Horatio Alger Story

It seems a little bit redundant to say that the documentary is more "real" than the story. Horatio Alger is famous for his "rags to riches" stories, most of these being imaginative and unrealistic. Not that a man couldn't get rewarded in this way for saving a child- it is just very unlikely. In reality, the documentary is more true-to-life. This would make sense, seeing as it is, in fact, a documentary- therefore, completely non-fiction. Seriously though, it is extremely hard for people to make a living in this world- and whether or not spending money to try to cover up the poor helps or not is curious. For example, many people would argue that someone that can't afford a house shouldn't buy nice clothes or a cell phone, so that they can save for a house. However, is appearing less poor part of the way on the road to being less poor? if someone can appear more wealthy, doesn't it mean that they are? That's a hypothetical question- there are several different ways to answer it. I just think that it is an interesting phenomenon, this "dressing up" of the poor. (though of course, it is human nature to fit in)