# Braggart, maybe wannabe! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 27, 2005, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114 "2005-02-27T03:52:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/41 "2005-02-28T01:40:55Z")
I just remember hearing that Ollie used to make up all kinds of stories about being in special ops or whatever. As for Ventura, I’ve heard some people say he wasn’t a SEAL, but a frogman or whatever. _shrugs_ It’s not a big deal, I just wondered. I don’t think either of them are psychotic. Just that what you described-if someone is talking about combat experiences and showing no emotion-if they’re not lying, they’ve got to be fucked up mentally. ---
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/42 "2005-02-28T02:34:18Z")
Maybe he and your friend are playing a joke on you. I can’t imagine anyone stupid enough to print out their own “Badass” card, unless it was for a joke. On the other hand, if he is a dumbass-braggart, I would love to be there when he’s exposed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/43 "2005-02-28T04:36:22Z")
The problem is I know my roommate is going to be pissed-off when I tell her. Which is stupid, because she should be pissed off at _him_, not at me. I’m not the one lying to her. Bt she’s so easily impressed by this crap, and she’ll sit there just grinning up at this fool while he spins his bullshit. She came in the other day and asked me, “So what do you think of him?” I rolled my eyes and said, “He ain’t my man, B.B.” I wanted to say a lot worse, but I didn’t have the amunition I have now. Oh, and did I mention that despite all his military credentials and his 188 IQ, this idiot lives in a $60-a-week rental trailer in a nasty, scummy part of town? That he has no job? You’d think that such an “upstanding citizen” could do a little better for himself. My friend who’s an MP is coming to visit in April, and I’m positive this moron is going to be gone LONG before he shows up. The MP will see through him in ten seconds, and coming face-to-face with the real thing is going to blow his cover. But I’m hoping to get the MP to talk to my roomie first, to tell her what he thinks. She might not believe me, but she’s got to believe him. I don’t trust this loser, and I don’t want him in my house. It skeeves me out knowing that he’s nailing my roomie in the room next to mine. Anyone who lies that much about themselves ain’t nobody worth knowing. Thankfully he hasn’t been by in the last couple of days. ---
**Author:** ![thewombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc8723/32.png) [@thewombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thewombat)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/44 "2005-02-28T05:08:29Z")
If she can’t see it, you telling her isn’t going to help. Unfortunately, she’s going to learn the hard way. Maybe drop hints? Don’t start off “He’s a lying, loudmouth moron”, but maybe stick with “I noticed that buddy boy said X, which is funny because I had heard that blah blah blah”. At one point in my reckless youth, I was dating this guy. He, however, was not dating me - he was dating (seemingly) every girl he knew. I kind of suspected this, but when people said it to me without mincing words, I’d defend him and say he was only focused on me. :rolleyes: Of course I didn’t really believe this, I just didn’t want to deal with the embarrassment of being the dumbass girl who dated the man-whore and knew it. Anyway, friends saying, “He’s cheating on you with EVERYONE YOU KNOW” put me on the defensive. It wasn’t until someone gently pointed out he “worked” incredibly odd hours, had a few too many sick grandmothers, and had given me only his pager number (not home phone number) for a reason that I finally admitted to myself what was going on. Whew, didn’t mean for this post to be so long and about me, but I’m trying to say: just drop some casual hints about the inconsistencies. Don’t approach the lying directly; it’ll just put her on the defensive, and turn it into a case of her against you. ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/45 "2005-02-28T05:14:39Z")
I don’t know what to tell you regarding not trusting him to be in your house, but aside from that, I’d say enjoy the entertainment while you can (if there’s nothing you can do to convince your roommate to dump the guy). While I could never really befriend someone like this, I generally _love_ running into people like this. In a casual setting, they can provide endless entertainment. There’s this guy I went to high school with. He was only an aquaintance; in fact, every time I ran into him, he would recognize me, but he’d always call me by the wrong name. I didn’t mind and never corrected him, I just wanted to hear what he had to lie about. One time he told me he had just been featured in _Tattoo_ magazine, and went on to tell me that his whole back had a tattoo of blue dragon wrestling with a red dragon, and how that somehow symbolized his life. It’s been years since I’ve seen him. The last time I ran into him was at a local bar. A Kenny Wayne Shepherd song came on the jukebox, and he told me he had played drums on the album. He said, “It sucks because I broke my leg and wasn’t able to go on tour with him. Damn, I could have been getting all kinds of pussy this summer!” I usually just laugh (I can’t help but laugh) and go along with the stories. A lot of the time it’s hilarious, and gives me good material to laugh with my friends about. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/46 "2005-02-28T05:54:43Z")
> [@chique](#): > > NEC codes wouldn’t work for a guy who claims to be army special forces though, would it? Never mind that _I’d_ be in trouble, unless NEC = rate, in which case my answer would be CTM2. That’s what I’d meant. Ask him for his NEC, he should say ‘What’s that?’ if he’s legit. But I’m betting he’ll make up a number. Or word. Or something. And you don’t know your NEC? Sheesh, I still remember mine: 3386. And it’s been 10 years. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/47 "2005-02-28T06:05:43Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > That’s what I’d meant. Ask him for his NEC, he should say ‘What’s that?’ if he’s legit. But I’m betting he’ll make up a number. Or word. Or something. > > And you don’t know your NEC? Sheesh, I still remember mine: 3386. And it’s been 10 years. 😉 Nope. No clue. _shrug_ ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/48 "2005-02-28T06:33:25Z")
On Jesse (although I’m not a fan…) From the archive of authentiseal [http://web.archive.org/web/20040209113744/www.authentiseal.org/jesse.htm](http://web.archive.org/web/20040209113744/www.authentiseal.org/jesse.htm) ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/49 "2005-02-28T08:39:25Z")
> [@Keapon Laffin](#): > > Maybe he and your friend are playing a joke on you. I can’t imagine anyone stupid enough… Grasshopper, When you’re as old as I am, you will learn that there is nothing so stupid that there will be not be someone stupid enough to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/50 "2005-02-28T09:08:29Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > _True (military) bad-asses rarely ever divulge the nature of their abilities – even after their service is through. If someone is bragging, they are almost certainly lying._ > > . It’s not just military types. I’ve known some real badasses and some real blowhards. Badasses don’t brag. Why would they? Chuck Norris was asked on camera what he would do if 6 guys confronted him in an alley and demanded his wallet. He said “I’d probably give 'em my wallet.” ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/51 "2005-02-28T10:45:16Z")
> [@chique](#): > > Nope. No clue. _shrug_ For shame, chiquey, dahling. I still remember both of mine (although it was actually the same job, they just changed numbers on me). When I started tech school, I was a 209x0, then for some reason they changed the 209 to 1N6. I think they changed my command name two or three times while I was in, also. From Electronic Security Command (ESC), to Air Force Intelligence Command (AFIC), and finally losing “command” status altogether; when I left in '96 it was the Air Intelligence Agency (AIA). This guy should at least know what command he falls under. Ask if he has any unit coins. (A coin specially made that identifies what squadron, flight, wing, etc a person belongs to.) I have three (one from my squadron, one from my wing, and one given as special recognition for services), and although I don’t carry them around with me everywhere I go anymore, I still know where they are and can grab them in under 3 minutes. Now not everyone _got_ a unit coin - my squadron didn’t make them available till I’d been there for two years - but he should still know what they are. Our squadron did so much work with JSOC that after the invasion of Haiti, those of us involved were given unit coins for the Joint Special Operations Command. (Sort of like receiving an honorary degree from a college.) I still have mine, and I wasn’t even really Special Ops. If this guy’s so proud of it, I would imagine he’d still have his. And as for Special Forces advertising themselves as bad-asses, as I said, my squadron did a lot of work with JSOC. I’ve been on missions to Ft Bragg, Ft Benning, and Hurlburt Field many times and met quite a few true bad-asses. None of them had a card to identify themselves as such, and none of them bragged about being able to beat anyone’s ass. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/52 "2005-02-28T11:47:10Z")
Is it too late to get him together with your MP friend without his knowing that your friend **is** an MP? When I was at my second college, I knew two guys like this. The first one claimed to be from South America and spun elaborate stories about life in his supposed homeland. (Yes, the country existed; I just can’t remember which one exactly.) He was busted when an Australian guy was talking about constellations of the southern hemisphere. This guy didn’t know any of them, and had apparently forgotten that he should have. Another guy was older than the traditional student, but not much older; I think around 26 or so. However, he claimed to be far older than that; didn’t name a specific age, but said more than once that he was “of the Woodstock generation”. Most people believed him, but I and another guy were the only ones who realized that most of his ancedotes concerned the mid-to-late seventies, not the late sixties. We never confronted him, but privately concluded that if he was at Woodstock, it would have been because his parents brought him, and he would have been young enough to have been playing in the mud, not rocking out. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/53 "2005-02-28T12:50:31Z")
I teach in a UK School. One guy on the staff had a military haircut and looked fit (though he had a leg injury). We shared a weekly duty, so chatted regularly. After several years, he revealed that he had been injured while in the Army. After further coaxing, he steered me towards a book. This showed (photographs included) that he had been in the SAS as an officer and had participated in a number of dangerous missions. He still didn’t go into detail, but did give a talk to my class on outdoors survival. This is how real specialist soldiers behave. Your guy is just a fool. “Let’s kick that f_ck_r’s ass!” “No, wait - **he’s got a card saying how dangerous he is**.” “We’d better back off then.” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/54 "2005-02-28T13:09:16Z")
> [@unclviny](#): > > Unclviny (ex Green Beret, Fighter Pilot and Astronaut plus I have a PHD. and I own this bar) An astronaut eh? Which guy are you? [http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio\_former.html](http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_former.html) ---
**Author:** ![archmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@archmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/archmichael)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/55 "2005-02-28T14:28:24Z")
> [@Epimetheus](#): > > An astronaut eh? Which guy are you? > > [http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio\_former.html](http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_former.html) Uh, of course he wouldn’t be on there! He’s the only secret astronaut ever. He’s also the only person to have been both an astronaut AND a cosmonaut. Only non-British member of the SAS ever. Only American recipient of the Victorian Cross Texas Ranger Smoke jumper Honarary member of the RCMP and the Federales Free-lance profiler for the FBI Grand Inquisitor for a secret Roman Catholic Order Did I miss anything? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/56 "2005-02-28T16:50:10Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Can Airman, unclviny, and chique (or other military Dopers) confirm the wisdom of the following rule of thumb? > > _True (military) bad-asses rarely ever divulge the nature of their abilities – even after their service is through. If someone is bragging, they are almost certainly lying._ It’s a generalism. Some people will make themselves basasses so they can brag. Others will no longer see the need when they arrive there. Others will claim it but will be the first under the couch when trouble comes. Military badasses, however, are good at taking orders. There’s always a bigger badass with more stripes/stars telling them what to do. And special forces is not a place where someone who doesn’t take orders well ends up. D\_Odds USAF 1989-1993, Cryptologic Linguist, RAF Chicksands (after training) Not a badass, nor in the job of killing people ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/57 "2005-02-28T19:10:04Z")
I’ve googled but I’m not very good at it. There has got to be a place to buy that “I’m a certified deadly weapon” card on the net. You may be able to get one at a Military Surplus store but I’ll bet they are on line and it would be great for **Mississippienne** to be able to whip out her card on the guy. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/58 "2005-02-28T19:17:41Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > D\_Odds > USAF 1989-1993, Cryptologic Linguist Hehehe…I fixed your stuff. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/59 "2005-02-28T19:27:40Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > USAF 1989-1993, Cryptologic Linguist Hehehe…I fixed your stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mycroft\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_H)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114/60 "2005-02-28T19:54:28Z")
> [@hillbilly queen](#): > > People who lie that much probably have mental problems. But why do you want to spend so much time proving that he’s lying? If you’re concerned about your roommate, just tell her that he’s full of shit, and to be wary about anything he says. Other than that, you’re going to come off looking like a jerk, (I’ve been in the same situation). I would reinforce what **hillbilly queen** said. A friend of mine was dating a person who lied like this. I don’t know if it is a self esteem thing or what. I thought he was dumb but harmless. He turned out to be very abusive, a cheater and stole from her. It finally ended with a restraining order. Your roommate’s MMV, but the warning flags should be up. And keep your stuff locked up if possible. As for the Grenada and “talking about it” issues - someone I used to work with was on the ground in Grenada. He only talked about it once and shut up once he realized how much he was sharing. A pity too because it was a fascinating story. But yes, as has been admirably stated by better Dopers than me, the more someone spouts off about their military history, the less likely any of it is true. This guy is a dangerous tub of crap. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braggart-maybe-wannabe/292114.md?page=4)