Hey, it doesn't matter if it's cancer or something else. I have a cousin who wanted me to give her $10,000 because of her horrible medical expenses. I said, "You don't think the weekly visits to the casinos might be a factor?" Of course not. They just went to the casinos and stayed all weekend for the cheap meals.
How about the Rolling Stones magazine bogus rape report. Attention? You bet. The drama queen got sympathy, pity, and attention. That's what was wanted. So it was a lie. Who really cares?
A friend of mine was getting married and asked me for my opinion of his loved one. "Well, let's see, she's been married three times, never worked a day in her life, and is a religious fanatic. I think you should change your phone number, change your name, and run like hell."
"But, Pat, her husbands were abusive."
"Hey, Chuck, you'll be abusive ex-husband number four."
"I'm not abusive."
"You will be." I won. He married her and they divorced. She called the Crisis Hotline. "Has he hit you?" "No, but he looks like he might be thinking about it." "Good enough. We'll help you get a restraining order."
How many pregnant women swear they were on the pill and how many expectant fathers told the woman he didn't need a condom because he'd had a vasectomy? Get real.
So, your friend lied about being forced into bankruptcy by terminal cancer. At least he did better than a current presidential candidate who says bankruptcy is a great money maker. So now, if your friend calls and says, "I'll be late because the Chinese have invaded Vermont," take it with a grain of salt.
I live in Oaxaca, Mexico, and when I first moved here I met an American who was hated by almost all the other Americans. I thought he was okay but then I learned the horrible truth. When gringos moved here and told people their story, the son of a bitch checked. That's right. If you said you graduated from Yale, he'd write the alumni association. If you said you were a Navy Seal, he'd check that, too. Yes, he was hated.
But, I'm as down on honesty as I am on lying. We'll get to the horrors of honesty later.