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.

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.

To the great frustration of Historians.

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...

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.)

I’d read that book. Can a sign up for news on its release somewhere?

> Can I reproduce this comment

Sure.

Except when the fabulists are historians. Have you ever read Herodotus? It’s hilarious.

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

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.