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Original poster

Would you cut off someone that lied about having a child?

135 replies

Spenning · 23/12/2025 12:48

In my workplace a colleague aged around 50 has lied about having an adult child. She has no children at all. Would you cut her off if she was a friend -or try and understand her behaviour and forgive her?

OP posts:
5128gap · 23/12/2025 12:56

Depends. People are complicated and do all sorts of strange things at times. Often these things are not in my view deserving of them being friendless as a result. I'd want to understand and then decide.

MinPinSins · 23/12/2025 12:55

Mollywasasinger · 23/12/2025 12:50

I’m not sure.

What was the context or reason for the lie?

I mean if she was just making conversation with a customer and said “oh yes my daughter went to Tenerife last year, have a great time!” then I’d think it was weird/pointless but not a big deal.

If she has spent years telling all of her friends detailed stories about an imaginary daughter then that’s much odder and I’d definitely be keeping my distance.

Definitely this. If it was a one off with someone she didn't have an ongoing relationship with like a customer, maybe for the sake of friendliness, I'd find it a little odd but not think much about it.

If she's spent years talking about her daughter to her colleagues I'd be more concerned/upset. I wouldn't cut her off though - I wouldn't trust what she said, but it sounds like she needs people in her life.

WalnutsAndFigs · 23/12/2025 12:55

Is the fake child an imaginary person she invented for the lie? Or a real person in her life who occupies the place an adult child would?

Cosyblankets · 23/12/2025 12:53

Maybe she had a child who died and she hasn't dealt with it

NeverDropYourMooncup · 23/12/2025 12:53

Somebody can have no adult children but have had children.

Leave her alone.

Run30 · 23/12/2025 12:53

Keep your distance. It’s weird.

Pancakeflipper · 23/12/2025 12:51

I think it depends on the impact these lies have had on you and your life.

I'd probably still talk to them. There will be a reason for this behaviour and I doubt it's a happy situation. Sounds really sad.

MrsSkylerWhite · 23/12/2025 12:51

I would try to find out why.

MouseCheese87 · 23/12/2025 12:50

It depends how far she took the lie and what the reason was. Some people are compulsive liars and it can be draining and tedious dealing with them so if it was this kind of situation I'd avoid them in future.

Mollywasasinger · 23/12/2025 12:50

I’m not sure.

What was the context or reason for the lie?

I mean if she was just making conversation with a customer and said “oh yes my daughter went to Tenerife last year, have a great time!” then I’d think it was weird/pointless but not a big deal.

If she has spent years telling all of her friends detailed stories about an imaginary daughter then that’s much odder and I’d definitely be keeping my distance.