Carson's "I was held up at Popeyes" story coming apart at the seams....

[yellowcanine]

Campaign now refusing to answer any more questions about it......but yet they did come up with the hilarious detail that though Carson was a vegetarian he went to the Popeyes store for French fries.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/09/politics/ben-carson-popeyes-gunman/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3268043/Ben-Carson-defends-story-gunpoint-robbery-fast-food-restaurant-1980s-campaign-says-suggestions-candidate-outrageous.html

[Oneironaut]

1. Why do people lie about stuff like this?

That is, if this is confirmed to be fake. Time after time, people make stuff up that can easily be proven false. Are they so arrogant that they believe the truth is what they say it is?

No police report filed? Cool story bro. I killed a ninja assassin that climbed into my room through the window last night too.

[tabasco]

7. Same reason they lie about being in combat

"I've faced down danger, bro, I've been in the shit!"

[jeff47]

11. To avoid answering uncomfortable questions.

If he doesn't invent this robbery, he has to face questions about his utterly moronic "Cowards! Charge the gunman!!" bullshit.

[Major Nikon]

12. Everyone lies. Some people just lie for the sake of lying which is very telling.

Clinton lied to the public about a blowjob that was really nobody's business to begin with. I suspect most people either would, or would be tempted to do the same under the same circumstances.

Compulsive or pathological lying are different things which are bad enough on their own, or it could mean Carson is a psychopath who habitually lies with zero guilt in an attempt to further his ambitions.

[Oneironaut]

15. The difference with Clinton is that he tried to avoid trouble.

His lie was at least purposeful. I don't get these people that invent stories (like Brian Williams, for example) thinking that no one will check into it. It seems silly, random, and pointless.

This seems to be what you're talking about in your second paragraph - "Hey, I think I'll just make a story up about having a gun pointed at me!" Weird.

[Baitball Blogger]

14. Because most people are incurious and they will believe what you say at face value.

And people like Carson, who get to a high profile position, usually have a group of supporters who will shut down anyone who criticizes them.

That all falls apart when it gets to the internet stratosphere where lies drop like a lead balloon.

[justiceischeap]

16. Also, because of the way things like this work

Ben Carson tells a lie (maybe) about this encounter at Popeye's. His right wing fans hear it and say, "Ben Carson is the man!"

Then it comes out that it isn't true. If Fox News doesn't report that it's false, no matter how false the story may be proven to be, if his wingnut follower's don't see it on Fox, then it's a liberal agenda to smear the good Dr. Carson and we're the ones lying about the encounter. They (GOP Candidates) know this is how it works and unless Faux News turns on them, then their minions are unlikely to ever know the truth.

[lame54]

2. It's worse if it's true...

the way he sold the employee out

[yellowcanine]

4. It just doesn't make sense though.

If you are going to hold up a restaurant you stick a gun in the ribs of a customer first? I don't think so. Maybe you rob some customers on the way out but you are going to go for the main prize first - the till.

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. That's the point of Carson's story: he was a med school resident mistaken for a Popeye's employee!

Because he's black, see?

In order to understand the nature of this particular tall tale, you have to grasp the rhetorical purpose. Carson is trying to highlight his blackness, while also highlighting his success. In order get there, he must 1) display his similarity with the Popeye's employee, and 2) display his difference from him.

For point 1), Carson is hilariously mistaken for a Popeye's employee by a would be robber: "Open the till, Popeye's employee!"

For point 2), Carson must hilariously correct the robber: "Ho ho, my good man! You must have mistaken me for a low-wage Popeye's employee! I'm actually a medical resident genius. You're looking for That Other Black Guy!"

The story's flasehood is obvious: it is a little parable of sameness and difference, so contrived that only a fool would believe it.

[TwilightGardener]

18. I think you nailed it.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

5. Which makes you wonder why he would even say it, if it was a lie.

Why lie in a way that makes him look like an ass?

[arcane1]

8. The best possible conclusion is that he's a colossal dumb-ass. There's another:

Maybe he was thinking "minimum-wage is bad, thus minimum-wage employees are bad, especially with all these fast-food people demanding a higher wage" and therefore his audience would chuckle at his willingness to serve a "taker" to a gunman.

[ryan_cats]

3. I believe it

I believe it, especially the part about pointing the would be thief towards another victim and away from Carson.

[Politicalboi]

6. This is right up there with

Sniper fire.

[Lizzie Poppet]

9. Coming apart almost as quickly as his candidacy.

But it's great popcorn fodder, innit?

[Punkingal]

10. I think he's batshit crazy...

And doesn'thave sense enough to know reporter's would be all over it. He will just use the "high tech lynching" excuse before it's over.

[2naSalit]

13. Trevor Noah on Ben Carson...

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/2ybqd8/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-ben-carson-blames-the-victims



http://www.cc.com/video-clips/1rvf14/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-ben-carson--popeyes-survivor-and--real--black-president