Did you hear the latest news?
- There are 11 missing planes in the Middle East that will likely be used in a 9/11 style terrorist attack.
- Tupac Shakur, thought to be dead, has been in hiding and recently resurfaced
- Casey Anthony, the woman acquitted by the courts (though convicted by public opinion) of killing her daughter, is now pregnant with twins and is going to have her own reality show soon.
- An Ohio church built a ridiculous youth center with all the games young people could want in hopes of being the coolest hangout in town.
- The coming winter is going to break all records in terms of snowfall – up to 50 times the normal amount.
These stories all have two things in common. First, they are fake news stories. False. Not true. Made up. Fiction. Some are created out of thin air, some can be the intentional twisting of facts. But, the fact is that they are not facts, but fiction. Second, each one has been widely circulated on Twitter and Facebook, shared repeatedly and treated as if they are true.
Every single day I see a few of these stories come across my Facebook feed, shared by friends and family. Often the stories are political in nature, feeding our desire for evidence to prove that the liberals out there are destroying America. Obama said something more ridiculous or did something more despicable than yesterday. Sometimes, they are hysteria inducing – Facebook is using its messenger app to take over your life, take pictures of you when you aren’t looking and change your phone around for no apparent reason. Plots. Conspiracies. Hidden agendas. They spread around the internet like wildfire.
There are a plethora of fake news sites that intentionally create news items for the sole purpose of seeing people make fools of themselves by reading, sharing and reacting to their articles.
I had an interesting exchange with a friend – someone who is not either a believer or a conservative. But he told me that most of these sites have a specific MO. They create fake articles that Christian, conservative, tea-party types WANT to believe. When we share them we look ridiculous and that is exactly what they want. People are intentionally creating fake news stories to make conservative Christians look stupid. There are some that feed into leftist prejudices as well, but these are much less common than the “I Love ‘Murica” sites.
And we are buying into it hook, line and sinker.
Look, everyone, up at the ceiling. The word gullible is written there just above you.
We are making ourselves look ridiculous and it needs to stop. More than that, we need to start being annoying, interfering, obnoxious fact checkers. In recent weeks and months I’ve taken to adding a comment when a Facebook friend shares one of these fake stories as if it is real. I try to be tactful, but it is time that those of us who are conservative Christians start holding one another accountable for our naivete and, I’m sorry, stupidity.
How hard is it to check the source of a story? A couple of clicks, a google search and you can find out if your facts are facts or fakes.
Let’s stop making is so easy to make us look stupid!
Here are some suggestions.
1) Check the source of the story.
Marty Duren posted a list on his Facebook site, culled by Mark Bednarz, listing some of the main fake news sites. All you have to do is check the source of the stories. if it comes from one of these sites, it is COMEDY. Don’t believe it. Don’t share it as true.
The Borowitz Report
Call the Cops
The Onion
Empire News
Empire Sports
Carbolic Smoke Ball
Cream BMP Daily
Daily Currant
Free Wood Post
Global Associated News
Huzlers
The Duffel Blog
National Report
Weekly World News
I couldn’t find the original link, but I copied this from Marty’s Facebook page where he identified Mark Bednarz as the source.
2) Practice discretion.
C’mon, guys. Some of those stories are so ridiculous you don’t even need to check the site. When a story strains credulity it probably isn’t true. Sometimes, it actually is. The story about the 9-year-old girl who shot her instructor by accident in a gun range – that was true. But most unbelievable stories ought not to be believed.
Just because a story buttresses your political beliefs does not mean it is true. Just because you WANT it to be true does not make it true. I think the current president is one of the worst things ever to happen to this country, but about 2/3 of the wild accusations made against him are just not true. Don’t let your disdain for the president, for Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi or any other political figure cause you to be suckered in by fake news.
When we make wild accusations against him that are proven to be baseless, it costs us credibility when we address his real beliefs, convictions and policy failures.
Show some discretion. Check things out. It’s not that hard.
3) Snopes. Snopes. Snopes.
Snopes.com is a pretty good site that gives fairly solid information. Chances are that if you are seeing a viral news story that you think might be fake, they probably have an article on it. They are not inerrant, but they are pretty good at tracking down these stories.
Sometimes, a simple google search will show you a story is fake.
4) The MSNBC/FOX Test
This is not a perfect test, because even the major news outlets have been taken in by fake news at times. But you can count on Fox to report a story that makes Democrats look bad. You can count on MS/NBC to report a story that makes Republicans look bad. If a story appears in neither, it is likely a fake.
5) When in doubt, DON’T!!!
Don’t share a story just because you like it. Unless you are fully confident that it is true, you ought not spread the virus. If you aren’t sure, don’t share. If you have any doubt at all, let it ride. Only share that which you know beyond any reasonable doubt to be true.
I hate to be redundant, but….
6) If you blow it, admit it.
We’ve all gotten taken in by a story at one time or another. If you get snookered, correct your errors as vigorously as you spread the fake story.
7) Identify the Fakes
This may annoy people, but when you see someone spreading a fake news story, add a comment that as tactfully as you can say it, identifies the story as untrue. Don’t call the person stupid, but let everyone know that the story is likely a hoax, a spoof, a fake. Not everyone will appreciate it, but if you are kind about it, it usually isn’t too offensive.
Don’t let the news fakers make us look like idiots anymore!!
You like tackling impossible tasks, do you?
While I would always correct one of these when it came across in conversation, I recognize an endless supply…for some of the reasons you give.
Christians (and I admit proximity bias here) can be among the most stupid of people. What would really get my goat is to hear some of this nonsense from the pulpit.
Amen. I actually preached on this a couple of weeks ago. I agree with William and Dave; Christians seem especially obtuse in this area. I’ve heard more than once in men’s bible study how astronomers have found Joshua’s lost day. I’ve even repeated things that I’ve seen that I didn’t think through or investigate (rope around the high priest’s ankle, shepherds breaking a lamb’s leg).
Good points as too often satire or jokes get taken as fact. However, the 11 planes story does have pretty good sourcing since Bill Gertz wrote about it. Gertz covered the Pentagon and DC for the Washington Times for about 25 years. So, when he cites an intelligence source, it is a pretty good bet the source is vetted with typical journalistic processes even though he now is a senior editor at the Washington Free Beacon.
The 11 planes story has been pretty authoritatively debunked.
Well, you’ve got USA Today passing along the news and Snopes calling it “mostly false.” Chaos in Lybia makes for some unaccounted planes. That is enough fact for the demagogues to run with it. At a given time I’d guess that there are many missing planes. The narrative can easily be foisted with 911 anniversary, the number ‘reported’ etc. It would be stupid for any pastor to use this in any way with his congregation…unless he has an emotional need to impress less educated and informed people. This kind of stuff is what I hear the loudmouth, gray-haired coffee crowd,… Read more »
William T
Last pragraph. Wow! Just Wow!
“This kind of stuff is what I hear the loudmouth, gray-haired coffee crowd, the bunch that has nothing else to do, talk about at McDonald’s each morning.”
Just to clarify, William. Are you criticizing that crowd from INSIDE?
Just wondering.
I say ‘hi’ to the codgers then sit by myself and read a real newspaper…and drink tea, not coffee.
snooty tea drinkers!
Pretty authoritatively debunked? Ok. Bill Gertz a reputable reporter published that story, but I guess that doesn’t mean anything these days. Gertz cited at least four possibly five federal officials. Now, is the story a big deal? Likely not for the homeland. However, Gertz is one if the best in the business and I’ll gladly defend his reporting.
Yea, Alan…I was thinking the same thing. It was not just the satire sites telling that story…it had some traction in all the major news outlets.
Tarheel, Exactly. This story likely has been exaggerated on social media and right-wing blogs; however, Gertz started the story and it isn’t like he is a wacko. Those questioning his story need to look at the number of scoops he’s published in his career. It even got him called out once or twice by Donald Rumsfeld. Even the NY Times talked about him. Here is the first paragraph of a story dated 2000: “Elsewhere in the country, spilling secrets may be a pastime; in Washington, it’s a profession. And there is no one who has done the job more zealously… Read more »
I agree wholeheartedly. Problem I come across, when you try to cite anything contradicting these falsehoods, you get charged with using a “leftist media source”.
Thus is the state of journalism in america…pretty much dead.
Adam: Wow, you aren’t kidding. The phrase “you can’t believe everything you see on the internet” does not apply to things you want to believe. At the risk of starting a bigger fight, that includes matters of science.
Yep
Gentlemen, the concept of phony news intriguing people is nothing new. Before this wonderful invention of the internet there was a stand of ridiculous phony newspapers at the end of every checkout counter in every supermarket in America. I remember reading Elvis is Alive and Martians are breeding with humans on a regular basis. These papers existed until the internet became a household item so they had to have been purchased by millions. The difference is we can now cut and paste and share our thoughts on the phony news for any who are interested to view. Dave’s post is… Read more »
Dean: You’re right, but I don’t recall stuff being printed that targeted Christians in particular. Plus, most of the tabloid stuff was read for entertainment, not really taken seriously. Like wrestling.
Bill, you are right in that Christians are being targeted. I have seen some blog post designated to making fun of believers’ interaction with fabricated stories. It does appear our enemy has taken something that was harmless in tabloid news and now is using it as a weapon to discredit believers. It’s a shame some help him by being so gullible.
Yes. I was told directly that several of these sites are specifically designed to make conservative Christian types look bad. I’m afraid it’s working.
Dave
Yes I agree. That is sad
Dean,
Speaking of cutting and pasting….
” I remember reading Elvis is Alive and Martians are breeding with humans on a regular basis. These papers existed until the internet became a household item so they had to have been purchased by millions. ”
You read these things? Were you on the millions who had these mags as “household” items?
Come on, fess up! 😉
I saw the infamous post of the pastor who dressed up as a homeless man from ten friends in one day, so I made an ambiguous post of my own talking about the need for fact checking all these Christian-y stories being circulated. I tried to word it strongly without being specific, but that backfired.
All ten friends “Liked” my post about their lack of discernment.
That is funny!
Add Lark News to the list. Have seen many things reposted by Christians from here that are clearly parody yet taken as true
Yes. I’ve seen “Lark News” reports shared as if they were real. Honestly, it’s called “Lark” news. That ought to be a hint.
Here in Arkansas, we have one of our own called Rock City Times. It’s the same type of thing…
I just can’t help wondering:
Did no one else hear the story of the Orson Welles radio broadcast of War of the Worlds? You know, panic in the streets over theatrical programming? That was part of learning about media back when we were still debating VHS or BetaMax, Commodore, Apple, or IBM, and wondering whatever happened to Atari!
Engage the brain, folks. Engage the brain.
Ummm, are you saying Orson Welle’s War of the worlds was going on during the VHS/Betamax debate? I recently heard a youth say, “you know, back in the 70s when all the movies were black and white”
Yea…youth…who likes them anyway… 😉
One told me the other day that “Anyone born before 1990 is old.”
I almost punched him in the face. 😉
The true crime in all this for us as Christians is that we are supposed to be servants of the Truth. But instead we are spreading reports that are lies thus putting us on the side of the one who was a Liar from the beginning. We need to not just correct our flock when they spread these viruses, but must instill in them that we as Christians should always be on the side of truth, which is why they must be more careful in what they believe and what they share.
“The true crime in all this for us as Christians is that we are supposed to be servants of the Truth.”
What William said.
Here’s the funny thing – I have friends on facebook who are believers and non-believers (even staunchly atheistic in some cases). Without fail the people who post the fake news stories are conservative Christians. My atheist friends NEVER post spurious stories. I think that speaks to your point of Christians being targeted. Even more disturbing for me in this trend is when I see conservative pastors quoting these stories from the pulpit. Not fact-checking things you say from the pulpit is inexcusable. “Water cooler” talk can be just as bad at church on these things. I can remember sitting in… Read more »
In fairness, there are some radically skewed left wing factual reports, but the tendency to share fake news does seem to come from “our side” more than “theirs.”
I think that it has mostly to do with the “out’s” vs. the “in’s.” Toward the end of Mr. Bush’s final term, most of the nonsense seemed to come from the left. But now, it comes mostly from the right.
If you read comment threads on almost any topic, you will find comments that are “unfavorable” to Mr. Obama. It does not even have to be a political topic. And the comment certainly does not have to be fact based.
Reminds me of one such pulpit situation I saw firsthand. Pastor of a church I once attended was talking about a new Muslim mosque in town being funded with oil money from Saudi Arabia. This was during a brotherhood meeting, so the setting was relaxed. He was asked to clarify the location of this mosque. When he did, it led to a bit of embarrassed silence by the men until one of them spoke up, “Pastor, that’s the Shriner’s building, not a mosque.” It wasn’t just that he mis-identified the building as a mosque (an understandable mistake in this case)… Read more »
Some of us old guys can remember the news story that surfaced about every year for 5 or so years that Madelyn Murray O’Hair (sp?) had succeeded in getting a House Bill introduced in congress that would outlaw any prayers being offered on the airwaves i.e. Radio and TV. Christians went into action writing congressmen etc. only to find it was a hoax to make us look bad. We finally quit biting at that bait. The hard part of this was when I explained to the member who brought me that “information” that this was a hoax and untrue, I… Read more »
That story may be the “Adam” of this entire phenomenon. That and the cherry that NASA had found a missing day in the stars.
I was impressed the one about the several mile deep well in Russia that they could hear folks crying out from hell. I actually heard a mega pastor report the story as fact in a message.
You mean it’s NOT true?
I heard the story of finding Joshua’s “day” in the mid-70’s, and it was in a famous Christian Book!! So we all thought, “Hey, its gotta be true, its in a book!” Sound familiar?
For the record, I LOVE these fake news sites. They are funny. They become decidedly UNfunny when reported as fact.
Would sharing these suspect news stories without researching them be considered “gossip”, and therefore a sin?
Adam,
I think if you spread them as truth, it very well could be identified in that way.
If you spread them as sharing a funny…then no.
Gossip? I don’t know about that. False witness? I think that’s closer. These urban legends are part of the problem, but we also have to be careful about how we embellish the biblical story using phrases we’ve heard a million times but can’t biblically support: eg: God the father turned his back on Jesus when he was on the cross because He can’t look upon sin. Things that are kinda-true-ish, but aren’t really there in the text. Do we know for certain that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was his eyesight? Are we absolutely sure it didn’t rain before the… Read more »
I once had a friend post this story as a true one…when I called him to caution him that the story was not true he got really upset. LOL
http://www.theonion.com/articles/white-house-jester-beheaded-for-making-fun-of-soar,17495/
It is a funny one though!
I will need to fact check the source of this post before I comment more.
Bravo.
Paul wins the internets today.
A criteria that Dave did not mention is the demand that the posting be shared/reposted, etc. before “it is taken down.” I don’t think that I ever found a posting that demanded that it be shared that was completely factual. Another thing that raises concern is if the posting agrees completely with my (or anyone’s) position on anything. Bill Cosby shows up from time to time on my Facebook page with a “comment” that just exactly fits the beliefs of the person sharing. They have always proven false when I have checked on them. What totally puzzles me is that… Read more »
The missing planes was the only link I had read (of the ones that Dave mentioned). The article was not satisfying in regard to what constituted a “missing plane” or where they might have gone. I kept watching for information in this comment thread but did not find any. Anyone know the story on the planes?
I notice that “moderation is in effect.” Was there a problem?
Anyone see this one?
http://dailycurrant.com/2014/05/05/christian-boy-dies-for-3-minutes-meets-allah-in-heaven/
This drives me crazy as both a Christian and a journalist. I think what lies at the heart of it, very often, is the desire to think the worst of the people with whom we disagree. That’s the opposite of Christianity, which says we are to love our enemies, and that love always hopes.
“the desire to think the worst of the people with whom we disagree.”
Well said.
Well, D. L. beat me to the O’Hair story. I remember it well. There was the story of how Hitler was not dead, but was secretly in a South American country planning a comeback. The story finally began to die down when people realized if this was true he would at that time be around 100 years old. Also, the story of JFK still alive and on a secret island somewhere. Man never really walked on the moon. But then, it goes at least all the way back to when Roman soldiers were bribed to say “His disciples came at… Read more »
I think we’d all agree with that, David.
However, when fake stories are told as true, that becomes an issue of integrity.
Fiction can be a great illustration, as long as it is not presented as fact.
Dave,
Agreed. And good article.
David R. Brumbelow
Dave, There are fake stories and true stories. The sad part of these fake stories and true stories is that half of the people cannot tell the difference. One poll taken in the U.S. said that 27% of the people believed that the President was born in Kenya. 23% believed the President was a Muslim. The Republican leaders really enjoyed watching all of this on Faux News. Many in the church believed every word that President Obama wasn’t born in the U.S. I am ashamed that I was a hard core Republican for 40 years. I had the mentality that… Read more »
I better place a “Merely” for the first word in the last paragraph.
Here is the latest viral news hoax I have heard:
“ISIS is not Islamic.”
Seriously?
“Isis is not Islamic”
That’s what the leader of the so called “follow the facts” Political party tells us.
Right, Jess?
If you were to enter a silly contest, first prize would go to you.
http://www.wnd.com/2014/09/obama-isis-is-not-islamic/
Win on the site automatically creating a link for URLs…
OK guys, isn’t this one of the ways that stupid stuff get spread and accepted as literal truth by we Christians? Yes, Mr. Obama said that, but from the pulpit, don’t we loudly proclaim, “Context is king”? In context the remark meant that ISIS does not fulfill what it means to be Moslem, at least as represented by what today we call “moderate Moslems” or by what it meant to be Moslem when an SBC Missionary was appointed to the staff of the Islamic Theological Seminary in Tehran 40 or so years ago. I could add the comment meant ISIS… Read more »
John is right. I’m loathe to defend the president, and I’m not sure he’s correct, even in context, but the context matters.
Satire should be BANNED. PERIOD. END OF STORY. I do not think Jesus would approve.
Yea – because humor, laughter and a merry heart aren’t at all gifts from God.
Lol. You got me. I should’ve hit your linked name before posting that sarcastic retort.
😉
Ha ha.
As a Conservative follower of Christ, I commend you for posting this article. Many of them are fellow conservative Christians. Matthew 22:37 says “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'” When we blindly follow these hoaxes, we are not using our minds to love the Lord. Every winter, you see these viral stories on facebook about an upcoming snowstorm in 10 days will dump 40 inches of snow. The sources are not reputable. People blindly believe these stories too. Yet, they become angry with forecasters when… Read more »
Volsfan88,
Are you one of Volfan007’s children?
Quick!
Somebody start talking about Calvinism!
A traditionalist walks into a bar.
The Calvinist ducks.
😛