How Two Hoaxes Took Down Journalistic Integrity
A catch up review of the 2006 Duke lacrosse team rape hoax story, and the 2013 UVA rape hoax and the aftermath.
Media: “Alpine Divorce – the new viral date”
The media jumped from a social media post to a “trend” that is not a trend.
Media: NY Times concerned that convicted murderer deported
NY Times implies it is wrong to deport a convicted murderer.
Media: Canada’s “mass graves” story collapsed
Several years ago, the world erupted in anger over allegations that perhaps 1000s of indigeneous children had died in Canadian schools and were buried in unmarked graves. The story turned out not to be true.
Follow up: Trevor Jacob and his faked for social media plane crash
Trevor Jacob pretended to have an engine out failure in his light plane, jumping out by parachute as his plane gradually circled to impact into a hillside in a remote area. He then filmed his “harrowing” escape and hike out. He now admits the entire stunt was done for social media views and a promotional fee, and has pled guilty to charges. He may be sentenced to prison.
Why people no longer trust the police
A legally deaf elderly woman missed a changed gate flight announcement, and after asking several gate agents for assistance, one calls the police. The police then arrest and handcuff her and take her to jail (in a wheelchair). In the jail, she is beaten by a jailer, her arm broken, and she is denied access to healthcare. 3 days later, she is released and undergoes surgery. The DA dropped all charges. Hopefully she sues the bastards back to the stone age. This, though, is why so many today are terrified of the police.
NBER paper: Why Is All COVID-19 News Bad News?
91% of US news about Covid topics was negative – even when reporting on positive vaccine developments or low case counts in schools. The media learned that consumers demand negativity – I postulate this is because consumers who are suffering from hysteria and anxiety seek out news that confirms their anxiety, and that being anxious is okay.
“Liking” the wrong post could get you fired
Clicking “Like” on a social media post that contains controversial commentary may get you fired from your job. This has happened in the past and may happen to some police officers who liked a controversial post from a former police officer that participated in the insurrection and attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Revisiting an old topic: “How White Supremacists incited panic and fear using social media propaganda at the University of Missouri – Social Panic”
Back in 2016, fake social media posts from fake social media accounts were used to incite fear and hysteria, with attempts to start riots. I documented this in detail back in 2016.
Today we again have fake social media posts being used to incite violence, looting, arson and anarchy – none of which leads to productive solutions to bona fide injustices and societal problems. Social media is playing a central role in this non-productive destruction of our society – and is not providing a platform for problem resolution.
Begging the Question Fallacy: Boeing, after showing us who they are, says this is not who they are
After Boeing’s internal records show employees criticizing the safety of the 737 MAX, Boeing insists “this is not who we are”. This is known as the “begging the question” fallacy, which is to assert that something is true, in spite of actual events, and assert everyone agrees with this. This method is extremely common in corporate and government propaganda efforts.