# Ever read an actual article you thought was from 'The Onion'? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 31, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469 "2009-03-31T17:53:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/1 "2009-03-31T17:53:13Z")
I surf the Internet at work and often have a few newspapers open along with [‘The Onion’](http://www.theonion.com/content/index), I can’t always tell the difference. [Bankruptcy Is Now ‘More Probable,’ New G.M. Chief Says](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/01/business/01auto.html?hp) this is the latest one. Does anyone else stumble on serious news articles they thought were a joke? ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/2 "2009-04-01T17:21:53Z")
It makes me a bad person, I know, but I found the headline and first few paragraphs to be decidedly Onionesque. > **[Chinese mistress contest takes tragic turn - CNN.com](http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/17/china.mistress.contest/index.html)** > > A married Chinese businessman who could no longer afford five mistresses held a competition to decide which one to keep. ---
**Author:** ![Caveat\_lector\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@Caveat\_lector\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caveat_lector_1)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/3 "2009-04-01T17:45:06Z")
> [@Gozu\_Tashoya](#): > > It makes me a bad person, I know, but I found the headline and first few paragraphs to be decidedly Onionesque. > [http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/17/china.mistress.contest/index.html](http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/17/china.mistress.contest/index.html) I think this turned out to possibly be false. > **[人民网--404页面](http://www.people.cn/404/error.html)** ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/4 "2009-04-01T18:03:17Z")
During the big Prince Charles/Diana divorce media frenzy, the San Francisco Chronicle ran a full page article about Prince Edward entitled, “Flash! Prince Makes No News!” Which was basically a news article about how Edward never did anything newsworthy. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/5 "2009-04-02T00:51:49Z")
[The (real) story about the lady](http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-scrapper12jan12,0,2864452,full.story)who was booted from the pantheon of scrapbooking superstars. ---
**Author:** ![Tamarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tamarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamarin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/6 "2009-04-02T17:06:05Z")
I saved a printed a copy of an article from the Idaho Statesman that is all about the 80’s hair band, Poison, stopping to eat at the local Cracker Barrel restaurant. They tipped the waitress $25 and left her a sticker that was worth _up to 5 whole dollars_ on ebay! Unfortunately I can’t find it online anymore, but it is awesome. It totally could have come from The Onion. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/7 "2009-04-02T20:03:09Z")
There was one about the [Bolivian Navy](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/world/americas/24bolivia.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=bolivian%20navy&st=cse)that I still carry around with me. Awesomely silly situation. > [@](#): > > “All we want is a 10-kilometer strip to call our own.” > [@](#): > > “We now guarantee that almost all of our sailors learn how to swim.” ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/8 "2009-04-02T20:23:35Z")
The headline [here](http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/turnix-worcesteri/) is priceless. I thought it was a joke until halfway down the article. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/9 "2009-04-02T20:33:02Z")
I thought [this](http://http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-obama-queen2-2009apr02,0,7701231.story) one about Obama giving Queen Elizabeth an iPod was a joke playing off the DVD incident at first. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/10 "2009-04-02T21:57:41Z")
Nope, but I remember reading a letter to Reader’s Digest a few years ago from some lady who thought kids were practicing witchcraft after reading Harry Potter. Her source: The Onion. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/11 "2009-04-02T21:59:03Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > The headline [here](http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/turnix-worcesteri/) is priceless. I thought it was a joke until halfway down the article. That’s awful! No more of that bird. Reminds me of that “Dinosaurs” episode. ---
**Author:** ![fighting\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ac8455/32.png) [@fighting\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fighting_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/12 "2009-04-02T22:42:04Z")
From the NYTimes: [Virtual Leagues Fold, Forcing Gamers to Find Actual Jobs](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/sports/othersports/02video.html) Money quote: > [@](#): > > Justin Brown, 18, is one such gamer. In Major League Gaming, he plays on a four-person team he started with his twin, Jason. As high school seniors last year, they each won $30,000 at tournaments. They have been playing Halo since they were 13. > > “On the weekends, we would play for 12 hours straight, only taking breaks to eat and sleep,” Justin Brown said. “That was the greatest time of my life then.” > > … > > Rodriguez said his mother and sister recently asked him if he might consider college or seeking a higher position at work. He told them he intended to give this quest one more shot. > > “I still believe in gaming,” he said. “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I just gave it up.” ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/13 "2009-04-03T01:46:33Z")
I just saw a headline, “Nebraska man sentenced for shooting neighbor with crossbow.” ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/14 "2009-04-03T02:47:41Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > That’s awful! No more of that bird. Reminds me of that “Dinosaurs” episode. Oh, if they found one, there’s probably a breeding population. I laughed my head off. ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/15 "2009-04-03T03:42:32Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > I thought [this](http://http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-obama-queen2-2009apr02,0,7701231.story) one about Obama giving Queen Elizabeth an iPod was a joke playing off the DVD incident at first. Me too. ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/16 "2009-04-04T14:02:06Z")
At the time I read this I commented that I couldn’t believe it wasn’t from The Onion. > **[Portage Daily Register | Portage News](https://wiscnews.com/news/community/portagedailyregister/)** > > Read the latest headlines from the Portage Daily Register. Get the latest news, sports, entertainment and more for Portage, WI. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/17 "2009-04-05T02:00:04Z")
Not an article, but I recently saw a TV commercial for the “Chia Obama” and thought, “Nah, that MUST be a parody.” But it isn’t. [http://www.chiaobama.com/](http://www.chiaobama.com/) ---
**Author:** ![wunderkammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ed8c4c/32.png) [@wunderkammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wunderkammer)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/18 "2009-04-06T00:01:43Z")
I read [this](http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2007/oct/24/news/chi-luggage_24oct24) in the dead tree edition, so I didn’t get the moment of suspicion that it was from the Onion, but seriously… > [@](#): > > “She’s not sleeping well, and we can’t even show her vacation photos because the pictures of the dolls would upset her,” Patrick Telan said. “The doll’s fall into never-never land has been hard on her.” ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/19 "2009-04-06T18:35:03Z")
> [@Tamarin](#): > > I saved a printed a copy of an article from the Idaho Statesman that is all about the 80’s hair band, Poison, stopping to eat at the local Cracker Barrel restaurant. They tipped the waitress $25 and left her a sticker that was worth _up to 5 whole dollars_ on ebay! Unfortunately I can’t find it online anymore, but it is awesome. It totally could have come from The Onion. [This](http://www.idahostatesman.com/235/story/490532.html) looks to be it. ---
**Author:** ![Tamarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tamarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamarin)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-read-an-actual-article-you-thought-was-from-the-onion/491469/20 "2009-04-06T20:03:55Z")
> [@Earthworm\_Jim](#): > > [This](http://www.idahostatesman.com/235/story/490532.html) looks to be it. That’s it! 😃