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Originally posted by Jack Manfred
Envious of Seb D's Chappellistic signature, I've decided to append a new one.

As more people on the board probably watch Chappelle's show than read Dear Prudie, I offer this link.

Prudie's most recent column deals with the pathelogical liar issue:

Dearest Prudie,
Any advice you could send my way concerning the following would be much appreciated. I have of late been in the company of a pathological liar who is soon to be family and is very much adored by my significant other, as they grew up together. At first I found the constant tales entertaining, as they were quite harmless. In fact, it never bothered me until he started making up criminal stories about family members. There's quite a difference between saying, "I was just at so-and-so's house," and, "I was just at so-and-so's house, and he was making threats and roughing up his girlfriend." (You'll have to take my word for it; I know for a fact this is 100 percent false.) My significant other refuses to confront said lying family member, saying he's always been like this and nothing you say will make him stop—"it's just who he is." I say he's crossed a line and needs to be called on it. Or do I just grit my teeth and tune him out?

—Pathologically Piqued

Dear Path,
This kind of stuff is murder to listen to, and Prudie well understands your wish to let this person know you believe not a word of his reports. The problem is that people who are actually pathological liars do not respond to anyone "calling them on it." They do not call it "pathological" for nothing. While you may think your significant other is being passive, he is actually being realistic. Talking to an inveterate prevaricator (OK, habitual liar) with a "cure" in mind is like telling a kleptomaniac to simply cut it out. The ray of hope in all this is that most people probably know that this chap is not to be believed. The next time you hear some invented piece of information, rather than trying to set him straight, you might casually respond that what he has just said sounds a little off to you. In short, you can't "fix" him, my dear, so tune him out.

—Prudie, pragmatically

It is like she knows in advance what topics we will be discussing here. Freaky. Or coincidental.