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by dxdm 323 days ago
It is good to be able to recognize charming tales and other biases and influences in a narrative. Having them pointed out counteracts the readiness of people to take things at face value. Knowing that something is a tale does not have to take away from it.

I don't know what irked you about the other comment, but I think there's a positive side to it.
1 comments
coldtea 323 days ago
>Knowing that something is a tale does not have to take away from it.

Oh, but it does.

Here's "a thing that happened" vs "here's a tall tale" means whatever message is approached very differently.

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dxdm 323 days ago
> Here's "a thing that happened" vs "here's a tall tale" means whatever message is approached very differently.

I agree. I meant to point out that tales can be entertaining and/or instructional, too, even while we're aware of what they are. ("Knowing that a story is fictional does not take away from it", maybe I should've written that.)

My point still stands, though: knowing a tale from a "thing that happened" is important, and what you said underscores why.

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vntok 323 days ago
"You know the great story you've been telling others for years as truth? It was in fact a lie" is much much worse.

Better to know up front that a tale is only a parable.

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