General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBBC: The Godfather of Fake News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/the_godfather_of_fake_newsMeet one of the worlds most prolific writers of disinformation
Christopher Blair takes a sip of his coffee.
Then he carefully focuses on one of the three screens in front of him.
Hes in his home office, 45 minutes outside Portland, Maine, on the US East Coast.
Stroking his thick beard, he looks at his bookmarks bar.
He takes another sip before his coffee goes cold, inhales long and hard, then logs into the back end of one of his many websites.
He begins by choosing a subject. Which lucky politician will be on the receiving end of his attention today?
Bill Clinton? Hillary Clinton? One of the Obamas?
Or maybe the subject of his story wont be a person, but a policy. Gun control? Police brutality? Feminism? Anything that will push buttons.
Next, the details.
Perhaps hell make up a controversial incident, a crime, a new law or a constitutional amendment.
Changing the US constitution is particularly fun - hes already written more than 30 fake amendments. (There are only 27 genuine ones.)
Blair sits back in his chair and focuses intently on the screen. He leans forward, places his hands on the keyboard and starts the same way he does every time.
Caps lock. BREAKING. Colon...
BREAKING: Clinton Foundation Ship Seized at Port of Baltimore Carrying Drugs, Guns and Sex Slaves
The words flow from the thoughts in his head. Unconnected to reality, he needs no research, and no notes.
His fingers rhythmically tap the keys. Letters form into words, words into sentences and sentences into a blog of about 200 words.
It doesnt take long to write.
Publish.
Blair sits back in his chair and watches the likes and shares roll in.
Read on to see the fact checker to this creep.
It's a very good read.
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,085 posts)And if you read all the fine print, it's clear that it is.
But most idiots out there neither understand satire nor care about reading fine print, so.....
geardaddy
(24,924 posts)I think it's actually causing major harm.
Raster
(20,996 posts)...JUST FUCKING STOP IT. The Rethuglicans* that read --and feed on-- this "satire" have no freaking clue they are being toyed with. Take the "Q Anon" movement, for example. Now is the time FOR EVERYONE to be as clear and concise as possible.
Clinton torture chambers??? How would this dipshit feel if the "satire" pen were turned on himself... you know, something "satirical" about how he's abusing his kids, for example?
Demit
(11,238 posts)Here are the words flowing from the thoughts in my head: that is some awful writing.
mn9driver
(4,412 posts)This article tells you up front what Blair really is:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjclrPNyfXeAhUF0VMKHcolDjEQzPwBegQIARAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnational%2Fnothing-on-this-page-is-real-how-lies-become-truth-in-online-america%2F2018%2F11%2F17%2Fedd44cc8-e85a-11e8-bbdb-72fdbf9d4fed_story.html&psig=AOvVaw1QwKTG4FbnQ11a2Ald6A8n&ust=1543442526392765
geardaddy
(24,924 posts)I guess I jumped the gun posting this before reading the whole thing.
mn9driver
(4,412 posts)It is quite literally impossible to underestimate their intelligence.