MovieChat Forums > Catfish: The TV Show (2012) Discussion > Catfishes making up tragic stories

Catfishes making up tragic stories

posted 9 years ago by kleebergl
4 replies | jump to latest

This is something that seems to very common, catfishes pretending to be the victim of some sort of tragic events. We have seen many times over the years the catfish falsely claiming close family members have died, or say they have suffered miscarriages or even say they themselves have a terminal illness.

This is something that doesn't seem to be explored or talked about, why do catfishes so often makes up tragic stories like this? anyone have any ideas or insight?

It seems as if the catfishes need to find a way to make the fake profiles out to still be victims. In real life the catfishes are often victims of bullying and have low self-esteem. however these problems don't exist in the virtual/fantasy world they have created for themselves where they are this super sexy guy/girl with tons of friends and a great social life, but the catfishes still seem to need sympathy and still need to be a victim so it appears this may be a reason for making up the lies? thats just my theory.

[–] NoirKatz 9 years ago

I believe you are correct. The need for sympathy and playing the victim is so strong that it carries over into their fantasy world. However, I think some of them are just manipulators who enjoy lying and seeing what kind of reaction they can conjure out of people.

[–] superstarlet_04 8 years ago

The Episode That Has Never Been Re-Aired featured a girl like this. I can't remember her name but she was a habitual liar. She made up all kinds of stories about a sick kid and Nev and Max called her out on it.

But yeah it seems to be always the same stories, someone was bullied-died-got cancer-was in a car crash. They gain a lot of weight and make fake profiles. They "never meant to cause anyone pain" etc etc.

[–] babz12 8 years ago

I think they may do this to see if the catfishee really cares about them. If they're there through the tough times, then they obviously love them. Plus tragedy invokes even more attention than they may ever get without making up some tragedy, and these are the type of people that really need attention.

[–] sandifay62 8 years ago

I think it's also a game they want to win. If they can stop their victims from being mad at them, they've won. If they can make up a sob story rthat will get people talking, they've won.

In their fake apologies, they never really address the specific harm they've done to the people.

Zoie never brought up the fact she potentially poisoned Andrea's character with the mean responses Zoie gave to people in Andrea's name or the toxic drama she imposed on Alex. She's probably still catfishing people.