01-19-2013, 07:32 PM
Put me in the camp of believing Te'o. It seems to me it would be pure ego that would allow him to exaggerate this relationship--belief that he's doing her a favor (well, her memory and her family) by professing to national media his love for her.
Prior to the "death," he was probably a kid who loved telling everybody about his sick girlfriend (we all know the type that loves to discuss their own drama) and their mutual devotion. Likely, he felt the distance allowed him some freedom from the real-world obligations of a real-world relationship. Possibly, the distance and remoteness of it all could also be emphasized by him at other times, when convenient...(a sign of immaturity).
Ego and immaturity in a star college athlete, with a love for the flair of the dramatic episode. I really think that explains the lot of it without saying he's "delusional" or "a sociopath." The failure at Skyping means that he's technologically naive, but I don't even consider all this to make him especially socially naive. The idea of a distant relationship just appeals to some people, for a variety of reasons.
Prior to the "death," he was probably a kid who loved telling everybody about his sick girlfriend (we all know the type that loves to discuss their own drama) and their mutual devotion. Likely, he felt the distance allowed him some freedom from the real-world obligations of a real-world relationship. Possibly, the distance and remoteness of it all could also be emphasized by him at other times, when convenient...(a sign of immaturity).
Ego and immaturity in a star college athlete, with a love for the flair of the dramatic episode. I really think that explains the lot of it without saying he's "delusional" or "a sociopath." The failure at Skyping means that he's technologically naive, but I don't even consider all this to make him especially socially naive. The idea of a distant relationship just appeals to some people, for a variety of reasons.