trying to give an accurate historical account, the focus is primarily entertainment. It's been like this for thousands of years.
- mastax 5y ago
  To the great frustration of Historians.
  - staticautomatic 5y ago
    Except when the fabulists are historians. Have you ever read Herodotus? It’s hilarious.
  - sellyme 5y ago
    The trick for that is to realise that what actually happened millennia ago isn't really too important most of the time, and that yarns and fables reveal extremely important cultural information beyond what could be gleaned from a dry factual account. Hell, even in the modern era there's loads of things that absolutely unequivocally did not happen, and everyone understands and agrees with that, yet collectively goes "but it's better if we pretend it did though". There's some old adage about truth and good stories...
    - DiggyJohnson 5y ago
      I’m actually writing a book about this in the context of MMORPGs and the generation of “real” story and narrative. Can I reproduce this comment, it’s just too on the money to ignore. I know this is a weird question, but I’ve been having fun playing around with the idea of exposing the workflow and research behind the book as opposed to restating context from others (and limiting my area of generation to the novel arguments.)
      - sellyme 5y ago
        > Can I reproduce this comment Sure.
      - bananabiscuit 5y ago
        I’d read that book. Can a sign up for news on its release somewhere?
vlunkr 5y ago
I think it's a different story when you're a professional comedian.
silisili 5y ago
Norm was an entertainer, yet a very private person. I half think all of his misleading was an attempt to keep people from knowing him too well. The other half thinks it was just a joke to him...like his age. Every time he mentioned his age it was incorrect in one direction or another. We're talking about a guy who didn't even tell anyone (that we know of) that he was dying of cancer. He went so far as to say that doing so would be narcissistic, as it only burdens other people. Pretty interesting take I think.
sellyme 5y ago
I could be generously described as a fabulist when talking amongst friends and I definitely just view it as mental practice. Being forced to think on your feet on a regular basis is a great way to improve your public speaking ability, your creativity, and your general knowledge (as you need to learn and retain all kinds of nonsense to come up with some plausible-sounding excuse for whatever absolute bullshit you last said). That it muddies the waters of "who I really am as a person" is probably true, but that's mostly just an unintended side effect. It's just that my real person is definitely way less entertaining than a well-constructed yarn or joke.

I’ve known a few people like this and I always got the feeling that it was a defense mechanism and they were deeply afraid of people finding out who they really are as a person.

kjaftaedi 5y ago

I think you misunderstand the art of storytelling. It's not about trying to give an accurate historical account, the focus is primarily entertainment. It's been like this for thousands of years.

mastax 5y ago
To the great frustration of Historians.
- staticautomatic 5y ago
  Except when the fabulists are historians. Have you ever read Herodotus? It’s hilarious.
- sellyme 5y ago
  The trick for that is to realise that what actually happened millennia ago isn't really too important most of the time, and that yarns and fables reveal extremely important cultural information beyond what could be gleaned from a dry factual account. Hell, even in the modern era there's loads of things that absolutely unequivocally did not happen, and everyone understands and agrees with that, yet collectively goes "but it's better if we pretend it did though". There's some old adage about truth and good stories...
  - DiggyJohnson 5y ago
    I’m actually writing a book about this in the context of MMORPGs and the generation of “real” story and narrative. Can I reproduce this comment, it’s just too on the money to ignore. I know this is a weird question, but I’ve been having fun playing around with the idea of exposing the workflow and research behind the book as opposed to restating context from others (and limiting my area of generation to the novel arguments.)
    - sellyme 5y ago
      > Can I reproduce this comment Sure.
    - bananabiscuit 5y ago
      I’d read that book. Can a sign up for news on its release somewhere?

vlunkr 5y ago

I think it's a different story when you're a professional comedian.

silisili 5y ago

Norm was an entertainer, yet a very private person. I half think all of his misleading was an attempt to keep people from knowing him too well. The other half thinks it was just a joke to him...like his age. Every time he mentioned his age it was incorrect in one direction or another. We're talking about a guy who didn't even tell anyone (that we know of) that he was dying of cancer. He went so far as to say that doing so would be narcissistic, as it only burdens other people. Pretty interesting take I think.

sellyme 5y ago

I could be generously described as a fabulist when talking amongst friends and I definitely just view it as mental practice. Being forced to think on your feet on a regular basis is a great way to improve your public speaking ability, your creativity, and your general knowledge (as you need to learn and retain all kinds of nonsense to come up with some plausible-sounding excuse for whatever absolute bullshit you last said). That it muddies the waters of "who I really am as a person" is probably true, but that's mostly just an unintended side effect. It's just that my real person is definitely way less entertaining than a well-constructed yarn or joke.