Confabulation - or liar?

[s2sol]

For the last three years, I've worked with a man who I've always believed was an incredible bulstter. However, I've now learned about confabulation, and I believe he may suffer from that. Should I be sympathetic, or call him out on his obvious falsehoods?

As an example, I used to have a job that involved joining ships launching from Fincantiera's shipyard in Venice, and installing stuff while the ship was on sea trials. If we worked like buggery, we could get off at Malaga and fly home. If we didn't, we'd be stuck on the boat until Southampton, which took days longer, and involved the bay of Biscay, which was never any fun. Once, the ship broke down or something in the med, and we had an unexpected couple of days to do the work, and still get off at Malaga.

I told my colleague this story (with much more detail and local colour). About an hour later, I heard him telling the story to a customer as though he'd done the job himself. I was standing next to him, and was so astonished I didn't pull him up on it.

Since then, I've become aware of his fantastic stories, and I'm sure he doesn't know he's lying. Is confabulation a real thing, or should I tell him he's a lying bd?

[Bucksspeedyboy]

Many years ago when I was a teenager, my mate’s girlfriend frequently used to tell other friends stories of things my mate and I had done, but in her retelling she was also there and involved as well. It used to amaze me that she would do this when I was also party to the conversation and I used to think that she must know that I know she’s lying about her involvement.

She also used to lie about other things as well, again in a way which other people could see through straight away.

Having now looked up what confabulation is, I would say she definitely had it. She really seemed to believe what she was saying.

[anonymous-user]

Does he post on here under various threads and user names ?

[jdizz]

That's weird - I used to have a job that involved joining ships launching from Fincantiera's shipyard in Venice, and installing stuff while the ship was on sea trials. If we worked like buggery, we could get off at Malaga and fly home. If we didn't, we'd be stuck on the boat until Southampton, which took days longer, and involved the bay of Biscay, which was never any fun. Once, the ship broke down or something in the med, and we had an unexpected couple of days to do the work, and still get off at Malaga.

[V8mate]

techiedave said:

Does he post on here under various threads and user names ?

Does he pretend to work in a casino but actually works at Lidl?

[Four Litre]

Text Jonny Vaughan on radio X, will get you a mention on air. They do a funny section called "Bullsheedo" which covers off lies and fantasist stories you have been told.

Plenty of people on here call in regularly.

[Johnny Raydome]

jdizz said:

That's weird - I used to have a job that involved joining ships launching from Fincantiera's shipyard in Venice, and installing stuff while the ship was on sea trials. If we worked like buggery, we could get off at Malaga and fly home. If we didn't, we'd be stuck on the boat until Southampton, which took days longer, and involved the bay of Biscay, which was never any fun. Once, the ship broke down or something in the med, and we had an unexpected couple of days to do the work, and still get off at Malaga.

Did I not tell you this story with much more detail and local colour?

I then heard you telling this story an hour later to a customer as though you'd done the job yourself.
I was stood right next to you and was so astonished by it that I didn't pull you up on it.

[Johnny Raydome]

techiedave said:

Does he post on here under various threads and user names ?

Thanks