Over at Rob Port's excellent blog, Say Anything, he has a contributor by the name of "Pilgrim." (Why bloggers can't just use their real names, I'll never know.) He's a damned fine essayist, solid thinker, and seems like a decent sort. But he got fed a story that was apparently "too good to check" -- or, at least, check thoroughly -- and it bit him on the ass.
it's a hell of a story, too -- the city of San Francisco, in order to help meet its citizens' needs for medical marijuana, was taking a farm by eminent domain. I was reading it and composing my own tirade about it when I ran across one quote:
"This project is absolutely needed to keep San Francisco on the cutting edge of societal evolution." This was supposedly said by San Francisco City Councilman Ted Brenner. That grabbed my attention, as "cutting edge of societal evolution" is, I believe, a phrase used most often (and quite possibly coined by) Rush Limbaugh. The idea of a San Francisco city official using that particular phrase to justify a city-owned pot farm seemed a bit too much.
So I started digging into the story. First, I discovered that San Francisco doesn't have a City Councilman named "Ted Brenner." In fact, it doesn't have any City Council -- it uses a Board of Supervisors. Also, only two outlets (beyond Say Anything) were picking up on this story -- the site Pilgrim linked to, and a radio or TV station. (Now, it seems, a lot more people have "bit.")
Well, I went to the horse's mouth -- the original article -- and clicked on the "about" link. That's where I found this quote:
About Us E-mailOfficial News Agency is satire - social commentary through humor and sarcasm. No story we write should be taken seriously.
Even though you may find elements in our stories that are inspired by actual events, you should never make any conclusions based upon our articles, columns, or silly bits. Best to go read a real news story... although we can't honestly tell you where to find one.
But let's take a page from Dan Rather's notebook on this one. Yes, the story is false. But does that make the underlying idea bogus.
Why did so many believe the story? Well, it's not like San Francisco's reputation is so pristine, so strait-laced, so responsible, that such a thing is utterly inconceivable. Well, judging by events of the last week, the notion that San Fran might want to own its own pot farm -- and would trample all over the individual property rights to obtain it -- is really not much of a stretch. And with the Kelo decision still fresh in people's minds (the case where the Supreme Court ruled that communities can take private land and give it to another private entity "for the common good"), it all made a sort of twisted sense.
Hell, if it wasn't for the Rush Limbaugh catchphrase, I was ready to bite.
Those guys at Official News Agency might give The Onion a run for their money. Their story on child donors to Democratic presidential candidates is also great (note the quote from "Cindy Lu Hu"), I can almost buy this story about Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown, and this story has a nice double-zinger -- hitting both Iran and China.
I think I'm gonna keep these folks' site bookmarked. They have some talent. And conservative humorists are few and far between.
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Comments (13)
"Why bloggers can't just us... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Jay | November 4, 2007 7:39 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
"Why bloggers can't just use their real names, I'll never know."
Heh.
1. Posted by Jay | November 4, 2007 7:39 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 4, 2007 07:39
2. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | November 4, 2007 9:02 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
"Why bloggers can't just use their real names, I'll never know."
Perhaps they are fearful some leftist loon will track them down and attack them or vandalize their house or car for something they say - or that a more powerful "gatekeeper" sort will abuse their political position to audit them or otherwise harass their business.
Nah, that couldn't happen.
2. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | November 4, 2007 9:02 AM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on November 4, 2007 09:02
3. Posted by Florida Guardsmen/Former Republican | November 4, 2007 9:32 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
What number 2 said, especially if they are in the Government.
3. Posted by Florida Guardsmen/Former Republican | November 4, 2007 9:32 AM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on November 4, 2007 09:32
4. Posted by Eric Forhan | November 4, 2007 10:04 AM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
I can understand celebrities and insiders not wanting to reveal themselves.
However, in an age when anyone can hide behind an Internet mask, I do respect when someone uses his (or her) real name.
Though I'm a bit biased. :)
4. Posted by Eric Forhan | November 4, 2007 10:04 AM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 4, 2007 10:04
5. Posted by epador | November 4, 2007 10:38 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
See how one parenthetical can ruin a thread (And I like using my real name too, I just used a fake one on my uniformed commissions)?
5. Posted by epador | November 4, 2007 10:38 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 4, 2007 10:38
6. Posted by Eric Forhan | November 4, 2007 10:48 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
BTW, good researching, Jay Tea.
It's good to see bloggers vetting themselves and each other.
epador What else should we talk about? ;)
6. Posted by Eric Forhan | November 4, 2007 10:48 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 4, 2007 10:48
7. Posted by Peter F. | November 4, 2007 10:57 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Being from S.F. (only outsiders and ESPN's Stuart Scott refer to it as "San Fran"), and knowing the whack jobs that sit on the Board of Dupes, this is pretty tame--even if it's not true.
Heck, if they declared Nov.4 a city-wide holiday for Gay Wiccans Against A Children's Playground In Golden Gate Park, I STILL wouldn't be all that surprised.
7. Posted by Peter F. | November 4, 2007 10:57 AM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on November 4, 2007 10:57
8. Posted by Paul | November 4, 2007 11:34 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
You're right Jay... Say hello to Momma Tea and Mr. Tea from me wouldya?
8. Posted by Paul | November 4, 2007 11:34 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 4, 2007 11:34
9. Posted by OregonMuse | November 4, 2007 11:39 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
I wonder if "Mr. Tea" pities the fool who don't use his real name.
9. Posted by OregonMuse | November 4, 2007 11:39 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 4, 2007 11:39
10. Posted by LaMedusa | November 4, 2007 12:16 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
"Best to go read a real news story... although we can't honestly tell you where to find one."
Okay that made me laugh. Site duly bookmarked. :)
10. Posted by LaMedusa | November 4, 2007 12:16 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 4, 2007 12:16
11. Posted by epador | November 4, 2007 12:23 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Heh Hint Heh, I know its early Sunday morning after the end of DST, but the satire marker seems to bring on the blinders for some every time... (now to ruin a comment with both a parenthetical and an ellipsis) ...or their humor is missed by my dense morning fog.
11. Posted by epador | November 4, 2007 12:23 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 4, 2007 12:23
12. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | November 5, 2007 4:23 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"Gay Wiccans"
That sounds rhetorical to me.
12. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | November 5, 2007 4:23 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2007 16:23
13. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | November 5, 2007 4:25 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Redundant even!
13. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | November 5, 2007 4:25 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2007 16:25