# Mermaid Video? What the heck?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mermaid-video-what-the-heck/678908>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [January 15, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mermaid-video-what-the-heck/678908 "2014-01-15T20:56:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Quarter\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f475e1/32.png) [@Quarter\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quarter_Girl)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mermaid-video-what-the-heck/678908/1 "2014-01-15T20:56:49Z")

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[Here is a video](http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/mermaids/videos/camera-captures-mermaid-on-diving-vessel.htm#utm_source=contentad&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=ronvid&mkcpgn=ctad01) I ran across on The Animal Planet website. It shows two “marine biologists” and their deep water discovery of a mermaid.

What the hell? It’s obviously a form of entertainment rather than anything scientific but at no point is that indicated. This burns me up for so many reasons.

Has anyone else seen this?

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mermaid-video-what-the-heck/678908/2 "2014-01-15T21:07:48Z")

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[Snopes.](http://www.snopes.com/photos/supernatural/mermaids.asp)

Speculative fiction. it wasn’t supposed to be taken seriously. I remember they had several announcements to that effect.

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**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mermaid-video-what-the-heck/678908/3 "2014-01-15T21:35:26Z")

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> [@runner pat](#):
>
> [Snopes.](http://www.snopes.com/photos/supernatural/mermaids.asp)
> 
> Speculative fiction. it wasn’t supposed to be taken seriously. I remember they had several announcements to that effect.

The announcements came out _after_ the first Mermaid show aired. Nothing ahead of time, and an incredibly short disclaimer that was on screen for less than a second at the end of the show.

Same as the Megalodon show they aired during Shark Week. Fiction presented as a documentary.

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mermaid-video-what-the-heck/678908/4 "2014-01-15T21:52:22Z")

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> [@muldoonthief](#):
>
> The announcements came out _after_ the first Mermaid show aired. Nothing ahead of time, and an incredibly short disclaimer that was on screen for less than a second at the end of the show.
> 
> Same as the Megalodon show they aired during Shark Week. Fiction presented as a documentary.

Yup. Very disappointing, coming from a channel that’s, in theory, dedicated to actual science. They’ve jumped the mermaid (and megalodon).

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mermaid-video-what-the-heck/678908/5 "2014-01-15T22:40:23Z")

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> [@runner pat](#):
>
> [Snopes.](http://www.snopes.com/photos/supernatural/mermaids.asp)
> 
> Speculative fiction. it wasn’t supposed to be taken seriously. I remember they had several announcements to that effect.

I see your Snopes and [add a thread in GD](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=696402).