Ancestors

Toot

Written by Toxy 🔬🇪🇺🇸🇪🇬🇧🇺🇦 on 2024-12-17 at 09:02

Today's compulsary #BetteridgesLaw headline from the Grauniad.

"Bird flu is a real pandemic threat. Are we prepared for the worst?"

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/16/bird-flu-pandemic-threat-prepared

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from toxy@mastodon.acc.sunet.se

Descendants

Written by Ben Aveling on 2024-12-17 at 09:36

@toxy is this really a case of Betteridges? Here, “no” is the exciting answer.

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from BenAveling@infosec.exchange

Written by Toxy 🔬🇪🇺🇸🇪🇬🇧🇺🇦 on 2024-12-17 at 10:11

@BenAveling I think so. At its simplest the maxim is if the headline ends in a question mark and can be answered with a simple yes/no then the answer is no.

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from toxy@mastodon.acc.sunet.se

Written by Ben Aveling on 2024-12-17 at 10:33

@toxy Yes, but. More than just the answer being no is that it would be exciting if the answer actually were yes. People read the article, to see if the answer is yes. Of course, it isn't. Because the reason for framing the headline as a question is that a more honest headline wouldn't attract any readers.

In this case the question is: "Is everything going to be OK?" And an answer of "no, it is going to be very bad" is not boring.

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from BenAveling@infosec.exchange