# Why did the MSM fall for the Jussi Smollett hoax? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 19, 2019, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832 "2019-02-19T15:26:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/41 "2019-02-19T18:03:49Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > So, Lee Oswald (allegedly) shoots JFK, but you don’t want any reporting until the investigation is completed? > > Every day the media report on crimes before the investigation in completed. Every damn day. Because a number of those cases each year turn out to be different than first reported, you want the reporting to stop? Why? What’s the problem with the news coming out like it always does. Initial reports, then follow up reporting, then final conclusion. I suspect a great many stories evolve over time for one reason or another. I think if they would have just reported so and so was attacked in a reported hate crime, and then NOT do all the anti-MAGA stuff, then I would be ok. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/42 "2019-02-19T18:04:23Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Can you point out where USA Today fell for the hoax? I skimmed the article and it was all “the police reported…”, “Smollett said…” > > Do you consider a column in Variety to be the MSM? > [@Ravenman](#): > > In the USA Today article, can you point to exactly what passages you find objectionable? > > The way I read it, the reporters probably went a little out of their way to attribute allegations to the multiple police officers that were quoted by name, who in turn specifically stated what Smollett told them. Further, the police asked for help from the public in determining what happened, which may have been the first indication that pieces of the story were missing. There is an overabundance of credulity and no questioning whatsoever. The point is what isn’t there, context to his claims. Info on the neighborhood would nice, apparently that tipped off a few folks that the story was a hoax. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/43 "2019-02-19T18:05:02Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What media do you watch that isn’t what you call “MSM”, and how was it reported there? At work they sometimes have NBC, CBS or others on but normally I dont “follow” any. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/44 "2019-02-19T18:05:35Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I think if they would have just reported so and so was attacked in a reported hate crime, and then NOT do all the anti-MAGA stuff, then I would be ok. What “MSM” did all the “anti-MAGA stuff”? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/45 "2019-02-19T18:05:52Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > There is an overabundance of credulity and no questioning whatsoever. I didn’t ask what your opinion is of the article. I’m asking specifically what passages you object to. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/46 "2019-02-19T18:06:13Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What media do you follow that does it “right”? I prob consume similar media as you but can laugh at silliness when it appears, which is often. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/47 "2019-02-19T18:06:39Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > At work they sometimes have NBC, CBS or others on but normally I dont “follow” any. The where the hell do you get your news…or do you consider all the news to be “MSM”? ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/48 "2019-02-19T18:07:14Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I didn’t ask what your opinion is of the article. I’m asking specifically what passages you object to. The entire article exhibits an overabundance of credulity. Pick one. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/49 "2019-02-19T18:08:18Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > The entire article exhibits an overabundance of credulity. Pick one. No U. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/50 "2019-02-19T18:09:19Z")
I object to all of them. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/51 "2019-02-19T18:09:51Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > There is an overabundance of credulity and no questioning whatsoever. You’ll forgive us if we don’t just take your word for it. AFAICT, broadly speaking, the media reported what the police and Smollett said. The police conducted an investigation. The media is now reporting the latest results of the police investigation, which are casting doubt on Smollett’s account. That seems like, broadly speaking, what the media should be doing if a prominent person claims to have been assaulted and the subsequent investigation casts doubt on this. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/52 "2019-02-19T18:10:27Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > The entire article exhibits an overabundance of credulity. Pick one. Ok, can you find an article from the time of the (eta) so-called attack that, in your opinion, exhibited the proper amount of credulity? So I can compare side-by-side and try to understand your views on good vs. bad journalism. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/53 "2019-02-19T18:19:05Z")
Why did they fall for the hoax? They wanted another opportunity to virtue signal. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/54 "2019-02-19T18:21:17Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Why did they fall for the hoax? They wanted another opportunity to virtue signal. The right-wing infotainment buzzword industry thanks you for your support. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/55 "2019-02-19T18:23:24Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > The right-wing infotainment buzzword industry thanks you for your support. To the leftists’s credit on this board at least you all didn’t fall for the hoax. I was admittedly surprised. I am not surprised you think it’s possible to nonsensify perfectly useful terms used to describe the lunacy of the left. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/56 "2019-02-19T18:24:52Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Why did they fall for the hoax? They wanted another opportunity to virtue signal. That’s so precious. Did we use our Soros checks to pay our mighty Social Justice Warriors? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/57 "2019-02-19T18:27:45Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Why did they fall for the hoax? It hasn’t been shown that they fell for any hoax. Before you ask why something has happened, it first must be determined _if_ it actually happened at all. Yelling “They fell for a hoax!” over and over and over again is evidence of nothing more than the fact that you have nothing more to say. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/58 "2019-02-19T18:29:30Z")
The next question is why do people defend media types and celebrities who tweet before they think? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/59 "2019-02-19T18:30:51Z")
You mean like Trump, every day? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/60 "2019-02-19T18:33:49Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > The next question is why do people defend media types and celebrities who tweet before they think? Still working on that first question, if you don’t mind. What non-“MSM” do you follow that reported this correctly(as you see it)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832.md?page=4)