15 May 2012

This American Tall Tale

Guess the next "This American Life" contributor to be accused of fabrication (by the Washington Post):
  • Became famous for a workplace chronicle 
  • Once admitted to fabricating a character he worked with in a hospital 
  • Describes his own work as "realish"
  • NPR would like to characterize his work with some kind of introduction indicating
  • Ira Glass would like to fact-check him
  • Mike Daisey says (surprise!) to leave him alone, because the kerfuffle is all about him (yeah...)
Contra Daisey, I would argue that I would be disappointed to find out which parts of this author's body of work were fiction. I'd still read them, because he's terrific -- but warily. Also, I think no one is making the distinction between "exaggerating for humor" and making things up, in that most of us do the former every day without a problem. 

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