How to call out someones bullshit?

[Oh No A Wizard]

Hey guys, I have a problem and I'd like a little advice on the matter. Now by no means is it a big problem but it's something that has been annoying me for a while.

One of my best friends has recently gotten into gaming. That's great and all but he's sort of a newbie, he's been playing games most his life but never knew too much about them, and never owned his own consoles. Due to his job he makes around 400 euro a week and with nothing like rent to spend it on (He's 17), he has bought a PS3 and nearly 35 games within the past two weeks.
The problem is he claims to know so much about gaming. The other day, I was looking for a good co-op game at his house when he suggested X-com: Enemy Unknown. This is how to conversation went..

Him: "Wanna play X-com?"
Me: " I'm pretty sure that's not splitscreen.."
Him: "It is. It's an FPS, basically like Call Of Duty"
Me: "Dude, it's turn-based RTS game...It's not splitscreen"
Him: "No, that's only the first one. I've played it" (He hasn't)
Other Friend: "Dude, it's an RTS"
Him: "But most RTS games are splitscreen because you have to use strategy
against eachother"
Me: "Okay..."

This is just one of the many times he has just made-up some complete bullshit information about a game. I'm not the kind of guy to just tell him to stop bullshitting or call him out on it but I find it quite annoying. There has been times where he'd be hanging out with me and my gamer friends, talking about the best game engine or developer and he'd just spout some nonsense about the topic at hand, claiming it's true.
How can I call his bullshit without being an ass about it? Thanks.

 

[Pink Gregory]

You're not being an ass about it if he's provably lying. Just ask him to back up his information, either he'll make a fool of himself by making more things up, or he'll get all defensive.

Either way, at least you're right. Most folk don't like being called on their bullshit, so doing so is inevitably going to ruffle their feathers, that's kind of unavoidable.

Also, you are aware of XCOM The Bureau, right? Cuz that sounds like what he's talking about.

 

[SantoUno]

Perhaps start subtly interrogating him. Ask him to go into more detail, bring up a related topic that he would be expected to know if he claims to have knowledge of whatever, or ask him "What do you think of X?", in which you yourself know a great deal about X so you can immediately call him out for pretending to know it.

I don't know, honestly this seems quite trivial, but I still wanted to be courteous and offer up a few suggestions.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Also, you are aware of XCOM The Bureau, right? Cuz that sounds like what he's talking about.

Yar. This was my thought when reading that post as well. Sounds like The Bureau.

 

[Oh No A Wizard]

Perhaps start subtly interrogating him. Ask him to go into more detail, bring up a related topic that he would be expected to know if he claims to have knowledge of whatever, or ask him "What do you think of X?", in which you yourself know a great deal about X so you can immediately call him out for pretending to know it.

I don't know, honestly this seems quite trivial, but I still wanted to be courteous and offer up a few suggestions.

Thanks for the advice, dude Yes, I am aware that it is trivial but bullshitting or lying in general is a pet peeve of mine. As for the X-com thing, if he bought Enemy Unknown thinking it is like The Bureau (I have no idea what it's like, I just assumed it followed the formula of the previous titles) then fair enough, it was probably a misunderstanding and I can admit I judged wrong.

 

[Lieju]

Obviously he is one of those fake gamer guys and is just doing it to get your attention.

Seriously, though, my cousin used to be like that as a teenager. He just couldn't admit he didnt know something (especially about games) so he made up stuff.

I just confronted him about it and told him that if he keeps making up stuff I can't trust anything he tells me.

He stopped doing it.

 

[krazykidd]

Go phoenix wright on his ass .

Seriously . Confront him on everything he lies about. And present evidence , eventually he'll learn .

 

[Vern5]

If I were you I would probably end up telling him that he's a goddamn liar to his face. Because he's a goddamn liar and he should be made aware of his status as a goddamn liar.

A true friend should be able to take criticism.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

In this situation, if you have the time, go ahead and play the "FPS" with him so you can mock him when he gets it wrong.

If not, present him the game's Wikipedia game if you have a mobile device/laptop that can do so. If you don't best to let it go (don't give in though, just give a skeptical "ok then" and change the topic).

Also, people have brought it up before, but are you sure he isn't talking about XCOM: The Bureau, the non-FPS but still a shooter XCOM game?

 

[Fox12]

Uh, I assume he's talking about The Bureau. Maybe he got the name mixed up, but I wouldn't necessarily call him a liar.

I did have a (former) friend who could never admit he was wrong, even though he never knew what he was talking about. Whenever I explained things to him he acted like a jerk, so I'd call him out on it and make him look like an idiot. Other times I would mess with him and just start making up random nonsense. It was funny because all my other friends knew what I was doing. As time went on it got worse though, and the last I remember I punched him in the face and walked off.

Don't do what I did.

If he doesn't know what he's talking about then just ask him to look it up and show you the evidence. That'll end it really quick. And give him an escape so he can admit being wrong without looking like a moron, even if he is.

 

[Ticklefist]

Simple. Cock up a wry little grin and say "Alright then, pop it in and let's see." Done. Avoid educating or lecturing.

 

[rasputin0009]

Hey guys, I have a problem and I'd like a little advice on the matter. Now by no means is it a big problem but it's something that has been annoying me for a while.

One of my best friends has recently gotten into gaming. That's great and all but he's sort of a newbie, he's been playing games most his life but never knew too much about them, and never owned his own consoles. Due to his job he makes around 400 euro a week and with nothing like rent to spend it on (He's 17), he has bought a PS3 and nearly 35 games within the past two weeks.
The problem is he claims to know so much about gaming. The other day, I was looking for a good co-op game at his house when he suggested X-com: Enemy Unknown. This is how to conversation went..

Him: "Wanna play X-com?"
Me: " I'm pretty sure that's not splitscreen.."
Him: "It is. It's an FPS, basically like Call Of Duty"
Me: "Dude, it's turn-based RTS game...It's not splitscreen"
Him: "No, that's only the first one. I've played it" (He hasn't)
Other Friend: "Dude, it's an RTS"
Him: "But most RTS games are splitscreen because you have to use strategy
against eachother"
Me: "Okay..."

This is just one of the many times he has just made-up some complete bullshit information about a game. I'm not the kind of guy to just tell him to stop bullshitting or call him out on it but I find it quite annoying. There has been times where he'd be hanging out with me and my gamer friends, talking about the best game engine or developer and he'd just spout some nonsense about the topic at hand, claiming it's true.
How can I call his bullshit without being an ass about it? Thanks.

You yell "Shenanigans!" and then you bring in a third party to Google whatever he's making up. But seriously, this is really silly to get upset about.

 

[loc978]

I tend to prefer the direct approach of "lets look it up". Cultivates knowledge and understanding. I understand some people get hurt feelings when proven wrong in that way, though more often than not, both sides are working from incomplete knowledge (as would appear to be the case in the example argument). All I can say to those with hurt feelings is "Reality is harsh. Grow thicker skin."

 

[elvor0]

I either check it out while I'm talking to them, or finish their sentence if it's undeniably bullshit before they get to the kicker. I have a friend, and while he's a good mate, he doesn't half talk some shite. He makes Jay from the Inbetweeners look subtle. The amount of stories where he's fought off anywhere between 7 to 30 people makes my head hurt. Nevermind the time he was on about how fast he could swim an Olympic pool despite the fact that:

A- He didn't actually know how big an olympic pool was, (it's 50, he was saying it was 30) and
B- In both lengths, simple speed/distance puts him at slightly faster than the world record holder. This man weighs in at 16 stone and has to sit down after sweating his lunch out on the way up the stairs to our flat. There's no way he's swimming that fast even if he was reasonably fit.

I mean we're 21 and 22 respectively, it is waaaay past the time to be making shite up about how amazing you are at stuff, or how you're a better fighter than Batman after he got spliced with Wolverine.

If someone's got something wrong on the other hand, that's different. They genuinely may just not know, same as if I think something is the case and someone proves that it is not so, I'll just be like "ah bugger, yeah you were right, silly me ><".

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

What you do is... you take him to a secluded place nearby... take a deep breath and...


He won't lie to you anymore.

 

[SuperUberBob]

An anecdote analogous to your OP


When it comes to gaming, your friend is a 3-year old. Don't argue the point. It's unimportant.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

I thought there was an XCOM shooter. If it's the other one, and he has it... I dunno, maybe put the disc in? Would seem like a good way to make a point without being arsey or snarky with words.

Personally, I'd just punch him in the mouth. That's a great way to educate friends. You just beat the quirks that you don't like right out of their stupid heads.

 

[Strazdas]

Oh no, A Wizard!
sorry, couldnt hold myself.

He probably meant the Xcom shooter, Which is sadly a real game [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bureau:_XCOM_Declassified].

Though for his splitscreen RTS comment i got no words.

Hes a new gamer as you say and he doesnot know many things. just prove him wrong over and over again and he will either give up or get so pissed to stops being your friend. and lets be honest if hes constantly flat out lieing to you you dont want him as a friend to begin with.