>Maybe tell a true story that helps your point, rather than a blatantly fictitious one.
The point wasn't to give a true example, it was to add a twist to the ending of the story told by the parent to make those reading it fathom an alternative way things could have gone that goes contrary to its message.
>I could tell a story about purple moon dragons, but it wouldn't "show" anything.
Why not? That's what allegories, parables, zen koans, fables and 200 other forms of fictional stories used in making a point do.
I could tell a story about purple moon dragons, but it wouldn't "show" anything.