If it's not true...it's not a memoir!

I understood a memoir to be a recounting of someone's life experiences. The author is writing from an autobiographical perspective and incorporating their feelings, emotions and observations. Should the recounting of a certain event included in a memoir not be factual, then essentially it is not a memoir, it would be a fictional story based on true events. I also believe that a memoir should definitely be factual. It is a collection of memories and intimate experiences and therefore should be as honest as possible or it essentially is not a memoir.

In reference to the Glassco passage, it is apparent that once people find out that the memoir, or recount of a life experience, is not true they are angry and dissapointed. The anger is not because they were hoping the story was true but rather the anger is a result of feeling as though they were lied to. It is almost insulting to pass off a story as being true and then at the end after all emotions, sympathy's and many other possible emotions are evoked they become insignificant. People can express emotions toward fiction but the emotions that are expressed when something is believed to be truthful is different. Therefore, when you realize that the emotions evoked for something believed to be true is not true, it can be insulting. The reader is made to feel vulnerable and as though they have been taken advantage of. It is not a good feeling. Therefore, in the case of Glassco, telling a lie did make people angry because no one enjoys being lied to when they believe it is real.

In reference to LonelyGirl15, I think it's disgusting. I was thoroughly preturbed by the entire concept that I don't even believe it is even close to being considered a memoir. Despite the recounting of personal experiences and emotions it is staged, made up and not even close to being based on real life events. I think it's also disturbing for a 30 year old man to be writing scripts for a 15 year old girl. I wouldn't even consider this to be a vlogging diary, it's a poor excuse for a new idea.

In the end, I don't believe a memoir should be falsified or embellished. I believe it should be an accurate account of a personal experience from an intimate perspective. If not, write a fictional short story!