Circular reporting

[makena]

This is interesting. Check it out if you have about 10 minutes...

https://www.wimp.com/a-demonstration-of-how-easy-it-is-to-spread-misinformation-online/

Mak

[RiverDog]

Rarely do I watch videos regardless of the topic, but being that you're the one that suggested it, I watched it. Very interesting, but it left me wondering how that guy that did the investigation got paid as he obviously spent countless hours on researching his premise. Only a retired fool like me would have that much time on his hands.

[Aseahawkfan]

Not something I didn't know. I've seen this kind of thing spread since the Internet existed. It's only more prevalent with people getting their information over their phones. I'm not even sure it's different than in the past when information spread word of mouth and used to spread tall tales chatting about town.

[RiverDog]

Not something I didn't know. I've seen this kind of thing spread since the Internet existed. It's only more prevalent with people getting their information over their phones. I'm not even sure it's different than in the past when information spread word of mouth and used to spread tall tales chatting about town.

I tend to agree with ASF. I can remember all the gossipy supermarket check-out tabloids, the most prominent being the National Enquirer, and how many false stories they perpetuated (Carol Burnett once successfully sued the National Enquirer for libel). Later on, CBS and Dan Rather got duped into running with a falsified report about GW Bush's service in the National Guard, and there was Peter Arnett's reporting of the so-called Navy Tailhook scandal. Even after stories were proven to be false, people continued to believe them.

There's always has been and always will be "fake news". But what this video demonstrates is that it's more difficult than ever to seperate the wheat from the chaff. I guess the old saying rings true that you should believe half of what you see and nothing of what you hear (or read).