virus: 400 words for BS

Reed Konsler (konsler@ascat.harvard.edu)
Thu, 5 Jun 1997 13:46:14 -0400 (EDT)


Date: Wed, 4 Jun 97 16:48:40 -0400
From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>

>Why did the originator use it as an example?
>How did it get (and continue to get) past fact-checking discriminators?

And in what way are other UL's (urban legends) memetic? I would of course
say that Brodie is attempting to propagate a UL by his claims about
subjective advertising. There have been other UL's parading as facts here
on this list....

Haven't there, boys and girls?
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Ah, almost!

Here's another parable, I'm not sure if it's true:

Once there was an industrial worker in Ohio. He noticed
that the waste materials from the industrial process were
being dumped into the river, and believed that this was
dangerous.

After a lot of soul-searching and a discussion with his
wife over whether the issue was worth losing his job
and livelyhood over, he decided to blow the whistle.

So, he called the 800 number the Hardcopy showed
every evening, becuase he knew that was where
cutting-edge exposes of excess and public danger
was cpvered, and told his story. And Hardcopy sent
some reporters, and the piece was broadcast.

And the company is still dumping shit in the river.
--------------------------------------

What is a Conspiracy Theory?
What is an Urban Legend?
What is "Truth"?
Who do you trust?
What are your standards of evidence?

Reed

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Reed Konsler konsler@ascat.harvard.edu
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