Celebrity confessionals today are as common as dirt.
Jodi Foster, in a rambling speech at the Golden Globes, says (sort of) that’s she’s gay. Anyone who cared already knew.
Lance Armstrong tells Oprah Winfrey he used performance enhancing drugs. No kidding.
But occasionally we get a stunner, like what we learned this week.
Standout Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o’s girlfriend wasn’t real.
What college male has not embellished his love life? But this is different. Te’o—depending on whom you believe—either was the victim of a cruel hoax or a participant in a sob story crafted to generate sympathy and support.
Te’o claimed to have had a long-distance, online relationship with a 22-year-old Polynesian beauty named Lennay Kekua. The story took a tragic turn when Te’o reported last year that his girlfriend was in a serious car wreck, and then later died from cancer.
The media willingly advanced the story, including mawkish anecdotes of how Te’o stayed on the phone with her all night, listening to her breathe while she was in the hospital.
I don’t know the truth, though Te’o’s explanation that he was duped strains credulity. Perhaps the story started as a little lie that spun out of control. As Sir Walter Scott cautioned, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”
Lying is tricky business that should be left to the professionals.
I am not aware of knowing any accomplished liars. A few rank amateurs, however, have crossed my path.
One was a name dropper who told tall tales of hanging out with famous people. That was more sad than offensive. He later lost his job because, yes, he created a fantastic yarn to get out of work.
Another fabricated a tale about a rich lover, who met an untimely death in an auto accident. Why is it that imaginary lovers always die either from cancer or a car accident? Don’t any of these fake people ever fall off buildings or accidently grab a power line?
I’m a lousy liar. My embellishment skills are well practiced, but creating intricate falsities out of thin air are generally beyond my imagination or my ability to keep up the deceit without crumbling into a heap.
Once when I was in junior high and trying to impress new friends, I told them I had a regulation-sized football goal post in my yard where I practiced kicking; a true neophyte lie, which was easily, and embarrassingly exposed when my friends came to visit.
Another time, again in junior high (my formative lying years, apparently) I lied to my English teacher, claiming one Monday morning that I had not completed my report on Jason and the Argonauts because she had borrowed the book back from me the previous Friday.
The shame was not so much the pitiful lie as how I deluded myself into thinking that could work.
But back to Manti Te’o. Somebody was obviously lying, and may still be. While no crime has occurred, something worse has happened; good hearted people have been made to feel foolish for getting drawn into the story.
As Mark Twain said, “How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and how hard it is to undo that work again!”
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Comments
James
Most of today's problems are caused by the Media. They will go to any extreme to up there ratings at anyone's cost while upholding a lie !
January 18, 2013 at 7:31 am | Report comment
MountaineerSteve
You are correct, this is not a crime. So why are so many reporters like yourself spending time on this when there is a real story and cover up by Notre Dame officials of the alleged rape by a football player and eventual suicide of a Notre Dame Student, 'Elizabeth Seeberg',
Why did Notre Dame delay interviewing the accused rapist until 15 days after the allegations were made, and 5 days after her suicide? Do you think there would have been an investigation had this young lady not taking her life?
Why didn't the alleged rapist miss a single game or a practice for that matter? Why was he allowed to play in the BCS championship game when this student isn't even around to walk this earth?
There is a major cover up at the home of the golden dome, and it seems no reporters have the guts to actually investigate a real story. You and others would rather report on something that is stupid and nature and meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
Who is going to grow a set and preform some real journalism? Will it be you?
January 18, 2013 at 7:35 am | Report comment
Hop'sHip
Hoppy,
How do we not know that you are not lying when you tell us that you are a lousy liar? I agree with you that Jodi Foster's speech was rambling, but it was hardly "confessional". Comparing her to Lance Armstrong is grossly unfair. If you want to compare someone to Lance, how about your old buddy Don Blankenship?
January 18, 2013 at 7:42 am | Report comment
GregG
Hop'sHip, I don't believe you are being fair to Lance, unlike Don God Blankenship I don't believe Lance's actions killed anyone. Granted both are greedy, egotistical wastes of human flesh, I don't know of anyone losing their son, husband or father due to Lance's greed.
January 18, 2013 at 8:31 am | Report comment
Hop'sHip
Point taken. My apologies to Don's victims.
January 18, 2013 at 8:42 am | Report comment
bulldog95
Maybe a little civility would help your cause when discussing Don and Lance. After thats what Obama said to us, but I suppose that only applies to certain people.
January 18, 2013 at 10:53 am | Report comment
Hop'sHip
I am chastened. When it comes to civility of expression, I must admit that... YOU THE DOG!
January 18, 2013 at 12:02 pm | Report comment
bulldog95
My reply was to Greg, I thought your commment was civil.
January 18, 2013 at 12:31 pm |
GregG
In my opinion neither Don God Blankenship nor Lance are deserving of politeness or courtesy. Also, as I have stated before, I'm not President Obama biggest fan. Personally I would like to see him get some "backbone". He is to much of a pushover in my opinion.
January 18, 2013 at 2:28 pm | Report comment
wirerowe
Hoppy in the Pete thamel interview. Manti Te"o claimed that he had met Lennay Kekua at a USC ballgame three years before her death. His father claimed that she had made several visits to see his family in Hawaii. On the other hand if he is telling the complete truth what kind of person would never go see the love of his life when she has leukemia that will lead to her death or go to the funeral.
January 18, 2013 at 7:44 am | Report comment
J-Rizzle
Hop,
There are all kinds of "lessons" all over this over-reported story. The main one that I haven't heard mentioned yet is this: DON'T IDOLIZE CELEBRITIES. They let you down every time, except Tim Tebow. But that poor kid was the exception to the rule, so media has done their best to ridicule him, because he's just a good kid. He's not interesting to them anymore because he is a Christian, comes from a good background and carries no minority status.
Manti will come out of this smelling like a rose, and will be drafted and become the next overpaid athlete to grace our tv's with his presence. He went to notre dame, that makes him an 'idol' in an of itself, right????
January 18, 2013 at 8:10 am | Report comment
thornton
The age of children is rising in our colleges as maturity plummets.
Universities ever more need to win and be seen as winners.
Honesty, once it has been discovered to be lost, seems best placed in a hole under a tamping of sod.
All the above appeared to play into the Notre Dame debacle.
January 18, 2013 at 8:32 am | Report comment
Tag
Speaking of accomplished liars, here's some whoppers:
(1) "If I don't have it done in 3 years, then there's going to be a one-term proposition".
(2) "Pass my $787 billion stimulus plan and unemployment will be at 5.4% by the end of my term".
(3) 2007 - "I will end the war in Iraq within 16 months".
January 18, 2013 at 8:40 am | Report comment
Hop'sHip
Not that I think you might be lying, Tag, but could you provide references to those direct quotes.
January 18, 2013 at 8:47 am | Report comment
bulldog95
Don't forget that the raid on the Bengazi compound was the result of a youtube video.
Who could forget that my adminstration will be the most transparent adminstration.
This is just too easy but sadly pointing it out will do nothing to make the kool aid drinkers to think for even a split second that maybe something is wrong. I am not saying that htey need to switch parties, I am saying that they wont even let in the head a single thought that something is not quite right.
January 18, 2013 at 9:47 am | Report comment
Uncle Fester
Don't forget "We have to pass the bill to find out what is in the bill." Nancy Pelosi-D California. LOL.
January 18, 2013 at 10:09 am | Report comment
Roger
Uncle, she wasn't lying about that. Congress passed a bill that none had read and we all have been finding out what is in it ever since. Some parents are learning now that their kid's braces have an additional (medical device) tax now that raises the costs a couple hundred dollars or so.
January 19, 2013 at 10:28 am | Report comment
CaptainQ
Hoppy, this 'lying' trend isn't all that new.
Before all of us point fingers at the like of Lance Armstrong and Manti Te'o, let's think about all of the wonderful 'white lies' that we humans tend to tell all the time.
For example, how many of us with wifes have EVER provided a 100% truthful answer to her question: "Does this make me look fat?" C'mon guys! And how many of us constantly tell our kids (or other children) that Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy are REAL? And need I even go into how we in American society seem to readily accept the fact that politicians regularly LIE to us?
Better be careful here, folks. Throwing stones in our own 'glass houses' is probably not a good idea. Before we sit in judgment of others, better take a good look at ourselves first. I'm not trying to DEFEND those who lie, it's wrong, PERIOD. However, it's equally wrong for us to try to 'remove the speck' from someone else's eye when there could be a 'beam' in our own eye, to use the Biblical example here.
Have a nice weekend everyone!
January 18, 2013 at 8:49 am | Report comment
GregG
Great point Captain, I have to agree. I have always said, anyone that states they never lie has never been married or had a girlfriend. But I did find it a little odd that you would point out Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy then close with a Biblical quote.
January 18, 2013 at 9:00 am | Report comment
Hop'sHip
The Captain is saying there are lies, and then there are righteous lies. And there is also a whole branch of business dedicated to... let's say, "stretching the truth". It's called marketing. Hoppy may be an expert on that.
January 18, 2013 at 9:15 am | Report comment
CaptainQ
Gee Hop'sHip, what happened to THIS comment on the MB from YOU last Monday:
"I suppose you are right, Brian. He claims to have been a teacher, so I guess I keep hoping for better, but it never happens. I think I'll follow your presciption with regard to the Captain.
January 14, 2013 at 4:24 pm"
So I see you're not following Brian12's 'prescription' very well, are you?
That's ok, Hops'Hip, just kind of proves the point I was attempting to make here. Besides, I know you can't resist taking aim at me, even though I am, in your eyes, an inferior life form.
I don't expect Brian12 to keep his 'word' either. He'll be back and he's still reading every word posted on these commentaries too.
January 18, 2013 at 1:04 pm | Report comment
Hop'sHip
Captain: Brian's prescription was not to engage you in discussion. But to point this out I would have to engage you. So please ignore this.
January 18, 2013 at 1:25 pm |
WVPragmatist
The Manti Te'o story is not deserving of a "Commentary" by Hoppy, or coverage by any credible news organization.
January 18, 2013 at 9:00 am | Report comment
mntnman
Liar, liar, pants on fire. Best I got on this one.
January 18, 2013 at 9:08 am | Report comment
Shadow
At some point in our life, we learn that we are not smart enough to lie and quit lying, some never learn and it becomes truth to them, as best as they can remember.
January 18, 2013 at 9:10 am | Report comment
zerotolerance
So Oliver Luck was telling the truth when he said he was attempting to control drinking alcohol by having it available in the stadium and that it's real purpose WAS NOT to increase revenue?
Was Oliver Luck telling the truth when he developed a scheme to boot out long time season ticket holders who didn't donate big bucks to WVU vs the elite high paying donors who wanted closer seats to the floor? Or was reorganizing basketball seating at the coliseum to improve viewing opportunities for all fans attending?
January 18, 2013 at 9:17 am | Report comment
GregG
Oliver Luck is nothing but a Don Blankenship minus the endangering of human life. He is all about the money. Gotta be true to the party.
January 18, 2013 at 2:35 pm | Report comment
bulldog95
While most are now looking into who lied, why, and for how long, we are overlooking the bigger picture.
Society is changing the way we meet people and how we interact with them. It is so much easier to meet someone online and develop a love story. People do not get out and actually meet people. Rather people click a few buttons, see a pretty face and send a friend request. All the while not knowing who is actually behind the face. I saw an article last week on yahoo that talked about robots being the future of prostution. Can you picture that? If that comes to pass what man or woman would want to go through the heartaches of trying to find "the one" when you can order a robot that looks like your ideal match. Not only would it look the way you want, but it doesnt talk back, cooks and cleans for you, and takes out the trash. I know it sounds unrealistic but 10 years ago would anyone have thought online relationships would be what they are today?
January 18, 2013 at 9:56 am | Report comment
Uncle Fester
Hoppy, the best liar in the world: Barack Hussein Obama.
January 18, 2013 at 10:11 am | Report comment
Hop'sHip
Best liar? I nominate a former contributor to this forum, FungoJoe. Whatever happened to him? Maybe he never really existed.
January 18, 2013 at 10:26 am | Report comment
bulldog95
Not sure I would say he is the best liar because he gets caught so often. The best liar would never get caught. The thing with Obama is how often he does it.
January 18, 2013 at 10:48 am | Report comment
Jim N Charleston
Liars & lying make America work.
-They allow people to believe in Rudy, the Gipper, and more recently Te'o. Without liars Notre Dame Football would have to admit they're just a Catholic school in Indiana.
-Lying allows Presidents to be elected & stay in office. From "Read my lips!" to "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" to "there are wmd s in Iraq" to "the debt nor deficit will not increase under my plan", We as a country accept lying as long as we're willing to have a drink with them.
-Lying allowed WVU fans to believe "I'll stay here as long as they'll have me" & "this is my dream job."
-Lying allows WVians to believe the folks WV sends to DC are out for WV.
-Lying allows America to believe "We're gonna pay this debt off."
-Lying allow husbands & wives to believe "you're not fat" & "you're still as attractive as the day we married." This keeps so many marriages together.
-Lying keeps kids in sports cause "you're gonna make it to the pros one day."
-Lying allow female athletes to believe they're sports are just as important as the male sports (even though the ratings don't come close to bearing that crap out).
-Lying keeps the bad auditions coming on American Idle & X Factor coming cause someone lies & says these boobs have talent.
-Lying gets men laid by picking up women in bars with statements like "I was in the CIA" to "My last name is Rockefeller".
Lying is actually great for those who do it well and good liars make a lot of $$$$. From Bernie Madoff to Lance Armstrong to Barry Bonds, lying made them a lot of $$$$$. God Bless America!
To quote George Costanza, "it's not a lie if you believe it."
To quote Jim N Charleston a lie only works if stupid people believe it.
January 18, 2013 at 10:57 am | Report comment
Hop'sHip
You forgot two of my favorites, Jim. Lying allows religious leaders to convince the gullible that they can get to heaven if they would just listen to and contribute to said religious leaders. And of course my very favorite lie: COAL IS WEST VIRGINIA!
January 18, 2013 at 11:24 am | Report comment
GregG
By far my favorite was Oral Roberts telling his simple minded followers that if he didn't get $8 million God was going to call him home. And the foolish flock gave him $9 million!! To top it all off, our wonderful government gives these corrupt scum tax exempt status while the likes of our elderly and veterans go without.
January 18, 2013 at 3:22 pm | Report comment
Shadow
You forgot, "I was born in Hawaii."
January 18, 2013 at 4:25 pm | Report comment