General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI signed on to DU last night and it looked like the National Enquirer...
There was drama! There were rumors galore! There were screaming headlines! We had it all.
For a moment, I thought I had signed on to the wrong place?
FSogol
(45,525 posts)hlthe2b
(102,352 posts)EarlG
(21,966 posts)Twitter personality A: "I'm hearing something big is coming! Are you hearing this, guys?"
Twitter personality B (who hasn't heard anything but wants to sound informed): "Oh yes, I'm also hearing that same thing!"
Twitter personality C (who doesn't want to be left out): "I too am hearing that something big is coming!"
Twitter personality D (who is using Twitter personality A as a source): "My sources are telling me that something big is coming!"
Twitter personality E: "My feed is lighting up with rumors that something big is coming!"
Everyone else: "Have you seen Twitter? Lots of chatter about something big coming!"
And then if something big happens within 24-48 hours everyone can pat each other on the back, and if it doesn't, nobody will remember.
Oneironaut
(5,524 posts)Its because of confirmation bias. Thats why I hate Twitter as a source of information. As I said yesterday, anyone can make anything up and become a journalist.
There are people on Twitter who purposely throw red meat stories out because they know the stories will be taken at face value and passed around.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)And you got an haughty slap down for being so....evidently you do follow real journalists after all hey?
And don't trust frauds who bait the gullible.
The user D using user A as a source as Earl describes caught my eye
Oneironaut
(5,524 posts)If I learned anything from Twitter and (especially) Facebook, its that everything should be assumed garbage until proven otherwise.
kentuck
(111,110 posts)demmiblue
(36,884 posts).99center
(1,237 posts)All those rumors were being circulated by Twitter accounts associated with the previous Alt-righter, Louise Mensch.
herding cats
(19,567 posts)Especially this part, Twitter personality D (who is using Twitter personality A as a source).
FSogol
(45,525 posts)jodymarie aimee
(3,975 posts)not much in the way of quality.
HopeAgain
(4,407 posts)Twittersteria? Tweemours? Social Speculation?
Mister Ed
(5,943 posts)But they weren't sure what.
FSogol
(45,525 posts)C Moon
(12,221 posts)Paranoid, I know. But it seemed crazy to believe some guy's Tweet about news from a "reliable source."
DBoon
(22,397 posts)A scandal about the royal family?
Unflattering photos of celebrities in swimsuits?
Tell me more. Enquiring minds need to know.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,361 posts)Well, I think it was DU adding family names - the Twitter "names" were being non-specific, but smug.
Could still happen, I suppose, but I think Mueller has announced charges in the morning each time before.
Irish_Dem
(47,375 posts)But some of the speculation has proven to be correct.
H2O Man
(73,605 posts)I was tempted to address the "rumors."
Brother Buzz
(36,461 posts)I'm still waiting for my promised pony.