Everyone loves to tell a good story. Being a sailor for twenty years, I have heard some good ones. Some are true and some are not so true. Sailors, during long, lonely, days at sea tell these in order to pass the time. It has probably been this way since man started going to sea on vessels with other people.
Parents do it.
It is all very innocent and the teller of the tale enjoys the event as long as he pleases his audience. The instant he bores his audience, the fun ends. People retelling the tale of 30-40 years ago are going to change it. Especially, if asked to retell the story time after time by various people. This is the genesis of the Roswell story.