Jubbergun wrote:
Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind;
and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
it tolls for thee.
Ernest Hemmingway volunteered as an irregular during the invasion of France. Perhaps for no other reason than to get him out of the way, he was ordered to scout a nearby farm for enemy forces. After a suspiciously short delay, he reported that he had done so and didn't see anything. The company moved in. No sooner had they done so than every haystack bowled over, revealing heavy guns beneath, and German troops streamed out of the farmhouses. The company was wiped out. The commander of the forces hysterically rebuked Hemmingway, who mutely stood there smirking.
Anyway, I agree with you. That's why I think that lying about such things for the purpose of seeking attention is despicable. It is disrespectful to real grief.