Maybe The Onion went too far this time

[Locutus]

The tweets in particular.


The United States Capitol Police on Thursday said they were investigating The Onion, a satiric media organization, for making false reports on Twitter claiming that there was a hostage situation inside the Capitol building.
Starting at 10:33 a.m., The Onion’s Twitter account began spewing the fake messages that began with this post: “BREAKING: Witnesses reporting screams and gunfire heard inside Capitol building.”
Ten minutes later, the Twitter account posted: “BREAKING: Capitol building being evacuated. 12 children held hostage by group of armed congressmen. #CongressHostage.”
The posts are related to a satiric article and doctored photo on The Onion’s Web site that describes a fake hostage situation.


more...

The Onion's Twitter Posts Draw Scrutiny - NYTimes.com

 

[earth_as_one]

Congress Takes Group Of Schoolchildren Hostage
'We Need $12 Trillion Or All These Kids Die'
http://www.theonion.com/articles/congress-takes-group-of-schoolchildren-hostage,26207/

I think that's funny, but I love satire and Monty Python.

Anyone following the Onion on twitter, should know the Onion is satire...

 

[Nuggler]

Congress Takes Group Of Schoolchildren Hostage
'We Need $12 Trillion Or All These Kids Die'
http://www.theonion.com/articles/congress-takes-group-of-schoolchildren-hostage,26207/

I think that's funny, but I love satire and Monty Python.

Anyone following the Onion on twitter, should know the Onion is satire...

The dullards on Capitol Hill don't seem to like satire. Nor the teabaggers who wanna be there.......:lol:

Joe McCarthy is apparently still alive and kicking

 

[karrie]

A single statement like that though, does not constitute satire. Therein lies the issue. Just like, no matter how sarcastic or satirical you think you're being, yelling 'bomb' in an airport will get you into a load of trouble.

 

[CDNBear]

A single statement like that though, does not constitute satire. Therein lies the issue. Just like, no matter how sarcastic or satirical you think you're being, yelling 'bomb' in an airport will get you into a load of trouble.

What if I yell "Boob" while in the audience at "Dancing with the stars"?

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

A single statement like that though, does not constitute satire. Therein lies the issue. Just like, no matter how sarcastic or satirical you think you're being, yelling 'bomb' in an airport will get you into a load of trouble.

I don't follow The Onion regularly, I have caught a bit of their stuff, but I would have to agree with you Karrie. You don't yell fire in a theatre, you don't say bomb in an airport, so common sense would dictate that a hostage taking over even social media is not too smart.

Could this have been re-twitted by someone else other than the onion I wonder? Thus removing the satirical side.

 

[CDNBear]

Sorry guys, the minute I read "Congressmen take kids hostage"...

I would have called bullsh!t.

 

[EagleSmack]

Too far... hmmm... maybe.

I remember The Onion special 9/11 issue that came out right after the attack. The cover showed the second plane hitting WTC 2 and the headline read....


HOLY F*ING SH*T!

 

[CDNBear]

Too far... hmmm... maybe.

I remember The Onion special 9/11 issue that came out right after the attack. They cover showed the second plane hitting WTC 2 and the headline read....


HOLY F*ING SH*T!

 

[EagleSmack]

I cannot believe it is not out there on the net! I am trying to find the cover photo.

 

[WLDB]

Meh. I see no problem with it.

 

[CDNBear]

I cannot believe it is not out there on the net! I am trying to find the cover photo.

Looks like they wiped it themselves...

http://origin.theonion.com/onion3734/index.html/

 

[karrie]

Sorry guys, the minute I read "Congressmen take kids hostage"...

I would have called bullsh!t.

It's the first one that's the issue... the other one's obvious. But ten minutes on a platform which exists for the sole purpose of disseminating information is enough time for something like this... “BREAKING: Witnesses reporting screams and gunfire heard inside Capitol building.” to be taken seriously and start a panic amongst the twits.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

It's the first one that's the issue... the other one's obvious. But ten minutes on a platform which exists for the sole purpose of disseminating information is enough time for something like this... “BREAKING: Witnesses reporting screams and gunfire heard inside Capitol building.” to be taken seriously and start a panic amongst the twits.

I know I am still shaking.

Someone please hold me.

 

[CDNBear]

It's the first one that's the issue... the other one's obvious. But ten minutes on a platform which exists for the sole purpose of disseminating information is enough time for something like this... “BREAKING: Witnesses reporting screams and gunfire heard inside Capitol building.” to be taken seriously and start a panic amongst the twits.

Ya, I'd buy that, if it wasn't posted by "The Onion".

 

[karrie]

Ya, I'd buy that, if it wasn't posted by "The Onion".

You know what the onion is though.... as a tweet spreads, does everyone who sees it know what The Onion is?

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

You know what the onion is though.... as a tweet spreads, does everyone who sees it know what The Onion is?

I pity the fool that gets any of his news via Twitter or FaceBook.

The fact that this became serious is a very sad commentary on our society today. One more proof that we have all lost our sense of common sense and/or humour.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

I pity the fool that gets any of his news via Twitter or FaceBook.

The fact that this became serious is a very sad commentary on our society today. One more proof that we have all lost our sense of common sense and/or humour.

Your prolly rite.

 

[karrie]

I pity the fool that gets any of his news via Twitter or FaceBook.

Oh we could fill a whole other thread on the issue of people who think anything they see on a computer screen is fact. But, we all know they exist. The Onion knows they exist. Pitiable, yes. Fools, yes. Part of society that we need to be aware of, equally yes.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

Did you know that Obama is a Muslim?

The President of the United Staes is a Muslim!

Can you believe it!

A muslim!