so
the people's favourite rathen said last night that all my posts are fiction. now although i couldn't give a fuck what he thinks, as it happens they're not - they either happened to me or to friends/family.

on the other hand, they are usually exaggerated for "comic" effect. for instance, i did fall off my chair, my top and skirt flew up, and i flashed my boss. but he was up to the eyeballs in volume iv of woodfall's landlord and tenant, so i doubt he noticed.

anyway, the point is, i couldn't give a fuck whether something on here is truth or fiction so long as it's reasonably well written and not either illiterate or just a string of expletives slagging off other people.

what does everyone else think? and if you would be disappointed to find that everyone's stories are fiction, which particular mendacious story/post would disappoint you the most??
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:11, 32 replies)

Rise above it and ignore them.
I would hate to think Frankspencers posts are fiction.
( girlinthehole, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:13, closed)

Is Rathen
a QOTWer?

I don't mind if it's fiction. if it's an outright lie but is funny, who cares? I might be a little deflated if Che's posts turn out to be made up, I guess.
( Kroney, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:13, closed)

We're not going to have an inter-board falling out now are we?
I hope not...
( TY&GN, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:16, closed)

For the record
My stories are almost always true (the Paranoid one in my profile being the exception) but like rswipe's sometimes exaggerated.

And I get the feeling that this is the case for many posters. It's a well worn literary device after all.

I'd rather read a post with some arms and legs which is entertaining than some dull account of how Nigel lost a book down the back of his gran's sofa, or whatever.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:16, closed)

mmmmm
its all been getting a bit tetchy of late.

i choose to beleive all the stories as life is simply better that way.

i like your stories, my mrs is a criminal solicitor now turned CPS higher court advocate (silks and wigs!) and knowing a lot of legal folk - life is pretty much as you descibe it. (i can't go into details but i have some very good mates in the city (barristor)whom made mash potato with his semen in it during a and sex sesh together "the food of love" and left it on the side and another friend ate it the next morning. How do you tell someone to stop eating your spunky mash?)

You just carry on. Its fine exactly how it all is.
( bazza van der trance , ooh baby baby, baby baby. Get up on this., Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:17, closed)

The best posts are those that are obviously true & written from the heart
I have called people out before when their QOTW post is obviously made up, the usual reply is "what do you care, sod off".

I have never made up a QOTW reply, more down to the fact that I don't have the cognitive capacity to write fiction.
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:18, closed)

I post some stories that
Clearly aren't true.

These are:
www.b3ta.com/questions/diy/post137746
www.b3ta.com/questions/pleasereleaseme/post167867

This isn't:
www.b3ta.com/questions/books/post161594

I make it fairly obvious.
( Cawl, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:22, closed)

But...
Aren't all girls on the internet imaginary?!
(Potty Jag har smör i min rumpspringa, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:24, closed)

Rathen
I've just had a look at his posts from the last few weeks - he's not the most civil of the b3tans, is he?

EDIT: All mine are true - except the William the Conqueror one, and the bee-side one that's inexplicably still apparently my most popular post ever. Some are retouched for comic effect - but they're essentially true.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:24, closed)

Hair Pot
No, they're not...
I know that for a fact.
( Cawl, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:24, closed)

All mine are true, to the best of my memory
But, personally, a lot of the time, I don't care if it's 100% gospel truth or not. I prefer stories that are true, perhaps with a little exaggeration, some conjecture, perhaps even with the odd untruth thrown in to make an otherwise mundane and ordinary event into something interesting to read.

I tend to take every story with the smallest pinch of salt to begin with, and my faith will either increase or fall as I read on.

Some are clearly lies. They're ok, as long as they're entertaining.
( Thinker, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:26, closed)

I hadn't realised there were rules anywhere
stating the stories had to be true.

Does it really make the blindest bit of difference?

Disclaimer: all my boring stories are made up
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:30, closed)

Mine are true
with a soupcon of exaggeration for comic effect.

I would be more worried if Frank's flights of fancy turned out to be true!
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:32, closed)

I am possibly the most gullible (or trusting?) person in the world
Despite regular proof to the contrary (Politicians! I'm talking to you!), I tend to believe most things that people tell me so long as it's not blatently untrue.

It makes the world a nicer place, right up to the point when it isn't.
( Fireflier La la la la, not listening on, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:34, closed)

True or Made Up
Who really cares!

As long as the post make people laugh/think then I can't see the problem.

PS Morning you lovely people you.
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:50, closed)

i like faction
I like fake stories completely over the top and true stories to be embellished slightly for comic effect.

If I really don't like someone's stories though I'll put them on ignore and hey presto, problem gone (only had to do this once thankfully). Seems like a much more productive - and less hateful - action than posting insults and suggesting people top themselves.
( djtrialprice, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 10:51, closed)

Sadly mine are all true...
I kind of thought that was the whole point ?
(wrigglesworth, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 11:03, closed)

Hear, hear!
I personally couldn’t give a monkey’s toss whether a post is true, fabricated, or a hotchpotch of both. If it makes me think, or laugh, then it’s done its job. And define ‘true’ anyway – many posters are merely stating a personal view about a subject; whether you deem it ‘true’ or not depends on whether you agree with that viewpoint. The stuff about autism / aspergers this week is a prime example of that in action, as is Legless’ post regarding the state of the country since Noo Labia took over – believe it or not a hell of a lot of people would disagree vehemently with him on that one!

As for my own posts – the vast majority of them are true, some are true with embellishments to make them (hopefully) read better, some are the experiences of people I know, and some of them are clearly straight out my own deranged head. Either way, people seem to enjoy them so until I’ve outstayed my welcome, I’m gonna be here for a while longer (sorry and all that).

As above though, I’d be very disappointed if any of frankspencer’s stories were outright fabrications…
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 2 Jul 2008, 11:04, closed)

Let's face it
it really doesn't matter whether they're the truth, slightly embellished versions of the truth, or utter fabrication. It's entertainment. A distraction from work. A place where you need to learn how to disguise a snort of laughter by coughing, just so the rest of the office doesn't look at you all funny...

My only completely true story is the top one on my profile. Or is that my only completely made up, groan worthy, second rate attempt at a pun... too much time spent reading these stories; the boundaries between truth & fiction have become all blurred and confused.
( Moey, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 11:10, closed)

I have to agree with BGB
Never a good thing to let it get to you. Just ignore the flaming, rise above it and remember that your posts are usually well received and entertaining.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 2 Jul 2008, 11:38, closed)

@ Kroney

Well thanks. All of the stories I post as Che are true, in as much as they are as close to how I remember them with a sprinkle of occasional exaggeration and the odd edit to make the story more interesting or amusing in retrospect.

If I feel like a spot of pure/impure fiction, I revert to another username.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I might drop in on the 'Off Topic' board.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 12:16, closed)

umm
I would be disappointed if BobFossils blurb in her profile is not true, cos she sounds almost perfick

wanders off blushing furiously.
(Halfy By light alone, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 12:24, closed)

*shrug* Does it matter?
The topic has been beaten to death in regards to Legless's posts. I'll say it again: true or not, they entertain, which is the real intent here, I believe.

For myself, I post true stories with only slight exaggeration for effect- they basically happened as I've told them. The exceptions are when I've made some goofy pun, at which point either they're obviously fiction or I've put something to the effect that they're not 100% Fact at the end. Again, not that it matters...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 2 Jul 2008, 12:44, closed)

bah
well you know what my thoughts are... bugger what this person says
( hedge_diver, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 13:00, closed)

To be honest
I don't care if stories are made up
Some are obviously made up
Some are (almost) obviously true
Most of them are entertaining
All the entertaining ones, I like
The really entertaining ones, I click bedshitter for example - Brilliant story and received many of my clicks.

So I wouldn't worry about people who pick on whether stories are real or not - tell them to go and read wikipedia - it's all true on there...
( ogwen69 has returned from Reddit, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 13:08, closed)

I couldn't care if most QOTW posts are lies...
...as long as I never have to read another shit pun ever in my life. Or any answer nicked from Star Wars (was that EVER actually funny, even the first time?)

Comic exaggerations and even well written lies that bring a smile to my face are alright by me! Since I first started reading the QOTW regularly a long time ago, it's become one of the only things on the 'net that actually amuses me and DAMN anyone's hide to Hades that spoils it with their bollocks.
(keyboardman, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 14:18, closed)

Meh
It doesn't matter to me if they're true or made up if they're of the amusing variety. I would like to the think the heartfelt ones aren't exaggerated as that would be a little morally questionable. However, the best storytellers always embellish their tales and that is called creative writing. Anyone can have a story to tell but not everyone can tell a story.

If I wanted non-fiction I'd read the news.

*EDIT* Silly me using the term "morally questionable" on b3ta.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 14:52, closed)

All mine are true
I don't mind other people's not being true, unless it's a "waah, waah, give me sympathy! I am so terribly, terribly put-upon" whiny story to get attention. There are people who've shared genuinely touching and deeply personal things, so the non-humorous fake ones just detract.
( Hampster Squared has stuff at www.tilla.co.uk, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 15:26, closed)

hey
As long as the story is good then it doesn't really matter if it's true. Just ignore the guy/gal. (not looked at Rathen's profile)

The unfortunate thing about the internet is that it gives everyone a voice, wether they deserve it or not. It's just a case of ignoring the whiners and elitists.
(panda_sam, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 16:27, closed)

Storys
As long as it's a good tale well told I don't really mind. If it's a rambling lie badly told with an execrable pun at the end I feel as if my time has been ripped off double, two strikes and you're ignored.
(Benzyl, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 20:37, closed)

I'm not really going to bring anything new to this discussion...
...but I agree with the general mood here. The point of QotW, as far as I can see, is partly to entertain, and partly for people to vent. Ergo, I don't mind entertaining stories being exaggerated or even completely fabricated as long as they entertain me. Admittedly, there are also some very sad/moving stories on here, and I'd be disappointed if people were making those up just to get some b3ta-love, but if you're trying to make us laugh then please make up whatever the hell you want.

(e.g., I didn't actually defecate on Wimbledon Common in anticipation of the Wombles clearing it up. Sorry!)
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 21:05, closed)

Mine are exaggerated versions of the truth
God I post way too much personal stuff on here.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 21:58, closed)