‘Catch Me If You Can’ conman Frank Abagnale Jr. lied about his lifetime of lies

Re:‘Catch Me If You Can’ conman Frank Abagnale Jr. lied abou... by pohl on Sunday March 19, 2023 @04:57PM (#35223528)

If you’re going to make that distinction, shouldn’t you also cite quotations where Jobs makes the claim to specifically be the inventor? It seems the charge in this thread depends on blurring that boundary such that marketing on behalf of the company on stage and in interviews is equated with claims of being an inventor.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:‘Catch Me If You Can’ conman Frank Abagnale Jr. lied abou... by foobarbecue on Sunday March 19, 2023 @05:10PM (#35223687)

Nobody said he claimed he was an inventor. I think we all agree that he was a pioneer, but not an inventor.

Recap (paraphrased):

"Jobs never invented anything"

"He was a pioneer"

"pioneer != inventor"

"You have to show proof that he claimed he was an inventor!"

"Nobody said he claimed he was an inventor."

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:‘Catch Me If You Can’ conman Frank Abagnale Jr. lied abou... by pohl on Sunday March 19, 2023 @05:25PM (#35223810)

It was said above that he was “playing the role” of being an inventor, and this observation was directly juxtaposed against a con man.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:‘Catch Me If You Can’ conman Frank Abagnale Jr. lied abou... by foobarbecue on Sunday March 19, 2023 @05:59PM (#35224117)

Ah, I see. Yeah, I wouldn't accuse him of that.

I was taking the "reality distortion field" talk to refer to the cultlike status Job's fandom reached at its peak, where the "famous for being famous" effect came into play. I don't think he qualifies as a con man, and I don't think he claimed personal credit for the inventions of others (he never "took the initiative and invented the internet" like Al Gore).

[ Parent | on HN ]