mattsucks writes
"Reuters is reporting a story about the Beijing Evening News. Apparently, they too believe that everything they read on the internet is true, republishing a story from The Onion. Or at least one of their freelance writers believes it...." This is absolutely great.
It could be worse... (Score:5, Funny)
I can imagine them running through the streets of Beijing saying "Look at the size of that thing!" and "That's no moon!"
Or (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Or (Score:5, Insightful)
Good point. This is actually a very serious introduction to some of the key points of modern Islamic fundamentalism. When I first read it I went looked up Qutb. No other major media outlet that I know of has bothered to give people the starting point to actually find out how and why bin Laden came to be.
Ignore The Onion at your peril.
Re:Or (Score:4, Insightful)
For anyone who hasn't seen it, the article "Talking To Your Child About the WTC Attack [theonion.com]" is online. In fact, their entire "Holy Fucking Shit: America Under Attack [theonion.com]" It's the single most brilliant issue of the Onion ever. It captured the fear, the uncertainly, the random lashing out. It reflected America in a way that no other news source had done. It managed to be respectful and sad, yet very funny. It was exactly what America needed.
Do you actually believe that crap? (Score:3, Funny)
Bush Sr. Apologizes To Son For Funding Bin Laden In '80s MIDLAND, TX-- Former president George Bush issued an apology to his son Monday for advocating the CIA's mid-'80s funding of Osama bin Laden, who at the time was resisting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. "I'm sorry, son," Bush told President George W. Bush. "We thought it was a good idea at the time because he was part of a group fighting communism in Central Asia. We called them 'freedom fighters' back then. I know it sounds weird. You sort of had to be there." Bush is still deliberating over whether to tell his son about the whole supporting-Saddam Hussein-against-Iran thing.
I heard This (Score:3, Funny)
but anyways I guess this just shows that you have to choose a source carefully.. I mean who really needs a new capital with a retracting dome and stadium seating?
Best Onion Headline... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Best Onion Headline... (Score:1)
!!!
The Story (Score:1, Interesting)
Paper Falls for Gag in Humor Tabloid
June 07, 2002 09:59 AM ET Email this article Printer friendly version
BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing's most popular newspaper has unwittingly republished a bogus story about U.S. Congress threats to skip town for Memphis or Charlotte unless Washington builds them a new Capitol building with a retractable dome.
The source? America's celebrated spoof tabloid, the Onion.
The Beijing Evening News, which claims a circulation of 1.25 million, translated portions of the Onion's tall tale word-for-word in the international news page of its June 3 edition.
The reprinted version of the May 29 article, which parodies Congress as a Major League Baseball squad, also copied the Onion's would-be blueprint for a new legislative home that resembles a ballpark. "Don't get us wrong: We love the drafty old building," the Onion quoted House Speaker Dennis Hastert as saying.
"But the hard reality is, it's no longer suitable for a world-class legislative branch. The sight lines are bad, there aren't enough concession stands or bathrooms, and the parking is miserable."
The spoof from the brazen entertainment tabloid, which dubs itself "America's finest news source," apparently took in the Evening News.
"The story was written by one of our freelance writers," an editor at the Evening News told Reuters on Friday. "His stuff has been pretty much reliable before."
The editor said he had received other calls from readers about the article. "They were also suspicious of the contents."
Told the story came from the Onion and was not true, the editor said, "We would first have to check that out. If it's indeed fake, I'm sure there will be some form of correction."
Shameless Karma Whoring (Score:3, Informative)
In case anyone's interested, the Onion article is here [theonion.com]! (No goatse.cx links, sorry!)
TOTALLY believable!
Re:Shameless Karma Whoring (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Shameless Karma Whoring (Score:2)
You say that like it's a bad idea. .
I've proposed a new capital in AZ or NM, with an absolute ban on any form of air conditioning, but then, my home is a state where we only let the legislature meet a couple of months every other year (NV).
Exporting Congress is a great idea . . . but wouldn't the recipients regard it as an act of war?
hawk
Re:Artist's Rendering of New Capital (Score:2)
What makes it all funnier than shit is that the Post has been strongly backing public financing of the ballpark, and they claim it has nothing to do with their parent company having an ownership stake in the team.....so for them to actually print this parody was suprising.
I can see it now... (Score:5, Funny)
Teacher: Gambit, you didn't write this!
Gambit: uh, well...
Teacher: You COPIED this, didn't you?
Gambit: Well, maybe a little...
Teacher: That's PLAGIARISM! Where do you think you're going to end up if you just copy other people's article??
Gambit: Hopefully on Slashdot?
Plagarism through translation (Score:2)
Working with some european and east european mathematics journals brought up an anecdote about a mathematician who'd made a multi-decade academic career though translating material from an east european mathematician and publishing it in the west under his own name. His day was rained on when the Iron Curtain came down and the original material became available.
Re:Plagarism through translation (Score:2, Funny)
Speak for yourself, dude. I got this key on my keyboard (actually 2 of them right next to the "alt" keys) that have an icon I think is supposed to be a landscaping truck turned into a "just married" limo dragging a bunch of cans driven by some drunk swerving a bit. Never have been able to figure out what they are for. Press either one, nothing happens.
Heh.. (Score:2)
(Disclaimer: Yes someone else probably said it first. But SA was the one that taught me it)
Re:Heh.. (Score:2)
In, shall we say, less-developed countries, there is very low internet penetration. But the people who do have computers also have printers, and internet "news" from such stellar paragons of reliability as azzam.com and kavkaz.org is printed out and widely distributed. However, due to the internet's high-tech reputation as a worldwide communications net, simple peasants and villagers, as well as educated people who should know better, ascribe a credibility to internet news stories that Westerners would find to be astounding. After all, the internet runs on computers - how could such amazing machines tell lies all by themselves? Plus, the Islamic media would never lie, lying is against the teachings of the Koran. You should see the fantastic stories that are taken as Allah's honest truth, such as the hundreds of American special forces being held prisoner by the Taliban, and the AQ fighting unit formed by aforesaid prisoners who converted to Islam.
I can't emphasize this enough - for these people, this is what is happening. There was a warning telephoned to all the Jews who worked in the WTC not to come to work that day. America is conspiring with India against Pakistan in order to open another front against Islam. In truth, the Islamists have been trying to start the first Indo-Pak war of this century frantically (parliament attack, kashmir provocations) so they can depose the Musharraf regime and sieze Pakstan's nuclear weapons for their own use. And use them they will...a nuclear deterrent only works if the other guy wants to live. We're losing the information war, badly.
A similar situation existed during operation Allied Force in Serbia. Serbian citizens believe to this day that they shot down dozens of Allied aircraft, including a B-2 and several F-117s, as well as capturing a damaged stealth fighter intact (it was immediately shipped to Russia for examination, of course, which is why it's not on display at the same Serbian military museum where the fragments of Capt. O'Grady's F-16 are).
Re:Heh.. (Score:2)
Good (Score:1)
Actually I really enjoy how they poke fun at the ridiculousness of things that go on today. And they also do a good job, I really loved that "God clarifies his 'Thou shalt not kill' rule" article they had back in october.
The best part is there Ask a... (Score:1, Flamebait)
Check it out [theonion.com]
Re:Good (Score:1)
It was the September 27-October 3, 2001 issue, to be exact - the first published issue following September 11. I saved the paper copy of that issue - probably some of the best work that The Onion has ever produced. "Hijackers Surprised to Find Selves In Hell," "American Life Turns Into Bad Jerry Bruckheimer Movie," along with the article mentioned above.
As you read through it, you can just see the raw emotions in every article in that issue - it reminds me every day I look at it what that day was like.
Holy Fucking Shit (Score:5, Interesting)
The Holy Fucking Shit [theonion.com] edition of The Onion was one of the finest pieces of literature serious or satirical published about the September 11 bombings. Before the HFS edition, I merely thought The Onion was funny. Afterwards, I respected The Onion.
In the middle of all the hysteria, screaming panic, and horror, The Onion *dared* to go in and examine the ridiculousness of not only what had happened but what was happening because of it.
Good work guys!
Re:Holy Fucking Shit (Score:2)
This is gunna cause huge problems (Score:1)
Oh well I guess they'll be to busy arguing about it to come up with any more dumb laws like the DMCA
Another news link (Score:2, Informative)
Beijing Evening News (Score:4, Funny)
CowboyNeal, Q.E.D. 20%
a^2+b^2=c^2 17%
algore 0.41%
(source:slashdot.org)
Re: Poll results (Score:4, Funny)
After all, the poll was about the most popular mathematical al-gore-rithm.
Re: Poll results (Score:1)
Re: Poll results (Score:1)
I buy that record!
Slashdot has done this before as well (Score:5, Insightful)
I guesse we could say: Beijing Newspaper. YHBT. YHL. HAND.
Re:Slashdot has done this before as well (Score:2)
Re:Slashdot has done this before as well (Score:2, Informative)
There's no need to trash Jonathan Katz's reputation. After all, he's a professional therapist, [imdb.com] not a journalist. "Jon Katz," perhaps?
Re:Slashdot has done this before as well (Score:2)
I just got an IM from somebody replying to this:
HELLO MY AMERICAN FRIENDs! THIS IS JUNIS FROM AFGHANISTAN! I AM NOW ABLE TO HAVE MUCH BETTER INTERNETTING, THANKS TO THE BANDWIDTH PROVIDED BY THE GREAT AMERICAN LIBERATORS! LONG LIVE THE COMMODORE 64!
Eat your heart out, JonKatz. I still haven't seen a retraction or an apology for perpetrating that one against our collective intellect.
Re:Slashdot has done this before as well (Score:2)
You don't have to check every story that's sent -- just the ones that you decide to actually post. That only amounts to a handful of stories per day.
Re:Slashdot has done this before as well (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah, but this is completely different! The Beijing evening news is a for-profit publication with a staff of paid professional editors, whereas Slashdot is... no, wait... what was I saying again?
Re:Slashdot has done this before as well (Score:5, Funny)
How is this news for nerds? (Score:2, Interesting)
I got this days ago from the mainstream media.
This is not what I expect from slashdot. Yet another testament to the need for a more democratic story acceptance system.
Re:How is this news for nerds? (Score:1)
Re:How is this news for nerds? (Score:1)
Democracy won't help (Score:3, Informative)
tlhf
xxx
Re:Democracy won't help (Score:2)
So what? Kuro5hin's "democratic group" concept is flawed. Just try to submit a story, and most times, it'll be rejected for asinine things like a typo, or maybe enough people just didn't agree with the story.
Ever hear the statement "Too many cooks spoil the broth?" That's Kuro5hin for you.
Re:How is this news for nerds? (Score:2)
Because mainstream media also covered it?
Because mainstream media covered it first?
It certainly can't be because of the content because that absolutely fits slashdot, a story about an actual established paper printing something it read on the internet only to find out it was a spoof article. That is most definately slashdot material. Hell slashdot does it all the time.
Re:How is this news for nerds? (Score:1)
Because mainstream media covered it first?
Nope, nothing to do with it. What I'm saying is that I go to mainstream media sites for this kind of news, and I come to
That is most definately slashdot material. Hell slashdot does it all the time.
Well, if
Fear. Uncertainty. Doubt. The Onion. (Score:5, Funny)
The staff of Readers Digest was kind enough to point out the woman's error.
Re:Fear. Uncertainty. Doubt. The Onion. (Score:1)
Re:Fear. Uncertainty. Doubt. The Onion. (Score:4, Informative)
In case you hadn't noticed, rugby is actually a shortened name for Rugby Football. Football refers to lots of sports. The word "soccer" comes from the UK (I heard this on a BBC program about the sport). The US retained the name to prevent confusion from the other sport Americans played known as "football". Meanwhile, the rest of the world changed the other "football" sports to "rugby" (or any of a number of other names--the name really referred to hundreds of sports in the 1800s).
Since the UK invented football/soccer, and then codified its rules and named it "soccer", then the Americans can claim to be correct in calling it "soccer".
Here's a link [11v11.co.uk] to the origins of football/soccer. I can't find a reference as to when the name was assigned. You'll have to take my word on it (or do your own research). But the name definitely did not originate in the U.S.
also . . . (Score:2)
The padding and protective gear isn't because they're wimps, but because they're a lot larger than their rugby counterparts. Getting hit by someone that size tends to break things (such as ribs, knees, arms . .
Does anyone remenmber who wrote the story about combat rules football?
hawk
This had to be on purpose (Score:2)
Translation of beijing evening news article (Score:1, Redundant)
Translated from http://www.ben.com.cn/WLZB/20020603/GB/WLZB^357^7
WASHINGTON, DC--Calling the current U.S. Capitol "inadequate and obsolete," Congress will relocate to Charlotte or Memphis if its demands for a new, state-of-the-art facility are not met, leaders announced Monday.
Above: An architectural firm's proposal for a new retractable-dome capitol. Inset: Hastert addresses reporters.
"Don't get us wrong: We love the drafty old building," Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) said. "But the hard reality is, it's no longer suitable for a world-class legislative branch. The sight lines are bad, there aren't enough concession stands or bathrooms, and the parking is miserable. It hurts to say, but the capitol's time has come and gone."
"If we want to stay competitive, we need to upgrade," said House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO), who has proposed a new $3.5 billion capitol on the site of the current edifice. "Look at British Parliament. Look at the Vatican. Respected institutions in their markets. But without modern facilities, they've been having big problems attracting top talent."
Its cornerstone laid in 1793 by President Washington, the capitol has been built, rebuilt, extended, and restored countless times over the past 209 years. Legislators say another multimillion-dollar renovation is not an acceptable alternative to a new building.
"How many times can you put a fresh coat of paint over an old, broken-down horse?" asked Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), co-chair of the Senate Relocation Subcommittee. "We need a building that befits our status as the nation's number-one democratically elected legislative body. And if D.C. isn't willing to provide that, I can think of plenty of other cities that would be more than happy to."
The leading candidates for a possible congressional relocation are Charlotte and Memphis, both of which have long sought a major organization to raise their national profile. San Francisco civic leaders have also lobbied hard, offering to finance a $4 billion Pac Bell Capitol Building using a combination of private corporate funds (40 percent), a county sales tax (35 percent), and a local cigarette tax (25 percent). Dallas, Seattle, and Toronto have also been mentioned as long shots.
Demonstrating its commitment to "stay in Washington if at all possible," Congress has invited more than a dozen architectural firms to submit proposals for a new D.C. capitol. Among the early favorites is the ambitiously titled "Halls Of Power," a retro-futuristic design by the Kansas City architectural firm of Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum. The Halls Of Power would feature a retractable rotunda for daytime sessions, a Dancing Waters fountain in the front courtyard, and 55 more luxury boxes than the current building.
"This is just the kind of thing we need to stay competitive in today's lawmaking environment," said agent Barry Halperin, who represents many prominent government officials, including Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-VT) and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. "Washington can no longer afford to ignore the fact that visitor attendance has dropped every year since 1989. Our elected officials don't like coming to this building and, clearly, neither do their constituents."
Experts attribute the decline in congressional attendance to a number of factors, including increased home viewership of legislative activities on C-SPAN, with which Congress signed an exclusive 20-year, $360 million broadcast pact in 1984. It is not known how a new capitol building would affect the terms of that soon-to-expire contract, but Congress is expected to restructure the deal to increase its share of revenues and secure possible advertising rights, regardless of whether it opts for rebuilding or relocation.
According to the lawmakers' constituents, the capitol is not the problem.
"Sure, the capitol's a little beat-up, but it's got its charms," said Geoff Lapointe, a Glendale, CA, voter. "The real problem is the legislators. Back in the old days, you had big stars like John Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Who've they got today? Evan Bayh? Paul Sarbanes? Who's gonna get excited about those guys?"
Lapointe said he is "fed up" with the legislators and their demands.
"Those guys are all just a bunch of spoiled, overpaid crybabies," Lapointe said. "All they want is money--they don't care about all the hardworking people who pay their salaries. Look at 'em: When's the last time you saw them acting like a team? They can take their capitol and shove it."
Even funnier... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Even funnier... (Score:2)
Journalists (Score:1)
They Fell For That Old Sham? (Score:2, Funny)
In case you were looking for more news to reprint about the stupidness that is America, here are some other leads you might want to follow:
1) America is stupid
2) No, seriously. Just put that up as your headline and your readers will believe it. Though you might get letters berating you for not being mean enough.
3) And despite that win the other day, we still suck at soccer.
4) And we're all very, very gay.
5) And completely against education, sewer systems, organized government and hygiene.
6) And we find Jay Leno to be absolutely hilarious.
If only number six weren't true.
-Brandon
I don't know why they picked up the Onion story. This one's [lostbrain.com] more believable.
Bingo ! (Score:1)
I sure give those blokes a call for a consultation should I ever have to hire a reliable journalist.
Ugghhhhhh (Score:1)
National Grammar Rodeo (Score:1)
What is the relevance?
One of the listed long-shot alternatives was Toronto--Canada eh!
Iaamoac
While we're talking about the Onion... (Score:5, Interesting)
http://www.theonion.com/onion3734/god_clarifies_do nt_kill.html [theonion.com]
Not only is it funny, but also deeply insightful, even for an atheist like me.
Lifting articles in China (Score:2, Informative)
Factual Error Found on Internet (Score:1, Interesting)
Factual Error Found on Internet [theonion.com]
"The Information Age was dealt a stunning blow Monday, when a factual error was discovered on the Internet. The error was found on TedsUltimateBradyBunch.com, a Brady Bunch fan site that incorrectly listed the show's debut year as 1968, not 1969.
"Caryn Wisniewski, a Pueblo, CO, legal secretary and diehard Brady Bunch fan, came across the mistake while searching for information about the show's first-season cast."
Funny Thing is... (Score:2, Funny)
"Nyah! Nyah! My Domes Bigger than Yooourrrs!"
Or Not.
Re:Funny Thing is... (Score:1, Funny)
God..
One can only hope.
My coworkers believed the "Post Office 5 cent e-ma (Score:3, Interesting)
Sadly, my coworkers insisted that the post office must be lying, because "They wouldn't put it on the radio if it weren't true!" (Yes, that is a real quote)
It was read on WAAF (bottom of the dung pile "rock" station) by "Mistress Carrie" for crying out loud!
And then there was the time Hillary Clinton was asked about her stance on the bill during an interview...
Re: Radio in Boston (Score:2)
Re: Radio in Boston (Score:2)
For some reason taste in music escapes most of the population out here.
Still, WAAF is OK on the weekends. I just wish they'd shut the DJs up and play some $#@ Music for a change. MTV (The Shiny Things Network*) has more music these days than the Boston stations.
* "After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network"
Onion founder's former comments on the issue (Score:5, Interesting)
He said that the biggest problem was email forwards from people who consider it a news release, and in the email there is not the rest of the onion's site for context, so people don't know it is a parody.
He said the 2 that generated the most amount of letters from concerned citizens, up to that point in time, was "Chinese woman gives birth to septuplets, doesn't know which one to keep" and "New York to install infant-only dumpsters".
Re:Onion founder's former comments on the issue (Score:2)
Ah, yes. I can understand how someone wouldn't realize that as humor if they weren't aware of the context.
-
haha, stupid girls at school (Score:2)
we were researching experiments to do for a class project. All of a sudden, I hear "Oh my god, Bill Nye is dead, I didn't know that!" I was laughing my ass off, half the class we talking about it, and about how good of shows he had, and how sad it was, even the teacher believed it. When I walked over to see what the commotion was about, I nearly wet myself.
Needs to learn his geography (Score:2)
Re:Needs to learn his geography (Score:2, Flamebait)
Hmmph.
(Oh yeah, we're not in the U.S. Never mind.)
Those wacky journalists (Score:1)
OT, but the thought occurs: I wonder if
Sounds Familiar ... (Score:3, Interesting)
Well. One of these things he sent me a few years ago was about how the Harry Potter books were teaching our kids satanism and witchcraft and such. Now this thing was sent in all seriousness, with quotes from children (something about sucking Satan's "gigantic black cock", I don't quite recall). Anyway, he was dead serious that this was a problem that all "good christians" should take immediate action against.
Now I would normally just delete these things after getting a good laugh, since I really do like the guy despite this kind of evangelical nonsense. What caught my eye was the link to the article he was quoting from - it was (ta da) from The Onion. I nearly fell out of my chair at work from laughing so hard.
Harry Potter... (Score:2)
They *Bought* this, hook, line, and sinker.
What was the punchline...? (Score:2)
"Knock Knock"
"Who's there?"
"Um..."
"Errr..."
"Uh..."
"Damn. I forgot, but trust me, it was funny."
Whatever.
This makes me wonder.... (Score:3, Funny)
Are they actually doing their own R&D, or just feverishly combing the Internet trying to find out how to make Cavorite? [pagebypagebooks.com]
~Philly
Irony (Score:4, Funny)
We're reading a story on a niche news site about a story on a popular news site about a story in a major newspaper (albeit in China) taken from a site that lampoons the news.
Not as stupid as you may think.. (Score:2, Funny)
OT - I love the onion :) (Score:1)
Link [theonion.com]
Death Star Daycare [theonion.com]
Call me ignorant if you like. (Score:1)
Imagine if the Chinese read in a "satire" site that the US was going to nuke them, and they believed it!
I would rather be on the safe side here, even if people's free speech needs to be curtailed just a little bit.
We are a nation of red-ass baboons... (Score:3, Interesting)
~Philly
Re:We are a nation of red-ass baboons... (Score:2)
Listen, buddy. we don't NEED all that. People try to sue corporations, so they put it there to protect themselves from 1 lawsuit. But the society does not need those warnings.
Re:We are a nation of red-ass baboons... (Score:2)
But stupid disclaimers like that keep greedy/vengeful people from filing those kinds of lawsuits by removing the ambiguity.
So really it is merely an indication that our system of law is too welcoming of stupid lawsuits.
mark
ROR! (Score:2)
http://www.theonion.com/archive/archive_kornfeld.
It could be worse (Score:2)
Guess they didn't peel the onion.
If you think the Chinese are gullible, the US is.. (Score:5, Funny)
here [radio.cbc.ca]
and here [cbc.ca]
Re:If you think the Chinese are gullible, the US i (Score:2, Funny)
"He understands I want to make sure our relationship with our most important neighbour to the north of us is strong and we'll work closely together,"
Emphasis mine.
Congratulations Canada on preserving your national igloo!
Re:If you think the Chinese are gullible, the US i (Score:2, Informative)
Re:If you think the Chinese are gullible, the US i (Score:2)
Re:If you think the Chinese are gullible, the US i (Score:2)
He asks to go on their show, and after a while, asks to talk some Dutch to the viewers back home. He says things along the lines of "This is a con-man, he's trying to steal your money..." and so forth.
It is very funny to watch.
Re:If you think the Chinese are gullible, the US i (Score:2)
Re:If you think the Chinese are gullible, the US i (Score:2)
One of the Onion's greatest stories... (Score:2, Funny)
Within days of election night, The Onion came out with one of its greatest stories ever: Bush Or Gore: 'A New Era Dawns' [theonion.com], accurately satirizing just how similar the two candidates were.
Re:One of the Onion's greatest stories... (Score:2, Insightful)
-Aaron
Satire and Freedom of Speech (Score:3, Insightful)
In our open society, we take freedom of the press to the extreme by publishing just about anything. It forces people to read news with a critical eye, which carries over to various aspects of out life. In a society where all information and editorial is controlled and filtered heavily, is it a surprise that "news" and "critical thinking" don't always go hand in hand.
I'm not trying to slight the Chinese here, I'm sure there are plenty of US Citizens who pick up the Onion and believe it as fact -- I'm sure it would confuse the heck out of my grandmother. And how many times have you seen someone repost a good April Fools joke as fact?
So yes, it's funny, but apply your critical thinking and take it in context -- that the world is full of gullible people.
Re:Satire and Freedom of Speech (Score:2)
Yes, and we hope that those on the more gullible end are not our journalists for major newspapers.
(That's the *real* context.)
mark
information without regulation (Score:2)
I thought the mainstream media was going to save us from all this Internet misinformation. After all, how can we unwashed masses be informed without their help?
I think it's funny as hell that after all the crap we've heard from the media about how the Internet is a dangerous playground of falsehood and misinformation, they were taken in by a web site well known among Internet users as being a satire site.
Word Choice for Title! (Score:5, Informative)
If they were Spoofed then you would have seen an article on The Onion about Beijing and not an article about some news station in Beijing using a story on The Onion.
Re:Word Choice for Title! (Score:2)
Classically speaking -- in dictionary terms -- you are correct, sir. However, this being a Nerd site, CmdrTaco was apparently using Geekspeak. In this jargon, "spoof" means "to fool", derived from the ability of hackers to create false email headers; this technique being referred to as "spoofing", with the resultant back-formation of "spoof". Linguistically speaking, the reversal of the meaning of a term is an important part of the creation of a sub-language; the example that springs to mind just now is the early-'70's use in the African-American culture of the term "bad" to mean "very good".
And, to be even more exacting, they weren't "duped" -- the use of "dupe" implies a conscious motive toward the Beijing newspaper on the part of "The Onion", which did not exist. "Fooled" is probably the appropriate word to use here.
Having just started up one of these... (Score:2)
But what does amuse me is that the line between real journalism and parody has gotten a lot slimmer in the recent years. Ever since The Daily Show, it's almost seemed better to get your news from someplace like that than a traditional boring newscast. The Daily Show seems to give accurate enough basis for the parody stuff they do, just twisted. Of course, the Domination News Network that myself and some friends created is a little more like The Onion, with the user community twist. I'm almost afraid now, that someone will take DNN seriously someday. Particularly since the "basis" for it is global domination by a conspiracy that's decided to go semi-public.
I keep wondering if I should be proud to get on any watch lists with some of the articles we may post someday?
Domination News Network [bowdownbefore.us]
Suggestions for site improvement are always accepted, by the way. And submissions for content just as much so.
To be a scientist... (Score:2, Interesting)
"To be a scientist, you have to learn all this weird stuff, like how many molecules are in a proton,..."
Taken from: http://www.theonion.com/onion3821/science_hard.ht
Oh well, back to studying for chem.