Ah, the internet.
I recall over 50 years ago on an opdet the sqn cdr summoned all of us go a briefing where he set out what we were doing both on the field and off.
Most guys were bored being told what we already knew UNTIL he told us that his information came from his wife 6000 miles away - wives grape vine and spy in the camp.
One of our number was just too honest and gossiped with the missus.
But back to the OP, many stories are lines, one line most of us don't cross is telling tales (names, especially derogatory - if you don't know who Gimlet, then you won't find out here).