Another random lie that makes me laugh

[Liketheducks]

Currently on a bucket list vacation to Thailand.   Not anything I ever dreamt possible and thoroughly enjoying our time here.    My dad was stationed here as an airplane tech during the Vietnam war.   So in our surface level chats, I asked him what he remembered of the country.   He said it smelled of elephant poo.   Elephant Poo.   

In my travels, we spent the day at an elephant sanctuary volunteering.   Elephant poo does not stink.   It has no scent.    I'm just shaking my head and laughing.   Why would one make up something so silly?

[bloomie]

Liketheducks - First, and most importantly how exciting to be able to have this wonderful experience! Happy for you!

As for your father's lie... we can only speculate, but it sure is a head scratcher. A guess would be to enhance his image in some way? To add detail to seem knowledgeable? Is this a tendency of your father's?

[Andeza]

Elephant poo of all things. They just have to focus on the negative? And they have to create or amp up the negative whenever possible... I imagine elephant dung smells about like cow or horse manure. Herbivore dung generally doesn't stink the way the other groups do because it's just.... digested grasses and leaves.

That said, I'm just going to shake my head. PwPDs have an odd outlook on their surroundings and experiences. They see everything not through rose colored glasses, but through a fog of deep disgruntlement that no one can lift them from, but they expect everyone to do just that.

[Srcyu]

Well, I had to google that one!
"Does elephant poo smell?"   Apparently not!  Or least, not badly.

Methinks he didn't want to share with you very much about the country. Trying to spoil it for you even.  Doesn't want you to have a great time there.

Well, too bad - you are having the time of your life.

[Cat of the Canals]

My dad is a Vietnam vet as well, and has detailed the smell of the bases there re: latrines. Makes me wonder if your dad didn't understand where that smell was really coming from.

[Associate of Daniel]

May I gently suggest another reason for your dad's response?

Most of the war vets I've known (Vietnam and WWII) don't speak of their wartime experiences, and especially to their children.

I think it stems from the fact that much of what they experienced was too horrific. But also, my understanding is that they were advised upon returning from their service not to speak of it. To not think about it and they'd be fine.

The path of history has made us realise the importance of speaking of traumatic experiences rather than bottling them up.  But that understanding wasn't around back then and those generations still carry their own understandings into today.

Also, my limited understanding is that the Vietnam war vets came home to a mountain of shame heaped upon them.

Many vets make up funny stories or highlight funny incidents that occurred during their service in order to not visit the horrific realities of their experiences on their loved ones, and to keep themselves from remembering.

That said, I don't want to detract from your own experiences with your dad.  I just felt it important to bring this aspect to he table.

And... Thanks for the education about elephant poo! I had no idea.

AOD

[Sneezy]

PwPDs have an odd outlook on their surroundings and experiences. They see everything not through rose colored glasses, but through a fog of deep disgruntlement that no one can lift them from, but they expect everyone to do just that.

A very succinct and accurate definition!

Why not focus on the majesty of the elephants, rather than the smell of their poo?  They just can't find the joy in anything.  Someone told me that people with PDs don't just have a glass that is half empty.  Their glass is spilled all over the floor and the glass broke and now they're dying of thirst because they have no water, and no one will help them wipe it up, and etc., etc., etc. 

[Liketheducks]

Yep, pathological lying is a thing of his.    Not trying to diminish his experience in war.   Recently.....he was a fighter pilot (he was not), was a graduate of my son's college (again no....never set foot in the same state as DS's school).   I imagine he's trying to make himself look a bit better, and thereby maybe feel a bit better.     No latrines here.   Full on western style land based porcelain.     I doubt he actually saw an elephant at all.    He volunteered so that he could be in and back home quickly.  He was an airplane mechanic.  He could have been a pilot, but lost his license crashing an small airplane because he was drunk.
He does also have a tendency to have the reverse of rose colored glasses.    Though, this is something, as a child of trauma....I try hard not to do myself.