Discussions

User Comments

1. 

   9/05/07

   monkeytale

   No, I make crap up all the time. My post's can contain anywhere from 5% to 100% factual inaccuracies. But my blog isn't a history blog or in any way shape or form to be taken seriously.

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   1. 

      9/05/07

      markstoneman

      Don't believe him! How do you know he's telling the truth here?
   2. 

      9/05/07

      monkeytale

      lol... Good point!
   3. 

      9/05/07

      PetLvr

      Sounds like a Star Trek Conversation: (I Mudd)
      
      Captain Kirk: Harry lied to you, Norman. Everything Harry says is a lie. Remember that, Norman. *Everything* he says is a lie.
      
      Harcourt Fenton Mudd: Now I want you to listen to me very carefully, Norman. I'm... lying.
      
      Norman: You say you are lying, but if everything you say is a lie, then you are telling the truth, but you cannot tell the truth because you always lie... illogical! Illogical! Please explain! You are human; only humans can explain! Illogical!
      
      Captain Kirk: I am not programmed to respond in that area.
   4. 

      9/05/07

      markstoneman

      
2. 

   9/05/07

   crpitt

   The whole truth so help me God, but i don't actually believe in God so i could be lying.
   
   No its the truth

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3. 

   9/05/07

   jerrydrussell

   Interesting question... I believe my answer would have to be... Yup, though I *do* do paid posts, which may be up to 10% B*llsh*t

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4. 

   9/05/07

   JayneM

   Heck no! Why ruin a good story with the truth?

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5. 

   9/05/07

   RobSellen

   Of course...why lie about stuff?
   
   Catches up with ya! ;o)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Off to post how I made a million last night.. ;o)

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6. 

   9/05/07

   robinj

   my truth not anybody elses

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7. 

   9/05/07

   Norski

   Yes, although Narcissus-X skates rather close to the edge ( narcissus-x.blogspot.com/ ). Even there, though, what that over-the-top character says is true, from his own hopelessly artistic perspective.

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8. 

   9/05/07

   lisamcglaun

   Because of the nature of my blog I can't afford to make things up. It would get me into trouble, I'm sure.

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   1. 

      9/05/07

      monkeytale

      Very true Lisa, and your blog is awesome for that.
9. 

   9/05/07

   zawadi

   What would I lie about? The only good stories I can make up are fairy tales in a land far far away lol kids like it

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10. 

    9/05/07

    ender

    i tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
    
    except when i can't remember ... then i make shit up that sounds good.

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11. 

    9/05/07

    MadameX

    There isn't much personal information on my blogs, but what's there is true.

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12. 

    9/05/07

    bnsullivan

    On my personal blog, it's all true.
    
    On my news blogs, I try to get my information from sources that are known to be reliable, but I can never guarantee.

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13. 

    9/05/07

    EndohT

    Other than the protection of my personal details, the rest are the truth. I even shared the loss of my daughter with my readers. I think most of my readers will be able to tell... I am just being me in my blog. A few bloggers met me... well - a walking version of my blog. Haha!

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14. 

    9/05/07

    IndividualistEye

    Isn't the truth stranger than fiction? =)

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    1. 

       9/05/07

       MadameX

       I don't think, though, that it's the strange that keeps readers coming back--at least not for most blogs. I think it's the identifiable.
15. 

    9/05/07

    cooper

    I can't even imagine why someone would not post the truth? Unless they are writing fiction of course.
    
    Truth is usually stranger and more entertaining. Life itself give you all sorts of things to write about.

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    1. 

       9/05/07

       MadameX

       I had a conversation about this with a friend the other day, relating to verbal conversation but I think that the same thing is probably even more true in blogging.
       
       We were both at work late and I asked what he was doing and he said that he was putting songs on his iPod. A minute later he said something like, "I just totally lied to you" and explained what he was really doing, which was something more complicated (and less understandable to me) with his iPod.
       
       Of course, the distinction mattered not at all; his initial statement was more shorthand than misrepresentation. Still, he was conscious enough of it to correct himself, so it obviously didn't feel like "telling the truth".
       
       I suspect the same thing happens in blogging all the time. What if you blend two conversations together for the sake of flow? What if you write that you actually SAID the snappy comeback that came to you a moment too late because it's funnier that way? What if you begin a post, "I realized this morning..." even though you're talking about something that you've actually known for a few weeks?
       
       Those things feel like misrepresentations to me and I avoid them, but I'm not sure that they really are substantive misrepresentations in the sense that I'd say another blogger "wasn't telling the truth" over them.