Pity Fishing

The act of searching for pity or sympathy by making something sound far worse than it really is.

Dave: Hey dude, what's up?

Jim: I got attacked by this massive, vicious dog in the park yesterday... I thought I was going to die...

Dave: OMG! Are you OK?

later...

Dave: Did you hear about Jim? He got attacked by a massive dog!

Fred: He's just pity fishing, I was there. He was barked at by a dog.