# Alleged James Foley "beheading" video is so incredibly fake. How is anyone buying this bullshit? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 21, 2014, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069 "2014-08-21T07:59:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/1 "2014-08-21T07:59:19Z")
Link to the alleged, NSFW but not-really-that-gory-because-it’s-so-badly-faked “full” video of James Foley being “beheaded” (fast-forward to the 4 minute mark to skip all the blah blah blah): [ItemFix - Social Video Factory](http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f78_1408486626) (there’s a confirmation page before the video) How the fuck has anyone thought this is real? Why are major news outlets reporting that it’s real? They **FADE TO BLACK** when the actual beheading is supposedly occurring then cut to a really badly Photoshopped STILL IMAGE of his supposedly beheaded head resting on his supposedly beheaded body? Not to mention that there is no blood whatsoever as the guy starts supposedly slitting his throat. There are tons of videos on the Internet of actual, real beheadings and the blood starts gushing pretty much immediately. And real terrorists like to show the actual event, as terrorizing people is kind of the fucking POINT of being a terrorist. This PG-13 shit is a joke. It makes me angry that people are acting like it’s real “omg let’s bomb ISIS because DECAPITATION!” and it’s actually on the news, being accepted as real. Fucking morons. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/2 "2014-08-21T09:26:49Z")
But is it a fake made by someone else, or a fake made to pretend like they killed him? The latter was my initial assumption on hearing about this, but the former seems more likely to me now. ---
**Author:** ![JesterX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JesterX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JesterX)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/3 "2014-08-21T09:35:10Z")
The only other beheading video I’ve seen was the Nick Berg one by that Zarqawi guy ( who was later killed, thankfully). There wasn’t much blood in that one, either. The one thing that does kind of make the Foley one suspect is the way he was so cooperative in reading that bogus statement. I mean, if he knows they’re gonna decapitate him, why be so accommodating? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/4 "2014-08-21T09:43:06Z")
> [@JesterX](#): > > The only other beheading video I’ve seen was the Nick Berg one by that Zarqawi guy ( who was later killed, thankfully). There wasn’t much blood in that one, either. > > The one thing that does kind of make the Foley one suspect is the way he was so cooperative in reading that bogus statement. I mean, if he knows they’re gonna decapitate him, why be so accommodating? It’s easy to think you’d fight when you’re safe at home. But history shows, you’d probably read the cards too. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/5 "2014-08-21T09:49:31Z")
> [@JesterX](#): > > The only other beheading video I’ve seen was the Nick Berg one by that Zarqawi guy ( who was later killed, thankfully). There wasn’t much blood in that one, either. > > The one thing that does kind of make the Foley one suspect is the way he was so cooperative in reading that bogus statement. I mean, if he knows they’re gonna decapitate him, why be so accommodating? I thought about that & maybe the choice was “We can slit your throat quick & behead you if you cooperate or we can saw through your neck while you’re still living if you don’t.” And ISIS has more than warranted its extermination before this. ---
**Author:** ![JesterX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JesterX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JesterX)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/6 "2014-08-21T09:53:50Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > It’s easy to think you’d fight when you’re safe at home. But history shows, you’d probably read the cards too. I’m wondering if maybe Foley WAS beheaded, but not in that video. Reflecting on the Nick Berg beheading, there were at least 4 guys with Zarqawi who held Berg down. And Zarqawi used a big, monster blade. This guy used a relatively small blade and Foley never moved when the guy allegedly started cutting on him. I don’t care how cooperative you might be, NOBODY is gonna sit still when someone starts sawing on their neck. It’s possible they made Foley think it was a show just to get him to read the statement. Then afterward, they did it for real. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/7 "2014-08-21T11:27:04Z")
What a lovely commentary on the state of the world that we have enough data to justify this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/8 "2014-08-21T11:49:14Z")
> [@JesterX](#): > > The one thing that does kind of make the Foley one suspect is the way he was so cooperative in reading that bogus statement. I mean, if he knows they’re gonna decapitate him, why be so accommodating? Bear in mind that I haven’t seen the video, but that’s not particularly suspicious to me in and of itself. When you’re broken, you’re broken. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/9 "2014-08-21T11:54:53Z")
So, you know how Bush did 9/11 so he could invade Iraq, or something? Now Obama is pretending to behead Americans so he can run away from Iraq? ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/10 "2014-08-21T11:59:52Z")
**Rigmarole** , just curious as to why you signed off the OP as a plural… ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/11 "2014-08-21T12:03:31Z")
The reason he was so compliant is because he very likely had been put through many many false executions already, possibly daily. It’s a common psychological torture tactic. Read this in full like you mean it or we torture you painfully. Over and over and over until eventually he just does as he’s told and had no idea that today’s “execution” is actually the real one. And the video is real. I watched it (unfortunately) and you clearly see his throat being cut into severely before it fades to black. Why would you think it was faked? We were already bombing the fuck out of ISIS with a fair amount of approval. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/12 "2014-08-21T12:06:47Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > There are tons of videos on the Internet of actual, real beheadings and the blood starts gushing pretty much immediately You know, most people are into cute puppy and kitten videos. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/13 "2014-08-21T12:08:37Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > Why would you think it was faked? I think I know this one. Is it anything to do with desperately wanting to feel smarter than everyone else? ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/14 "2014-08-21T12:18:33Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > The reason he was so compliant is because he very likely had been put through many many false executions already, possibly daily. It’s a common psychological torture tactic. Read this in full like you mean it or we torture you painfully. Over and over and over until eventually he just does as he’s told and had no idea that today’s “execution” is actually the real one. Thank you. Been wondering this, and its the beet explanation I’ve seen. For those wondering - in the video he does not look beaten or worn down. Seems to be cooperating whole heartedly. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/15 "2014-08-21T12:19:39Z")
The Daniel Pearle video faded to black just as the beheading started. Although I wish that he was actually alive somewhere I know that’s not true. I have two theories on why they did it this way in this video. I have a feeling both are correct. 1. It didn’t go quick and easy and it looked messy and against the professional killer image they wanted to project. 2. They posted it on YouTube and were hoping by not showing the execution the video would be left up for many people to see. This may be the act of savages but there is no reason why savages can’t be media savvy. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/16 "2014-08-21T12:23:41Z")
This thread should be beheaded. Argument from incredulity. > [@JesterX](#): > > The one thing that does kind of make the Foley one suspect is the way he was so cooperative in reading that bogus statement. I mean, if he knows they’re gonna decapitate him, why be so accommodating? What about hope until the bitter end? He probably though complying had a better chance of survival than non-compliance. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/17 "2014-08-21T12:29:29Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > 1. It didn’t go quick and easy and it looked messy and against the professional killer image they wanted to project. > 2. They posted it on YouTube and were hoping by not showing the execution the video would be left up for many people to see. I disagree with both of these assessments. 1. I think a grisly death struggle is precisely what the thugs would like an audience they are trying to cow to see. If they wanted to appear to be professional assassins, they would have just AK’d him in the head. 2). Nah. I don’t think they had the expectation that even a diluted beheading video would last on YouTube for long. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/18 "2014-08-21T12:58:00Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > 1. I think a grisly death struggle is precisely what the thugs would like an audience they are trying to cow to see. If they wanted to appear to be professional assassins, they would have just AK’d him in the head. They’re not trying to appear to be professional assassins, but professional terrorists. The image they want to project is people who are competent at doing horrific things. My understanding is that a lot of “amateurs” underestimate the effort required in beheading. If you don’t have a decent weapon, you’ll probably end up looking like an idiot if you try to cut someone’s head off. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/19 "2014-08-21T13:15:58Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > I disagree with both of these assessments. > > 1. I think a grisly death struggle is precisely what the thugs would like an audience they are trying to cow to see. If they wanted to appear to be professional assassins, they would have just AK’d him in the head. > > 2). Nah. I don’t think they had the expectation that even a diluted beheading video would last on YouTube for long. And I disagree with your disagreement. So there! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069/20 "2014-08-21T14:13:04Z")
If its fake, why don’t they say so? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alleged-james-foley-beheading-video-is-so-incredibly-fake-how-is-anyone-buying-this-bullshit/696069.md?page=2)