(no subject)
Ahh, the power of the internet.
I've been following the "OMFG OPRAH'S DEAD" viral since about half an hour and it's already spread some fair distances.
Originated: http://isitnormal.com/story/5315/
First got wind of it on IRC and decided to have a look and within a couple of seconds, I already thought it was fake.
I saw it surface on Digg (http://digg.com/celebrity/Oprah_Winfrey_Found_Dead_in_Home) and if you pay attention, all the posts that don't support it get marked down. All the links to screenshots of bbc.co.uk and MSNBC are all fake, not to mention the screenshots are obviously doctored.
THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL WEBSITE LINKS GIVEN. (Nothing from AP, Yahoo, MSNBC, Google).
BBC "screenshot": http://i33.tinypic.com/2hnte9k.gif
MSNBC "screenshot": http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=oprahnowdeadrt7.jpg
AP Newscast (faked):
CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Daytime talk-shop host Oprah Winfrey has been found dead in her Chicago home early Saturday morning. Winfrey, 54, was found by a family member, sprawled out across her bed. The family member had called Winfrey's phone multiple times, and after being concerned for her safety, the member went to her house.
The cause of death is currently unknown, but the FBI has teamed up with the Chicago Coroner's office to investigate the cause
There's even http://oprahsdeath.wordpress.com/2008/09/20/oprah-winfreys-death/.
BUT look closely. You'll see the stories differ significantly from something to do with her heart, to violent death (bashing and a gun shot to the stomach), to whatever else. So no consistency.
Grats to the people who did this. This is a prime example of how much we rely on the internet for information and MISinformation. Fantastic social experiment :D
Added 10:29am: May have come from 4chan community. There's been something about ebaum starting it but so far nothing.
- I'll keep following the viral trend, but I'm going out for a birthday so I'll be home in a few hours -
Kalika
I've been following the "OMFG OPRAH'S DEAD" viral since about half an hour and it's already spread some fair distances.
Originated: http://isitnormal.com/story/5315/
First got wind of it on IRC and decided to have a look and within a couple of seconds, I already thought it was fake.
I saw it surface on Digg (http://digg.com/celebrity/Oprah_Winfrey_Found_Dead_in_Home) and if you pay attention, all the posts that don't support it get marked down. All the links to screenshots of bbc.co.uk and MSNBC are all fake, not to mention the screenshots are obviously doctored.
THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL WEBSITE LINKS GIVEN. (Nothing from AP, Yahoo, MSNBC, Google).
BBC "screenshot": http://i33.tinypic.com/2hnte9k.gif
MSNBC "screenshot": http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=oprahnowdeadrt7.jpg
AP Newscast (faked):
CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Daytime talk-shop host Oprah Winfrey has been found dead in her Chicago home early Saturday morning. Winfrey, 54, was found by a family member, sprawled out across her bed. The family member had called Winfrey's phone multiple times, and after being concerned for her safety, the member went to her house.
The cause of death is currently unknown, but the FBI has teamed up with the Chicago Coroner's office to investigate the cause
There's even http://oprahsdeath.wordpress.com/2008/09/20/oprah-winfreys-death/.
BUT look closely. You'll see the stories differ significantly from something to do with her heart, to violent death (bashing and a gun shot to the stomach), to whatever else. So no consistency.
Grats to the people who did this. This is a prime example of how much we rely on the internet for information and MISinformation. Fantastic social experiment :D
Added 10:29am: May have come from 4chan community. There's been something about ebaum starting it but so far nothing.
- I'll keep following the viral trend, but I'm going out for a birthday so I'll be home in a few hours -
Kalika