It is not uncommon for tricksters to plant stories in newspaper sites or other media outlets that are just made up and intended to embarass the media site because the info contained in the story really does look kind of absurd.
I wonder if most people here know of one of Howard Stern’s associates named Gary Dell’Abte who is also known as “Baba Booey” and people sometimes call in fake news stories to other radio stations and tell them their name is “Baba Booey” or just use that name somewhere in their story to let the audience know it’s just a joke intended to embarass the media outlet.
The following is a story that seems suspicious to me because of the names used. Unfortunately, if it’s true, it’s a very serious story that is about a murder - or at least some kind of suspicious death.
The reason I find it suspicious is because of the names used. The name of the police spokesman is given as, “Capt. Yingyong Chuoykij”.
“Ying Yong” may be a real name in Thailand. But if you stop and say it outloud, it sure does sound like a joke to North Americans. Also, the name of the location of the story is given as “Phuket Island” and that sure is similar to “Fuck It”.
Anyway, the following is a link to that story. I had to check if this was April Fools Day. But since it isn’t, do you think there is any chance this is somehow a phoney story?
It’s a very popular tourist destination. There are some other destinations in Thailand (Koh Phi Phi) and elsewhere that may look or sound funny to American ears. But it’s a big wide world out there.
The GoFundMe linked in the story is real; over $31,000 has been raised so far.
Also, there’s nothing in the story that would “out” it. There’s no detail that is ridiculous, nothing that screams “yeahhhhh right” in anyway.
A quick google of the police captain’s name shows news stories from last September quoting him.
Googling “Phuket Island” shows a Wikipedia entry, lots of gorgeous scenic photos, a map, lists of things to do there and many other travel related information, etc.
Pretty easy to see that this is a legitimate story, IMO.
Surely, none of these can be real places? Right? Right?
Also, I read a news story about a guy in Texas (Trinity, TX at that!) named Jesus. Seriously? How could I possibly believe anything from that newspaper ever again?
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The largest (maybe the only) town on San Salvador, Bahamas is named “Cockburn”. You’d think the Gov’t Nurse would treat a lot of folks there for gonorrhea. It’s pronounced “Ko-burn”.
There’s also the writer Andrew Cockburn and the musician/activist Bruce Cockburn. IDK if they are related; however, the aforementioned Olivia Wilde is Andrew’s daughter. I had not previously known that.
